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 1874445 times)

Offline meme

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5560 on: November 12, 2015, 08:10:36 PM »

Not so sure it helps
We'll if you are not careful, it sure helps u get FR

Offline Aaaron

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5561 on: November 12, 2015, 08:20:10 PM »
If you accurately report your income and you have a legit business[es], is there any reason to be worried about not passing?

Offline Baruch

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5562 on: November 12, 2015, 08:26:16 PM »
Why are people scared of getting shut down and try to shut down themselves?

So they shouldn't have on their Credit Reports, account shutdown by Bank?

Or, it's harder to get approved with Amex, if they shut you down, and it's easier to get approved later if you shut down yourself?

Offline meme

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5563 on: November 12, 2015, 08:28:59 PM »

Why are people scared of getting shut down and try to shut down themselves?

So they shouldn't have on their Credit Reports, account shutdown by Bank?

Or, it's harder to get approved with Amex, if they shut you down, and it's easier to get approved later if you shut down yourself?
Primary reason most people cite is first.

Don't know if second is true.

Offline Baruch

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5564 on: November 12, 2015, 08:30:23 PM »
Primary reason most people cite is first.

Don't know if second is true.
Isn't that whole CR reason overrated?

Offline yochiek93

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5565 on: November 12, 2015, 08:36:15 PM »
Isn't that whole CR reason overrated?
Why do you think so?

Offline meme

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5566 on: November 12, 2015, 08:36:17 PM »

Isn't that whole CR reason overrated?
Maybe. They say most credit checks are automated and it won't pick up on it, it will only be seen on manual cr check, but if your planning on applying for mortgage etc soon, may be risk to consider

Offline David Smith

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5567 on: November 12, 2015, 08:45:17 PM »


If your planning on applying for mortgage etc soon, may be risk to consider
That's what i think also. The last thing i want then asking me is why do i have five shutdowns on my report.
Who do you think you are fooling? You think you are going to pull a quick one on your Creator? Good luck with that.
JTZ

Offline yochiek93

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5568 on: November 12, 2015, 08:47:26 PM »
That's what i think also. The last thing i want then asking me is why do i have five shutdowns on my report.
also if you do a 2bm/3bm.... There is a chance you'll need recon

Offline samfeldm

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5569 on: November 12, 2015, 09:59:42 PM »
Charging suspended has nothing to do with FR . I get it all the time somewhere between 500K and 1M balance . Goes away as soon as I pay up .

Offline TimT

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5570 on: November 12, 2015, 10:02:02 PM »
Charging suspended has nothing to do with FR . I get it all the time somewhere between 500K and 1M balance .
Do your statements close with that balance ? :)

Offline samfeldm

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5571 on: November 12, 2015, 10:09:18 PM »
Yes. Freezes at some point then I just pay on the last day I can.

Offline yochiek93

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5572 on: November 12, 2015, 10:11:03 PM »
Yes. Freezes at some point then I just pay on the last day I can.
Wow what's your credit score (if you don't mind me asking)

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5573 on: November 12, 2015, 10:16:25 PM »
1. Has there been a recent spike in F/Rs

2. Is applying for a personal 3bm a trigger for F/R?
So I am guessing that your relative did indeed get an FR?

Offline samfeldm

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5574 on: November 12, 2015, 10:20:29 PM »
Wow what's your credit score (if you don't mind me asking)
Dunno usually high . except sometimes I max out every single cc I have then it drops for couple weeks or a bit longer .

Offline pixi

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5575 on: November 12, 2015, 10:21:15 PM »
Dunno usually high . except sometimes I max out every single cc I have then it drops for couple weeks or a bit longer .
I guess it's all on a business card
money doesn't talk......      it SCREAMS !

Offline Hershelsdeals

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5576 on: November 12, 2015, 10:22:07 PM »
Dunno usually high . except sometimes I max out every single cc I have then it drops for couple weeks or a bit longer .
Why don't you use Biz cards for spending those amounts?

Offline Hershelsdeals

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5577 on: November 12, 2015, 10:22:45 PM »
I guess it's all on a business card
If its a business card it shouldn't affect his score

Offline samfeldm

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5578 on: November 12, 2015, 10:22:58 PM »
I guess it's all on a business card
Yes. Can you even spend 1M on a personal card ?

Offline yakrot

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5579 on: November 12, 2015, 10:27:39 PM »

Yes. Can you even spend 1M on a personal card ?
why not