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 1873466 times)

Offline Aj3042

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #3800 on: April 07, 2015, 04:45:07 PM »
I want to dispute $200 of a $700 charge on a BGR. I'm not sure if they'd credit the whole thing when they investigate or only part (I'm assuming the whole because I've never heard of a partial dispute credit). This credit would cause a surplus on the account, meaning I'd have a surplus/credit of $500. Is this an FR trigger, similar to paying the cc more than you owe them? Any thoughts?

Offline Emkay

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #3801 on: April 07, 2015, 04:50:08 PM »
I want to dispute $200 of a $700 charge on a BGR. I'm not sure if they'd credit the whole thing when they investigate or only part (I'm assuming the whole because I've never heard of a partial dispute credit). This credit would cause a surplus on the account, meaning I'd have a surplus/credit of $500. Is this an FR trigger, similar to paying the cc more than you owe them? Any thoughts?
the first part sounded like turkey garble to me but its totally fine, nothing to be nervous about

Offline Talmid Muvhak

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #3802 on: April 07, 2015, 04:53:14 PM »
I want to dispute $200 of a $700 charge on a BGR. I'm not sure if they'd credit the whole thing when they investigate or only part (I'm assuming the whole because I've never heard of a partial dispute credit). This credit would cause a surplus on the account, meaning I'd have a surplus/credit of $500. Is this an FR trigger, similar to paying the cc more than you owe them? Any thoughts?

buy something for $500
וצדיק באמונתו יחיה

Offline D93

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #3803 on: April 07, 2015, 04:54:57 PM »
(I'm assuming the whole because I've never heard of a partial dispute credit).
They do give "partial dispute credit".

Offline Aj3042

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #3804 on: April 07, 2015, 05:03:45 PM »
buy something for $500
Good idea. Thanks.
They do give "partial dispute credit".
Didn't know thanks for info. I'm assuming partial has to be over the phone?

Offline Aj3042

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #3805 on: April 07, 2015, 05:04:35 PM »
the first part sounded like turkey garble to me but its totally fine, nothing to be nervous about
Why do you say that? Isn't a surplus a trigger?

Offline D93

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #3806 on: April 07, 2015, 05:15:25 PM »
I'm assuming partial has to be over the phone?
No

Offline Emkay

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #3807 on: April 07, 2015, 05:19:20 PM »
Why do you say that? Isn't a surplus a trigger?
Its BS

Offline Aj3042

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #3808 on: April 07, 2015, 05:23:23 PM »
Its BS
So you don't agree with the whole thing? You're not just talking about my case. I thought it was one of the more well established ones (not like "logging in too many times" :D).

Offline Emkay

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #3809 on: April 07, 2015, 05:28:25 PM »
So you don't agree with the whole thing? You're not just talking about my case. I thought it was one of the more well established ones (not like "logging in too many times" :D).
Most of peoples FR speculation is BS.
And I assure that your specific case is not an FR risk

Offline Aj3042

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #3810 on: April 07, 2015, 05:32:13 PM »
Most of peoples FR speculation is BS.
And I assure that your specific case is not an FR risk
I see you edited your original comment (I'm assuming was too detailed for your liking). And in reference to the first one I'm maskim most of the trigger probably has to do with that. Thanks.

Offline jbkr101

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #3811 on: April 12, 2015, 04:12:12 PM »
been doing this for a long time finally got F/R today. right now i have 2 personal and 2 biz cards. i dont have any tax info on my biz can i close my biz cards and still pass on my personal cards.

Offline D93

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #3812 on: April 12, 2015, 04:14:19 PM »
been doing this for a long time finally got F/R today.
Doing what?

Offline jbkr101

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #3813 on: April 12, 2015, 04:16:25 PM »

Offline DMYD

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #3814 on: April 12, 2015, 04:59:28 PM »
been doing this for a long time finally got F/R today. right now i have 2 personal and 2 biz cards. i dont have any tax info on my biz can i close my biz cards and still pass on my personal cards.
I sent in personal for my business and I passed

Offline Aj3042

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #3815 on: April 12, 2015, 05:04:47 PM »
been doing this for a long time finally got F/R today. right now i have 2 personal and 2 biz cards. i dont have any tax info on my biz can i close my biz cards and still pass on my personal cards.
Any clue as to the trigger? Big purchase, chargeback, etc.?

Offline noturbizniss

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #3816 on: April 12, 2015, 05:48:51 PM »
I sent in personal for my business and I passed
Was the business name your own name?
READ THE DARN WIKI!!!!

Chuck Norris...
...can still do FT method
...READS THE WIKI!!!

Offline jbkr101

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #3817 on: April 12, 2015, 05:50:27 PM »
I sent in personal for my business and I passed
agent said i need to have biz name on taxes
Any clue as to the trigger? Big purchase, chargeback, etc.?
couple possible.new card spending 5k on rc and paying back directly from rc. on different card adding a bunch of au and transfering miles to them

Offline DMYD

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #3818 on: April 12, 2015, 05:51:50 PM »
Was the business name your own name?
No some random thing

Offline jbkr101

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #3819 on: April 12, 2015, 09:56:54 PM »
do i need to speak to f/r team to cancel card?