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 1856501 times)

Offline Super Speed

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #2940 on: March 23, 2014, 07:08:43 PM »

So was there a consensus as to how long to wait after having F/r, closing accounts on own accord, until starting again? 6 months?
I did after 6 months and got approved.

Offline HP58

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #2941 on: March 23, 2014, 07:12:40 PM »
I did after 6 months and got approved.
Without proof of reported income?

Offline sellallpoints

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #2942 on: March 23, 2014, 09:53:25 PM »
I did after 6 months and got approved.
+1

Offline Vosizderneias

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #2943 on: March 23, 2014, 10:47:31 PM »
Does amex f/r for selling miles?

Offline Ephraimh

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #2944 on: March 23, 2014, 11:46:58 PM »

Does amex f/r for selling miles?
nah, not their thing, they're more into busting bubbly spenders.

Offline Super Speed

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #2945 on: March 24, 2014, 12:02:44 AM »

Without proof of reported income?
Yup!

Offline HP58

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #2946 on: March 24, 2014, 12:03:53 AM »
Yup!
Did they close you down post F/R, or did you close 'em right away?

Offline Triple Canopy

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #2947 on: March 26, 2014, 01:30:12 AM »
Is buying VR at CVS (i.e. large purchases at CVS) a trigger?

Offline HP58

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #2948 on: March 26, 2014, 02:45:11 AM »
Is buying VR at CVS (i.e. large purchases at CVS) a trigger?
Yes. Though if you do it slowly and you slip it in between other large purchases you can get away with it.

Offline etech0

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #2949 on: March 26, 2014, 09:30:38 AM »
How long after I fax them my 4506T can I expect to hear from them? Is there a way to confirm that they got it?
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline wonderlust

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #2950 on: March 31, 2014, 03:12:46 AM »
just got new cards after being fr'ed and closed in 2012.friend who has online business was using card for spending and now got fr'ed. they are not after my income as i already sent them that info on my app, rather they r concerned about my business. Any1 had similar sitch? any advise?should i b honest or should i pretend its my business? what type of docs would they request for that?

thanks!

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #2951 on: March 31, 2014, 09:55:45 AM »
How long after I fax them my 4506T can I expect to hear from them? Is there a way to confirm that they got it?
call

Offline Yhgfkj

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #2952 on: March 31, 2014, 10:06:28 AM »
should i try to apply 4 months after an f"r  .   if they ar requesting proof of income could i pass with a low income (same as it is at a f"r) ?

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #2953 on: March 31, 2014, 10:07:01 AM »
How long after I fax them my 4506T can I expect to hear from them? Is there a way to confirm that they got it?
Call the person working on your case. It takes a few days to hear back a response from them

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #2954 on: March 31, 2014, 10:08:50 AM »
just got new cards after being fr'ed and closed in 2012.friend who has online business was using card for spending and now got fr'ed. they are not after my income as i already sent them that info on my app, rather they r concerned about my business. Any1 had similar sitch? any advise?should i b honest or should i pretend its my business? what type of docs would they request for that?

thanks!
Be honest. They are good at picking these things up. They very strongly frown upon others spending on your cards.

They usually do not close accounts for these reasons, but cut the CL.


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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #2955 on: March 31, 2014, 10:09:18 AM »
should i try to apply 4 months after an f"r  .   if they ar requesting proof of income could i pass with a low income (same as it is at a f"r) ?
As long as you have a tax return you should be fine (IME)

Offline Yhgfkj

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #2956 on: March 31, 2014, 10:12:01 AM »
As long as you have a tax return you should be fine (IME)
i'm talking about only 12000 proof of income

Offline wonderlust

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #2957 on: March 31, 2014, 10:20:36 AM »
Be honest. They are good at picking these things up. They very strongly frown upon others spending on your cards.

They usually do not close accounts for these reasons, but cut the CL.
so if i come clean and say its for friend i should come out unscathed?

Offline bar19900

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #2958 on: March 31, 2014, 10:31:21 AM »
so I worry about getting fr'd sometimes because I signed up for the platinum business card and don't have a legit business.  I have plenty of reportable income, but no business income.  Would they shut down my account if I were fr'd?

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #2959 on: March 31, 2014, 10:48:46 AM »
so I worry about getting fr'd sometimes because I signed up for the platinum business card and don't have a legit business.  I have plenty of reportable income, but no business income.  Would they shut down my account if I were fr'd?
I dont know what you wrote on your application. Usually best is to write it is a new business, so if they ask for tax returns you could say you didn't file yet.

Best is to spend slowly, and do not do any of the possible FR triggers, and hopefully you will be fine.