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 1878602 times)

Offline hvaces42

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #4540 on: August 24, 2015, 09:50:30 PM »
I'd definitely dump some in AC.

Or you can just sell and buy back as needed.
Just did AC, topped off Avios, and did some Flying Blue as well.
They said that i could requeat reinstatement of the personal cards. Anyone know what that entails?
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Offline DMYD

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #4541 on: August 24, 2015, 10:25:59 PM »
Just did AC, topped off Avios, and did some Flying Blue as well.
They said that i could requeat reinstatement of the personal cards. Anyone know what that entails?
Do you have a personal Income?

Offline hvaces42

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #4542 on: August 24, 2015, 11:24:29 PM »
Do you have a personal Income?
Last years returns are nothing 1k in income.
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Offline DMYD

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #4543 on: August 24, 2015, 11:33:29 PM »
Last years returns are nothing 1k in income.
Then you may have a hard time to get it reinstated if they ask for your personal Tax Return. 

Offline zer0k1

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #4544 on: September 01, 2015, 05:17:33 PM »
I was recently fr'd I shut down all cards. Applied for more and was approved, then fr'd 2 weeks later so again closing all cards. However for someone passed an fr but was told to close all cards except 1, would he be less likely to get hit with an fr if he applies for more cards now that the fr is over and he "passed"?

Offline Jm1248

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #4545 on: September 01, 2015, 07:27:11 PM »
I was recently fr'd I shut down all cards. Applied for more and was approved, then fr'd 2 weeks later so again closing all cards. However for someone passed an fr but was told to close all cards except 1, would he be less likely to get hit with an fr if he applies for more cards now that the fr is over and he "passed"?
How long after fr did you apply for new cards? Did you do anything to trigger second fr? Don't think passing fr makes it any less likely to get hit again

Offline jonathanb613

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Amex Financial Audit, Pleas help!
« Reply #4546 on: September 02, 2015, 01:46:41 PM »
Hello, I am a 21 year old business owner, started about 7 months ago and doing quite well.I spend on average 150k per month on my Amex platinum card. I pay it off in full each month and it has been going fine until today.I received a call from the financial auditing team, letting me know that my spending abilities will be frozen until I submit all of my financials and bank statements for review. (I am currently working with my accountant/ bookkeeper to get all the info but it will take a few days)

Does anyone have any pointers or tips on what to provide that will allow me to keep spending with the same limits that I now have? Any information or help is greatly appreciated!!

Offline SearchGuy

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Re: Amex Financial Audit, Pleas help!
« Reply #4547 on: September 02, 2015, 01:47:27 PM »
1 Post! Wow you should be the expert here

Offline SearchGuy

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #4548 on: September 02, 2015, 01:48:44 PM »
Mods I'm impressed, I'm changing my signature right now.

Offline AsherO

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #4549 on: September 02, 2015, 01:50:57 PM »
Mods I'm impressed, I'm changing my signature right now.

I was actually about to merge this with thread/topic 8. Isn't it interesting this was one of the first threads started on DDF?
DDF FFB (Forum From Birth)

Offline etech0

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #4550 on: September 02, 2015, 02:01:34 PM »
Mods I'm impressed, I'm changing my signature right now.
Can't wait to see :)
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline Jm1248

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Re: Amex Financial Audit, Pleas help!
« Reply #4551 on: September 02, 2015, 02:14:19 PM »
Hello, I am a 21 year old business owner, started about 7 months ago and doing quite well.I spend on average 150k per month on my Amex platinum card. I pay it off in full each month and it has been going fine until today.I received a call from the financial auditing team, letting me know that my spending abilities will be frozen until I submit all of my financials and bank statements for review. (I am currently working with my accountant/ bookkeeper to get all the info but it will take a few days)

Does anyone have any pointers or tips on what to provide that will allow me to keep spending with the same limits that I now have? Any information or help is greatly appreciated!!
You can provide the docs and hope for the best. Don't think there is much you can do. Maybe it would help to explain to them why you need such a high credit line and how you plan on keeping up all the payments

Offline tzifanya54

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Re: Amex Financial Audit, Pleas help!
« Reply #4552 on: September 02, 2015, 02:21:12 PM »
Hello, I am a 21 year old business owner, started about 7 months ago and doing quite well.I spend on average 150k per month on my Amex platinum card. I pay it off in full each month and it has been going fine until today.I received a call from the financial auditing team, letting me know that my spending abilities will be frozen until I submit all of my financials and bank statements for review. (I am currently working with my accountant/ bookkeeper to get all the info but it will take a few days)

Does anyone have any pointers or tips on what to provide that will allow me to keep spending with the same limits that I now have? Any information or help is greatly appreciated!!
The bigger issue for you will be that they might impose a hard limit in the charge card. They are known to do it at the end of a FR, quite often.

Offline yitrap

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #4553 on: September 02, 2015, 02:25:21 PM »
I was actually about to merge this with thread/topic 8. Isn't it interesting this was one of the first threads started on DDF?
Number 1 doesn't exist anymore but number 3 and 4 were Venice and Maui master threads, who was Levi and how did he have a guest profile?

Offline SearchGuy

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #4554 on: September 02, 2015, 02:34:10 PM »
I was actually about to merge this with thread/topic 8. Isn't it interesting this was one of the first threads started on DDF?
It is considering that by thread 8 someone was F/Red already... today that would mean within 5 minutes...
BTW I listened to your signature

Offline hvaces42

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #4555 on: September 03, 2015, 06:13:00 PM »
So I'm just not understanding what exactly is going on with my accounts. F/R said that the were cancelling my accounts. Everything is still accessible when i log in except that it says charging suspended call ******** etc. SPG sent me new cards that i received today, 10 days post accounts being cancelled. I was able to activate cards. I chat with rep and he says they just need me to call in about a fraud alert.?!?! Im afraid to call and see if it gets transferred to F/R dept.
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Offline DMYD

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #4556 on: September 03, 2015, 06:58:39 PM »
So I'm just not understanding what exactly is going on with my accounts. F/R said that the were cancelling my accounts. Everything is still accessible when i log in except that it says charging suspended call ******** etc. SPG sent me new cards that i received today, 10 days post accounts being cancelled. I was able to activate cards. I chat with rep and he says they just need me to call in about a fraud alert.?!?! Im afraid to call and see if it gets transferred to F/R dept.
If your FRd your FRd just call and get over with it.

Offline Jm1248

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #4557 on: September 03, 2015, 07:00:01 PM »
So I'm just not understanding what exactly is going on with my accounts. F/R said that the were cancelling my accounts. Everything is still accessible when i log in except that it says charging suspended call ******** etc. SPG sent me new cards that i received today, 10 days post accounts being cancelled. I was able to activate cards. I chat with rep and he says they just need me to call in about a fraud alert.?!?! Im afraid to call and see if it gets transferred to F/R dept.
All your accounts were shut or only biz? If you had pending accounts those would automatically be placed under fr as well

Offline hvaces42

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #4558 on: September 03, 2015, 08:27:30 PM »
All your accounts were shut or only biz? If you had pending accounts those would automatically be placed under fr as well
They verbally told us that they would be cancelling all biz and personal. Havent gotten anything in writing.
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Offline Jm1248

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #4559 on: September 03, 2015, 09:00:34 PM »
They verbally told us that they would be cancelling all biz and personal. Havent gotten anything in writing.
So what are the new spg cards from? Is it something you had applied for but not yet received?