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 1873574 times)

Offline shulem92

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7420 on: December 22, 2016, 08:15:18 PM »
right so i techinically am still living at home (with regard to the gov't). so i cant prove anything.
I was also. What did you tell the rep when they called

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7421 on: December 22, 2016, 08:45:28 PM »
I passed with less than 10k
You had a tax return or pay stubs?
"JS [is] a fetid cesspool of unvarnished linguistic manure, with lots of useless drivel and post-padding." -Moishebatchy

Offline shulem92

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7422 on: December 22, 2016, 10:04:06 PM »
You had a tax return or pay stubs?
Neither. Bank statements showing very little activity and a balance of 2k

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7423 on: December 22, 2016, 10:05:33 PM »
Neither. Bank statements showing very little activity and a balance of 2k
Nice, I at least had paystubs showing around 17k a year plus bank statement with almost no balance or large activity.
"JS [is] a fetid cesspool of unvarnished linguistic manure, with lots of useless drivel and post-padding." -Moishebatchy

Offline Mplace

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7424 on: December 22, 2016, 10:50:07 PM »
Nice, I at least had paystubs showing around 17k a year plus bank statement with almost no balance or large activity.
and you passed without cuts?
What's your plan for yud shvat?

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7425 on: December 22, 2016, 10:50:29 PM »
and you passed without cuts?
With cuts.
"JS [is] a fetid cesspool of unvarnished linguistic manure, with lots of useless drivel and post-padding." -Moishebatchy

Offline Mplace

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7426 on: December 22, 2016, 10:51:16 PM »
With cuts.
how far back in pay stubs do they ask for?
What's your plan for yud shvat?

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7427 on: December 22, 2016, 10:52:00 PM »
how far back in pay stubs do they ask for?
Only a few months IIRC.
"JS [is] a fetid cesspool of unvarnished linguistic manure, with lots of useless drivel and post-padding." -Moishebatchy

Offline Mplace

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7428 on: December 22, 2016, 10:54:23 PM »
Only a few months IIRC.
i guess i can't yet pass with pay stubs, goda make sure i'm good for another month  ;)
What's your plan for yud shvat?

Offline Mplace

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7429 on: December 22, 2016, 10:54:56 PM »
Nice, I at least had paystubs showing around 17k a year plus bank statement with almost no balance or large activity.
b4 tax or after ?
What's your plan for yud shvat?

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7430 on: December 22, 2016, 10:55:51 PM »
i guess i can't yet pass with pay stubs, goda make sure i'm good for another month  ;)
Lol, I just checked, it was 3 months but that may very well vary between reps.
"JS [is] a fetid cesspool of unvarnished linguistic manure, with lots of useless drivel and post-padding." -Moishebatchy

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7431 on: December 22, 2016, 10:56:02 PM »
"JS [is] a fetid cesspool of unvarnished linguistic manure, with lots of useless drivel and post-padding." -Moishebatchy

Offline Mplace

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7432 on: December 22, 2016, 10:57:44 PM »
Lol, I just checked, it was 3 months but that may very well vary between reps.
why would they need 3 months if pay stubs say ytd on it?
What's your plan for yud shvat?

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7433 on: December 22, 2016, 10:58:57 PM »
why would they need 3 months if pay stubs say ytd on it?
I don't know, they asked me to fax in my previous 3 pay stubs and bank account statements.
"JS [is] a fetid cesspool of unvarnished linguistic manure, with lots of useless drivel and post-padding." -Moishebatchy

Offline Mplace

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7434 on: December 22, 2016, 11:00:25 PM »
I don't know, they asked me to fax in my previous 3 pay stubs and bank account statements.
i passed a while back with just bank statements (with not much of a sitting balance) but i dont think ill be so lucky again
What's your plan for yud shvat?

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7435 on: December 22, 2016, 11:00:52 PM »
i passed a while back with just bank statements (with not much of a sitting balance) but i dont think ill be so lucky again
You're under review?
"JS [is] a fetid cesspool of unvarnished linguistic manure, with lots of useless drivel and post-padding." -Moishebatchy

Offline Mplace

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7436 on: December 22, 2016, 11:01:15 PM »
I don't know, they asked me to fax in my previous 3 pay stubs and bank account statements.
previous 3 or previous 3 months ?
What's your plan for yud shvat?

Offline Mplace

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7437 on: December 22, 2016, 11:01:52 PM »
You're under review?
no, thank g-d not, but now that i can pass, time to.......
What's your plan for yud shvat?

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7438 on: December 22, 2016, 11:06:00 PM »
previous 3 or previous 3 months ?
Actually now that I'm looking at the pay stubs that I sent in, they actually wanted my most recent pay stubs and the previous two years December pay stubs I guess to show YTD. I got my FR at the end of February of this year.
"JS [is] a fetid cesspool of unvarnished linguistic manure, with lots of useless drivel and post-padding." -Moishebatchy

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7439 on: December 24, 2016, 01:26:47 PM »
I was also. What did you tell the rep when they called
nothing. quite wierd bc i cant get thru to them. i called liked 15X and then they told me my rep is busy and gave me a new person and same story..