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 1816635 times)

Online yelped

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7980 on: August 07, 2018, 12:13:17 AM »
sent the requested form (obviously my income was way way less than i had stated on app.) a week later i got a call that they just lowered my cl to $5k.
seems like all the hype about F/R is if you don't cooperate with them
Seems that way in DW's case, too. I actually had the same income as stated in the application, but they cut it down to $5k, as well after sending in Tax Returns. A year later, I got a letter that they removed the cap.

Offline yk

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7981 on: August 07, 2018, 07:42:24 PM »
Does anyone have experience/know for a fact if you can file and be approved for RP etc.while under a F/R? What about after you close or they close your account?

Offline hvaces42

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7982 on: August 17, 2018, 07:48:54 PM »
Rep insists that she need tax returns. Total credit limits are 5k ED 1k SPG. Asked for supervisor calllback and she says they will tell me the same thing, that they need tax returns to check off the box on their F/R checklist. If supervisor doesnt pan out do any chance they allow me to close ED and leave SPG? I will close before they do if not.
Passed the F/R with $542 in total income reported.  ;D ;D ;D
Fair warning - Any PMs sent in response to forum posts are fair game for ridicule in public.

Offline as2

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7983 on: August 17, 2018, 07:50:12 PM »
Passed the F/R with $542 in total income reported.  ;D ;D ;D
Memories last forever, make them while you can.

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7984 on: August 18, 2018, 09:20:26 PM »
Passed the F/R with $542 in total income reported.  ;D ;D ;D
That's amazing!
Congrats
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Offline Yehuda25

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7985 on: August 18, 2018, 09:41:37 PM »
Passed the F/R with $542 in total income reported.  ;D ;D ;D
congrats!
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Offline eli5757

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7986 on: August 24, 2018, 12:13:35 AM »
Does it make sense that I only have a Financial Review on 2 out of 5 total cards I have? One is Delta Biz which haven't used in a while and spent 15k on the past month and the second is the Blue for Biz which I just signed up for and got but didn't even activate or use yet.

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7987 on: August 24, 2018, 12:14:12 AM »
Does it make sense that I only have a Financial Review on 2 out of 5 total cards I have? One is Delta Biz which haven't used in a while and spent 15k on the past month and the second is the Blue for Biz which I just signed up for and got but didn't even activate or use yet.
Are the rest personal cards?
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Offline eli5757

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7988 on: August 24, 2018, 10:07:56 AM »
Are the rest personal cards?

Nope have a Biz Plat and SPG Biz that works

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7989 on: September 07, 2018, 02:46:30 AM »
They obviously verify the last years tax returns, but do they also verify the tax extension via the IRS?

Offline Hamavin

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7990 on: September 13, 2018, 11:41:58 PM »
Got a call from amex #18002661260 with a reference # to call in with? Anyone know wich department this is?

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7991 on: September 13, 2018, 11:45:34 PM »
Got a call from amex #18002661260 with a reference # to call in with? Anyone know wich department this is?
It's a "account specialist dept."
Did you just apply for a CC?
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Offline Hamavin

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7992 on: September 13, 2018, 11:49:08 PM »
Yea.....Think I  should call back if I already got approved with recon?

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7993 on: September 13, 2018, 11:51:42 PM »
Yea.....Think I  should call back if I already got approved with recon?
I'm not sure is this CC number 5/6 with Amex?
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

Offline Hamavin

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7994 on: September 13, 2018, 11:52:22 PM »
yea

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7995 on: September 13, 2018, 11:56:09 PM »
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

Offline alexstern1

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7996 on: October 03, 2018, 10:48:19 PM »
can points be trannsfered out after a fr is opened

Online mmgfarb

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7997 on: October 03, 2018, 11:41:14 PM »
can points be trannsfered out after a fr is opened
Yes.
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Offline tmendy226

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7998 on: November 11, 2018, 02:58:41 AM »
.
« Last Edit: November 11, 2018, 04:18:01 AM by tmendy226 »

Offline Yehuda25

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #7999 on: November 11, 2018, 10:12:22 AM »
Yes.
+1, just be careful, if they shut it's not easy and not always doable to get them out.
“To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.”


― Aristotle