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 1874409 times)

Offline coralsnake

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5600 on: November 13, 2015, 12:36:53 PM »
Is there any benefit of getting  a FR and passing it then over not getting one at all?

FTFY and no.

Many people spend a ton on Amex without FR, theres no inherent benefit of getting then passing FR.

If they sent you a set of GPS luggage tags, then I would say yes.
"Here at DansDeals we don’t do buses." -Dan

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5601 on: November 13, 2015, 12:45:14 PM »
FTFY and no.

Many people spend a ton on Amex without FR, theres no inherent benefit of getting then passing FR.

If they sent you a set of GPS luggage tags, then I would say yes.
huh?

Offline yakrot

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5602 on: November 13, 2015, 12:55:47 PM »

FTFY and no.

Many people spend a ton on Amex without FR, theres no inherent benefit of getting then passing FR.

If they sent you a set of GPS luggage tags, then I would say yes.

Offline Centro

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5603 on: November 13, 2015, 01:01:07 PM »
Is there any benefit of getting  a FR and passing it then not getting one at all?
Some claim passing an FR is sort of a green light, not sure how accurate that is.

Offline Yehuda25

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5604 on: November 13, 2015, 01:05:44 PM »
Some claim passing an FR is sort of a green light, not sure how accurate that is.
upthread people say its not, YMMV like everything else.
“To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.”


― Aristotle

Offline meme

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5605 on: November 13, 2015, 01:05:53 PM »

Some claim passing an FR is sort of a green light, not sure how accurate that is.
We'll did anyone here ever get a FR twice?

Offline pixi

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5606 on: November 13, 2015, 01:06:29 PM »


If they sent you a set of GPS luggage tags, then I would say yes.
Ok,  will keep you posted
money doesn't talk......      it SCREAMS !

Offline TimT

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5607 on: November 13, 2015, 01:06:38 PM »
Some claim passing an FR is sort of a green light, not sure how accurate that is.
People have reported getting FR'd again.

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5608 on: November 13, 2015, 01:08:06 PM »
People have reported getting FR'd again.
:P Come on! TimT we expected links to all the people that got FR'd twice!

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5609 on: November 13, 2015, 01:09:23 PM »
We'll did anyone here ever get a FR twice?
It's been reported more than once in this thread. Waiting for TimT to find them...  :)

Offline Dr Moose

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5610 on: November 13, 2015, 01:11:25 PM »
We'll did anyone here ever get a FR twice?
Yes. I have.
Hey there! I am using DansDeals Forums.

Offline yochiek93

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5611 on: November 13, 2015, 01:13:12 PM »
Yes. I have.
How much time in between?

Offline TimT

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5612 on: November 13, 2015, 01:15:03 PM »
Yes. I have.
Did you get a year in between the 2 ?
It's been reported more than once in this thread. Waiting for TimT to find them...  :)
They're all a year or 2 ago.

Offline meme

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5613 on: November 13, 2015, 01:17:46 PM »

Yes. I have.
:( maybe u should check your mezuzos..

Offline Dr Moose

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5614 on: November 13, 2015, 03:18:58 PM »
Did you get a year in between the 2 ?
Was about year and a half between FRs
« Last Edit: November 13, 2015, 03:22:21 PM by Dr Moose »
Hey there! I am using DansDeals Forums.

Offline Baruch

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5615 on: November 15, 2015, 01:30:11 AM »
How do you close your cards? Do you have to do it thru the F/R team?

Offline yochiek93

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5616 on: November 15, 2015, 01:31:41 AM »
How do you close your cards? Do you have to do it thru the F/R team?
F/R not going to well?

Offline Yhgfkj

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5617 on: November 15, 2015, 01:35:40 AM »
How do you close your cards? Do you have to do it thru the F/R team?
chat .

Offline Baruch

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5618 on: November 15, 2015, 01:37:29 AM »
How do you make sure you closed every last card?
My family member that got F/Red, is not sure if they remember every amex card that they have open.

Offline yochiek93

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #5619 on: November 15, 2015, 01:38:55 AM »
How do you make sure you closed every last card?
My family member that got F/Red, is not sure if they remember every amex card that they have open.
Iinm the rep can see all the cards