For those not familiar with the product, American Express offers a card often referred to as the “Old Blue Cash” card, this card earns 5% cash back on U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations & select U.S. drugstores after you’ve spent more than $6,500 in a card member year (before this $6,500 in spend you’ll earn 1% in those categories and 0.5% on every day spend). Recently a lot of people have had their cards shut down due to putting excessive spend on these categories, I’ve so far evaded this round of shut downs mostly due to the fact I haven’t been in the United States so I’ve been unable to rack up spend at supermarkets.
It looks like American Express is trying imposing a hard limit on new applicants to this card. Sometime in December they’ve added the following to the offer page:
…you will receive 5% on Everyday Purchases up to $50,000
This means you’re limited to effectively earning $2,500 in cash back at that attractive 5% cash back level. For those who manufacture spend heavily, this is a massive change. If your existing Old Blue Cash hasn’t been cancelled, I’d recommend spending under $50,000 in those 5% categories per reward year as I imagine that is the trigger point for shut downs.
For more information on the Old Amex Blue card, I’d recommend this thread on FlyerTalk. Below are some other alternatives if you’re spending a lot in the 5% cash back categories that this card offers:
- Credit cards that earn 5%+ cash back
- Best credit cards for grocery store purchases
- Best credit cards for gas station purchases
- Best credit cards for drugstore purchases
Hat tip to @saianel from twitter (well worth following and interacting with if you do MS)
[RELATED: Reflections on the Ongoing Saga of Amex Old Blue Cash]
Any idea when the Cap will be implemented on those who already have it? I got mine on Nov 2014. I heard It will start in Nov .
It won’t even be $2500 in cash back as the $6500 at 1% in spend will have to go towards the $50,000.
You’d be better off putting the $6,500 at 0.5% spend, then you should get the full $50,000 right? It’s a very disappointing change and one that will cost me quite a few thousand in relatively easy MS.
Try a shutdown account with over $2k in lost rewards on top of the inability to earn ANY cashback anymore…. Then you’ll realize that $50k/yr PER ACCOUNT is not bad.
And don’t buy from 5% category to meet $6500 spend if you want full $50k to get 5% back on………….
I just buy $6500 worth of amex gift cards right off the bat to skip the limit. the 1/2 % sucks but at least it doesn’t cut into your 2.5k
Has anyone that was shut down been able to get back in?