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 1856140 times)

Offline Baruch

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6200 on: December 29, 2015, 08:24:07 PM »
If Amex leaves a message on your machine that you're under F/R, does the 14 day clock start ticking? Or only after they talk to you?

Offline Yehuda25

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6201 on: December 29, 2015, 08:34:07 PM »
If Amex leaves a message on your machine that you're under F/R, does the 14 day clock start ticking? Or only after they talk to you?
Ive heard it both ways, not sure.
“To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.”


― Aristotle

Offline srap

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6202 on: December 29, 2015, 11:41:03 PM »
Ive heard it both ways, not sure.
Only after they make contact.  If they can't reach you by phone, they will mail a letter.

Offline zer0k1

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6203 on: December 30, 2015, 07:20:21 PM »
A family member just got a US Amex card but he doesn't have a US Bank account. I have been FR'd before. Is it ok for me to pay his card using my bank account? What about my Serve card? Or should I try to arrange for his Canadian USD account to pay his US Amex?

Offline David Smith

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6204 on: January 02, 2016, 06:37:23 PM »
Finally got the FR I was expecting. Took a couple of days longer than I thought.
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 #6205 on: January 02, 2016, 06:37:50 PM »
Finally got the FR I was expecting. Took a couple of days longer than I thought.
Good luck

Offline TimT

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6206 on: January 02, 2016, 06:38:57 PM »
Finally got the FR I was expecting. Took a couple of days longer than I thought.
Holiday season. Why were you expecting it ?

Offline David Smith

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6207 on: January 02, 2016, 06:41:31 PM »
Holiday season. Why were you expecting it ?
New accounts with some money being spent.
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 joeb1

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6208 on: January 02, 2016, 06:45:02 PM »
New accounts with some money being spent.

What type of money are we talking about ?

Offline TimT

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6209 on: January 02, 2016, 06:46:24 PM »
What type of money are we talking about ?
Its usually enough to get the signup bonus immediately. :)

Offline David Smith

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6210 on: January 02, 2016, 06:49:20 PM »
Its usually enough to get the signup bonus immediately. :)
+1. For biz plats.
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 youkay

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6211 on: January 02, 2016, 06:58:42 PM »

Finally got the FR I was expecting. Took a couple of days longer than I thought.
Good luck!

Offline Yehuda25

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6212 on: January 02, 2016, 07:05:12 PM »
Finally got the FR I was expecting. Took a couple of days longer than I thought.
again for you personally?
“To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.”


― Aristotle

Offline David Smith

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6213 on: January 02, 2016, 07:17:20 PM »
again for you personally?
Nope, household member.
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 Yehuda25

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6214 on: January 02, 2016, 07:19:21 PM »
Nope, household member.
pheew, I was hoping they don't fr a second time so fast.
“To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.”


― Aristotle

Offline David Smith

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6215 on: January 02, 2016, 07:19:55 PM »
pheew, I was hoping they don't fr a second time so fast.
I'm hoping I don't get hit again because of it.
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 afro

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6216 on: January 04, 2016, 10:23:31 AM »
Finished with FR a couple of weeks ago and just got approved for my second biz gold. Anyone know if this card will have limits?
I will not respond to PM about the UPS method.

I will not respond to PM about the BBLD method.

Offline yochiek93

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6217 on: January 04, 2016, 10:24:26 AM »
Finished with FR a couple of weeks ago and just got approved for my second biz gold. Anyone know if this card will have limits?
Did it mention a cap

Offline youkay

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6218 on: January 04, 2016, 11:12:39 AM »

Finished with FR a couple of weeks ago and just got approved for my second biz gold. Anyone know if this card will have limits?
It shouldnt

Offline afro

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6219 on: January 04, 2016, 12:19:47 PM »
Did it mention a cap

on my current cards yes on this one no
I will not respond to PM about the UPS method.

I will not respond to PM about the BBLD method.