"Here We Go....."
Blue from American Express® Review
Written by: colonative on 2008-09-01
Overall Satisfaction
Customer Service
Rewards
Account Management
Delivery Time
colonative's review: 
I was preapproved for Blue with 0% APR for 15 months and 10.99% APR thereafter. I just went online and applied with my RSVP code and was instantly approved with a credit line of $10,500. Experian score 792. It has been a year to the day since I last opened a new account, my Macy's.
I plan on using the 0% APR to buy a new computer; I was going to just open a Best Buy card but I figured once that was paid off I probably would not use it again and I found a better deal at Circuit City anyway. I figured that I could use an AMEX since I closed my Gold Card in 2005. I already received an email stating that my card would be received in 10 days in a plain white envelope from Nebraska.
Pros: 0% APR for up to 15 months; AMEX customer service; ability to pay over time, no annual fee.
Cons: I've never really cared for the clear Blue card, when I think AMEX I think Centurian. Also, I am a little worried about the Financial Reviews that AMEX has been doing lately. So, here we go...
I was preapproved for Blue with 0% APR for 15 months and 10.99% APR thereafter. I just went online and applied with my RSVP code and was instantly approved with a credit line of $10,500. Experian score 792. It has been a year to the day since I last opened a new account, my Macy's.I plan on using the 0% APR to buy a new computer; I was going to just open a Best Buy card but I figured once that was paid off I probably would not use it again and I found a better deal at Circuit City anyway. I figured that I could use an AMEX since I closed my Gold Card in 2005. I already received an email stating that my card would be received in 10 days in a plain white envelope from Nebraska.
Pros: 0% APR for up to 15 months; AMEX customer service; ability to pay over time, no annual fee.
Cons: I've never really cared for the clear Blue card, when I think AMEX I think Centurian. Also, I am a little worried about the Financial Reviews that AMEX has been doing lately. So, here we go...
9 Comments
Comment 1 by shark6
Great Score 
on 2008-09-01
Congrats. We have had not issues with Amex and we have 4 cards. This is a very good deal, 0% for 15mths.
Unfortunately, I think that the Best Buy deal that we got for purchases over $999 was a little better. WE got 2 computers for 0int for 2yrs.
However, you make a very good point in selecting Amex if you will not be using the BB card again especially as the Amex can be used other places.
Keep your utilization low, don't go on app sprees and you will be fine.
BTW, we have the Gold card and love it for the rewards.
Your score is very, very good, In about 4mths, you can probably click on the love button and get a CLI.
on 2008-09-01 Congrats. We have had not issues with Amex and we have 4 cards. This is a very good deal, 0% for 15mths. Unfortunately, I think that the Best Buy deal that we got for purchases over $999 was a little better. WE got 2 computers for 0int for 2yrs.
However, you make a very good point in selecting Amex if you will not be using the BB card again especially as the Amex can be used other places.
Keep your utilization low, don't go on app sprees and you will be fine.
BTW, we have the Gold card and love it for the rewards.
Your score is very, very good, In about 4mths, you can probably click on the love button and get a CLI.
Comment 2 by colonative
Shark6 on 2008-09-01
Yes, I missed out on the 0% for 24 months at Best Buy, it expired August 30th. Best Buy now has 0% for 18 months on totals of $699 and up. Still not bad but I rationalized that the AMEX will be better in the long run.
I sometimes miss my old Gold card, I was a member since '99 and the annual fee was "only" $75. You can't get that Gold card anymore, they now have the Gold Rewards at $125 or something insane. I couldn't justify paying AMEX to carry their card anymore when Discover was paying ME to carry theirs.
Good to hear you have not had any problems with your new AMEX. I rarely carry a balance on my cards so I am not too worried. We will see...
on 2008-09-01 Yes, I missed out on the 0% for 24 months at Best Buy, it expired August 30th. Best Buy now has 0% for 18 months on totals of $699 and up. Still not bad but I rationalized that the AMEX will be better in the long run.I sometimes miss my old Gold card, I was a member since '99 and the annual fee was "only" $75. You can't get that Gold card anymore, they now have the Gold Rewards at $125 or something insane. I couldn't justify paying AMEX to carry their card anymore when Discover was paying ME to carry theirs.
Good to hear you have not had any problems with your new AMEX. I rarely carry a balance on my cards so I am not too worried. We will see...
Comment 3 by dhaz
Amex on 2008-09-01
Congrats on your Blue card. I have had AMEX pretty much my whole life, starting with a green card in college. I have never once had any issues with AMEX. If you handle your credit correctly and keep your scores good, you should not have any issue.
on 2008-09-01 Congrats on your Blue card. I have had AMEX pretty much my whole life, starting with a green card in college. I have never once had any issues with AMEX. If you handle your credit correctly and keep your scores good, you should not have any issue.
Comment 4 by eldarwen
Congrats On Your Card! on 2008-09-01
Congrats on the card! Just be very careful with Amex, they will give out an AA for little or no reason.
on 2008-09-01 Congrats on the card! Just be very careful with Amex, they will give out an AA for little or no reason.
Comment 5 by cireone
AMEX on 2008-09-01
Not to mention that they profile your account versus others that have the same demographics to determine your status (credit limit decreases), after you have established your account. What gives that they will decrease your CL based on others with your income and where you, and they, charged, but you have always been in good terms?????
on 2008-09-01 Not to mention that they profile your account versus others that have the same demographics to determine your status (credit limit decreases), after you have established your account. What gives that they will decrease your CL based on others with your income and where you, and they, charged, but you have always been in good terms?????
Comment 6 by thomas1
CONGRATS on 2008-09-02
Congrats on your approval Colonative.
I also was a long standing gold member with Amex and closed my account in the late 90's. I had the optima also, and to make a long story short, I was profiled all the time with them, they cl decreased my optima, and then stopped me at the point of sale with my gold Amex consantly. I had a charge ceiling of 14k per month, which by the way was always paid in full. So it irritated me because I never knew if I would be embarrassed at the point of sale or not.
I recently was invited for the Citi Amex Dividends card. I've had a long standing relationship with Citi, so I was approved for the Amex brand under Citi... Starting line of 12,500$, and lots of better benefits like dividend dollars, and cashback. I think its actually a better deal than Amex offers.
Let us know how it goes, I think you can ask them to convert your account over to another Amex brand? They may want you to stick with the Blue for a year.
on 2008-09-02 Congrats on your approval Colonative.I also was a long standing gold member with Amex and closed my account in the late 90's. I had the optima also, and to make a long story short, I was profiled all the time with them, they cl decreased my optima, and then stopped me at the point of sale with my gold Amex consantly. I had a charge ceiling of 14k per month, which by the way was always paid in full. So it irritated me because I never knew if I would be embarrassed at the point of sale or not.
I recently was invited for the Citi Amex Dividends card. I've had a long standing relationship with Citi, so I was approved for the Amex brand under Citi... Starting line of 12,500$, and lots of better benefits like dividend dollars, and cashback. I think its actually a better deal than Amex offers.
Let us know how it goes, I think you can ask them to convert your account over to another Amex brand? They may want you to stick with the Blue for a year.
Comment 7 by colonative
THOMAS1 on 2008-09-02
Thank you. Thomas1. I love Citi also but I have the maximum amount of Citi cards that one can have (3). I will see how AMEX treats me, if they mess up once it will be their last. I handle my credit wisely so I am hoping that I won't have any issues.
on 2008-09-02 Thank you. Thomas1. I love Citi also but I have the maximum amount of Citi cards that one can have (3). I will see how AMEX treats me, if they mess up once it will be their last. I handle my credit wisely so I am hoping that I won't have any issues.
Comment 8 by colonative
UPDATE 11/2008 on 2008-11-04
I opened an American Express Gold card on 4/99 that I closed 3/05 due to the high annual fee.
I opened this Blue on 9/08 for the 15 months of 0% APR. So far, this card has been excellent. They have not F/R'd me or decreased my credit line. Their website is easy to use and making online payments is a breeze.
The best part about this card? Well, as I mentioned, I had the Gold card from 4/99. I just pulled my credit report... American Express BACKDATES your open date on a new account if you previously had an old one! They are reporting my two month old American Express Blue as opened 9/1999!!! That is priceless because we all know what a new account will do to your score. They have the month I opened Blue and the year I opened my first American Express.
With all the negative things people have to say about AMEX right now, I have to say, they totally won me over with this. A two month old account reporting as a 9 year old account, you have to love that.
on 2008-11-04 I opened an American Express Gold card on 4/99 that I closed 3/05 due to the high annual fee.I opened this Blue on 9/08 for the 15 months of 0% APR. So far, this card has been excellent. They have not F/R'd me or decreased my credit line. Their website is easy to use and making online payments is a breeze.
The best part about this card? Well, as I mentioned, I had the Gold card from 4/99. I just pulled my credit report... American Express BACKDATES your open date on a new account if you previously had an old one! They are reporting my two month old American Express Blue as opened 9/1999!!! That is priceless because we all know what a new account will do to your score. They have the month I opened Blue and the year I opened my first American Express.
With all the negative things people have to say about AMEX right now, I have to say, they totally won me over with this. A two month old account reporting as a 9 year old account, you have to love that.
Comment 9 by thomas1
AMEX on 2008-12-19
Colonative, that is priceless, lmao!! Of all the messed up things that Amex does, they finally redeemed themselves by doing something really beneficial!!
That is awesome news. Hmmmm, wonder if I should reapply and see if it happens to me? Nah, just kidding, i'll stay where I'm at.
I wonder if this is the norm for Amex backdating accounts??
on 2008-12-19 Colonative, that is priceless, lmao!! Of all the messed up things that Amex does, they finally redeemed themselves by doing something really beneficial!!That is awesome news. Hmmmm, wonder if I should reapply and see if it happens to me? Nah, just kidding, i'll stay where I'm at.
I wonder if this is the norm for Amex backdating accounts??
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Disclaimer: This content is not provided by American Express. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. Review content is powered by Finance Globe.
