Topic Wiki

1)   What is a Financial Review?
In short - American Express occasionally freezes the credit card accounts of individuals with high-risk patterns, or for new account holders.
They request a lot of personal information, such as IRS tax returns, bank statements, letters from Banks ect…

Let’s break it down into 2 different types of Financial Reviews
A)   Mini Financial Review
B)   Financial Review

A)   Mini Financial Review

(please fill in info) This form of financial review, is usually a short process, it could be as short as one phone call. American Express might feel a need to verify your finances for whatever reason, and they could call you to verify information. Your accounts could be suspended from using until you get in touch with them, typically they will restore your accounts after a simple phone call.

B)   Financial Review
This type of Financial Review is very common. It often happens when opening a new account for the first time, usually if you are opening a Charge Card, or a Business Card or if on a new account you start off will a lot of high spending.
American Express will suspend your account/s, they will not remove the suspension until the review is over, which takes around 2 weeks.

If you cannot provide the required information, shut down your account right away.

2)   Triggers

Look below for a list of triggers and links.
 
3)   What will happen?
Your accounts will get suspended. You will be able to log in online, and see account activity, but you will get a message that charging is suspended.

They will contact you via phone and email. Once you get in touch with them, (typically) you will be assigned a specific representative to work on your case.

The will require mainly IRS Tax returns. The point of a Financial Review is to verify your income. They may also require Back statements, a letter from a Bank to verify your address, and other documents. People have reported that they did survive a Financial Review with just bank statements.

As long as you could provide the documents they request you will be fine, they might lower your credit lines, but you should be able keep your account open. Even as low as a $6000 tax return people have been able to survive a Financial Review.

In cases of a Financial Review after opening a Business Card, you will need proof of Business income.

If you cannot provide the required information, shut down your account right away.

As long as you could provide the documents they request you will be fine, they might lower your credit lines, but you should be able keep your account open. Even as low as a $6000 tax return people have been able to survive a Financial Review.

4)   What Steps Should I take?

Get in touch with Amex as soon as you could. Send in the request inform promptly. You will have a rep that will be working with you, and telling you what documents are needed. 4506-t is a transcript request from the IRS for you last tax return. You will need to fill out this form, fax it to Amex, it will take them 24-48 hours until they receive this form, they will request the tax return from the IRS that could take about a week.

Important: you only have 2 attempts to send them the fax, if they reject it after 2 attempts you will get shut down. You don't get more than 2 attempts. (source)
You may be able to get 3 attempts if you ask for a manager.

You need to be on top of it, if you don’t follow thru, they could shut your accounts down.


5)   What to do if American Express closed your accounts?

Once American Express closes your accounts, the only way to get back on is if you have the required information needed to pass a Financial Review. They will require you to request a 4506 form from the IRS (which will cost you $57) before they even approve any of your future applications.


To start you may want to read up here:

F/R triggers:
[/color]


Credit line of $25k or more
http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=1438.msg10906#msg10906

Family member receiving FR can cause other family members to get Fr'ed as well
http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=6223.msg74003#msg74003 http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=8.msg24759#msg24759

Living at same address as someone who was FR'ed
http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=8.msg77046#msg77046

Using majority of CL
http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=7526.msg87716#msg87716

Large cash advance
http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=5908.msg82906#msg82906

Nothing...
http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=2723.msg30062#msg30062

Changing name on business card
http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=3589.msg38101#msg38101

Mint purchases
http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=146.msg22932#msg22932

Amex Gift Card Purchases
http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=2422.msg26670#msg26670
http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=8.msg40106#msg40106

Unusual spending
http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=8.msg7627#msg7627
http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=3710.msg39597#msg39597

Amazon payments (possibly)
http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=3657.msg88656#msg88656
http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=3524.msg42436#msg42436

Using close to reported income
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/2537

Logging in online too much (!)
http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=8.msg13741#msg13741

Prepaying
http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=1712.msg13732#msg13732
http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=3710.msg39725#msg39725

Adding Cardholders (many?)
http://www.dansdeals.com/forums/index.php?topic=8.msg49318#msg49318

Refunds exceeding total payments made on the card since it was opened
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=8.msg845606#msg845606
[/font]
Though not exactly F/R, it's worth mentioning that Amex takes returned payments very seriously.
They often shut all accounts without going through the F/R process.

Author Topic: Amex F/R Master Thread  (Read 1875099 times)

Offline Jay the PRESIDENT

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1380 on: July 22, 2012, 04:30:01 PM »
Doesn't need to be a lot, they'll just cut the CL, in worst case.
Biz has reported income?
biz isnt a separate entity  ...

Offline meshugener

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1381 on: July 22, 2012, 04:42:37 PM »
So what? Did you file schedule c?
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Offline Jay the PRESIDENT

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1382 on: July 23, 2012, 06:36:50 PM »
just got the letter from amex

it says if i dont respond they wont consider my application...

is that a god thing? and they wont close my accounts?

Offline AsherO

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1383 on: July 23, 2012, 06:41:30 PM »
just got the letter from amex

it says if i dont respond they wont consider my application...

is that a god thing? and they wont close my accounts?

Is is specifically regarding your recent apps, what are they asking?
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Offline Jay the PRESIDENT

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1384 on: July 23, 2012, 06:46:05 PM »
proof of address and  4506 t

Offline AsherO

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1385 on: July 23, 2012, 07:12:29 PM »
proof of address and  4506 t

Do they mention your recent apps? 4506-T (and not 4506)?
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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1386 on: July 23, 2012, 07:39:07 PM »
4506 T

and the letter is referenced to my recent app for gold biz card

Offline AsherO

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1387 on: July 23, 2012, 08:11:31 PM »
4506 T

and the letter is referenced to my recent app for gold biz card

Doesn't sound like your current cards are in jeopardy. If they were you'd have these big red warning letters telling you to contact Amex when you view your account summary online. Your cards would also get declined when trying to use them.
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Offline yare

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1388 on: August 05, 2012, 01:26:18 PM »
from my search it seems that noone has ever been fr'ed due to shady spending on a amex branded citi or bofa card.  is that correct?

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1389 on: August 05, 2012, 01:28:11 PM »
Considering that F/R is only done by AMEX it wouldn't make much sense for it to be done on a Citi or BOFA card.
« Last Edit: August 05, 2012, 01:38:04 PM by Dan »
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Re: Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1390 on: August 05, 2012, 01:34:13 PM »
Considering that F/R is only done by AMEX it would've make much sense for it to be done on a Citi or BOFA card.
I guess you mean *wouldn't
I'm just say'in©®

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1391 on: August 05, 2012, 01:38:18 PM »
I guess you mean *wouldn't
Yup, autocorrect at its finest.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1392 on: August 05, 2012, 01:39:07 PM »
Considering that F/R is only done by AMEX it wouldn't make much sense for it to be done on a Citi or BOFA card.
i would think so, but the truth is i have no idea how the amex branded cards from other banks work in the first place; hence my being unsure. 

do you know what kind of relationship it is when you have a citi amex? (ie what about the card is amex other than the fact that it has 15 digits and a 4 digit security)   
« Last Edit: August 05, 2012, 01:53:49 PM by Dan »

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1393 on: August 05, 2012, 01:43:12 PM »
In that case its just like the relationship you have with Visa or Mastercard.
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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1394 on: August 05, 2012, 01:53:13 PM »
i would think so, but the truth is i have no idea how the amex branded cards from other banks work in the first place; hence my being unsure. 

do you know what kind of relationship it is when you have a citi amex? (ie what about the card is amex other than the fact that it has 15 digits and a 4 digit security)

Certain amex promos apply to the citi amex.

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1395 on: August 05, 2012, 02:02:20 PM »
and since theyre not the actual lender they don't care what kind of spend you're putting on the card?

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1396 on: August 05, 2012, 02:05:12 PM »
and since theyre not the actual lender they don't care what kind of spend you're putting on the card?

How would they what your spending on?

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1397 on: August 05, 2012, 02:20:07 PM »
How would they what your spending on?
everything is processed through them...

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1398 on: August 05, 2012, 02:53:07 PM »
and since theyre not the actual lender they don't care what kind of spend you're putting on the card?

Again, why would they care? They're only the processor, not the creditor.
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amex platinum business 100k points offer
« Reply #1399 on: August 07, 2012, 01:27:53 PM »
i got an offer for amex business card with 100k signup points. unfortunately they want tax returns which i cannot provide is there anyway around this???