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 1868483 times)

Offline moisheyb

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6900 on: June 07, 2016, 02:41:46 PM »
A friend of mine recently passed a fr with 2 months of bank statements, with little activity, and under $10k.
They did limit his spending to $10,300 though.

Instead of a tax return or to compliment it?

Offline srf60

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6901 on: June 07, 2016, 02:44:22 PM »
Instead of a tax return or to compliment it?
Instead of. He had never filed taxes.

Offline moisheyb

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6902 on: June 07, 2016, 02:44:53 PM »
Instead of. He had never filed taxes.

I should just ask to show bank statements instead?

Offline srf60

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6903 on: June 07, 2016, 02:45:29 PM »
I should just ask to show bank statements instead?
Yup. Tell them you haven't filed your own taxes yet.

Offline moisheyb

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6904 on: June 07, 2016, 02:46:06 PM »
Yup. Tell them you haven't filed your own taxes yet.

Is this good for personal and business cards?

Offline srf60

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6905 on: June 07, 2016, 02:47:14 PM »
Is this good for personal and business cards?
This incident was for a personal card.
Dunno about business cards.

Offline moisheyb

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6906 on: June 07, 2016, 02:48:22 PM »
This incident was for a personal card.
Dunno about business cards.


I have both types. They were asking about the biz. Would they close the business and leave the personal?

Offline ari2955

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6907 on: June 07, 2016, 02:48:47 PM »
A friend of mine recently passed a fr with 2 months of bank statements, with little activity, and under $10k.
They did limit his spending to $10,300 though.

On a single account, or total across multiple accounts?


Offline srf60

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6908 on: June 07, 2016, 03:09:02 PM »
On a single account, or total across multiple accounts?
A single cc. Was a personal plat.

Offline David Smith

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6909 on: June 07, 2016, 03:19:22 PM »
FR rep isn't in the mood of Mr. Sara today.  >:(


Maybe I should try the transgender routine. June is National Pride Month...
« Last Edit: June 07, 2016, 03:22:59 PM by David Smith »
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 chinagel

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6910 on: June 07, 2016, 03:43:10 PM »
FR rep isn't in the mood of Mr. Sara today.  >:(


Maybe I should try the transgender routine. June is National Pride Month...
just claim straight female

Offline Yehuda25

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6911 on: June 07, 2016, 04:44:46 PM »
FR rep isn't in the mood of Mr. Sara today.  >:(


Maybe I should try the transgender routine. June is National Pride Month...
don't mess with fr reps... they ain't no indians.
“To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.”


― Aristotle

Offline yochiek93

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6912 on: June 07, 2016, 04:57:15 PM »
just claim straight female
With that voice?

Offline yochiek93

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6913 on: June 07, 2016, 04:58:14 PM »


FR rep isn't in the mood of Mr. Sara today.  >:(


Maybe I should try the transgender routine. June is National Pride Month...

You've done that for an FR before

Offline chinagel

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6914 on: June 07, 2016, 07:07:22 PM »
With that voice?
worked for me. She even apologized for calling me mr ;D

Offline David Smith

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6915 on: June 08, 2016, 03:00:25 PM »
Got a phone call but no email. Does that mean it's not an f/r?
Check if your spending is frozen.
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 David Smith

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6916 on: June 08, 2016, 03:02:55 PM »
Would it say it on my online account?
Yes
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 David Smith

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6917 on: June 08, 2016, 03:07:07 PM »
It is  :( Does that mean f/r?
Yes. Call.
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 srf60

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6918 on: June 08, 2016, 03:07:26 PM »
It is  :( Does that mean f/r?
If it sais "charging suspended", its an FR.
Good luck.

Offline srf60

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #6919 on: June 08, 2016, 03:09:25 PM »
I know many people that were hit with an FR in the past week, myself included.
It seems that it has to with the plats, as many emails state  that account number. Just my theory.