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 1854744 times)

Offline AJK

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1060 on: March 16, 2012, 12:25:16 PM »
So if I claim that I'm home and my household income is my parents income?

Meaning I send them my fathers tax papers.

Zero traction at the F/R stage.

(Though if you have a joint account with them with activity AND you can get AmEx to accept it, that may work.)
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

Offline dans fan

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1061 on: March 16, 2012, 01:25:58 PM »
Guys its FR or FR'd.
They're not making donuts...
well i got fried by them (at least thats the way i feel about it)

Offline josh nyc

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1062 on: March 18, 2012, 07:08:24 PM »
well i got fried by them (at least thats the way i feel about it)

+1 :) I was going to write the exact same thing

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1063 on: March 18, 2012, 11:14:24 PM »
Ha, "saying" doesn't work at the F/R stage. They want proof. Tax docs or bank account docs.

+1

Saying anything that isn't reflected in the docs they request will multiply your chances of account closure.
DDF FFB (Forum From Birth)

Offline lcyitz

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Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1064 on: March 18, 2012, 11:24:14 PM »
So if I don't have an income and I get an FR ( chas v'sholom) I'm done?

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1065 on: March 18, 2012, 11:35:07 PM »
So if I don't have an income and I get an FR ( chas v'sholom) I'm done?

Unless you have significant assets and are able to convince them to accept that.
DDF FFB (Forum From Birth)

Offline joey89

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1066 on: March 19, 2012, 05:17:10 AM »
Unless you have significant assets and are able to convince them to accept that.
-1.
 I survived (barely) with none of the above

Offline Drago

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1067 on: March 19, 2012, 07:05:06 AM »
-1.
 I survived (barely) with none of the above
But "barely" is the operative word.

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1068 on: March 19, 2012, 07:23:12 AM »
But "barely" is the operative word.

+1

YMMV on F\R, but it's all about how strict they are with you and which docs you can convince them to accept and then furnish those docs.
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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1069 on: March 19, 2012, 09:05:12 AM »
-1.
 I survived (barely) with none of the above

So you has no reportable income, no assets, you showed them nothing, and you survived?
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1070 on: March 19, 2012, 09:22:13 AM »
-1.
 I survived (barely) with none of the above
Please explain

Offline aj26

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1071 on: March 19, 2012, 11:04:23 AM »
/can i get a bank of america amex card if I was shut down by amex in an fr?

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1072 on: March 19, 2012, 11:47:33 AM »
/can i get a bank of america amex card if I was shut down by amex in an fr?
Yes.

But you won't get the Amex Benifets.

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1073 on: March 19, 2012, 11:52:34 AM »
like what?
Will i still get the sign up bonus?

Offline dans fan

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1074 on: March 19, 2012, 02:20:11 PM »
+1

YMMV on F\R, but it's all about how strict they are with you and which docs you can convince them to accept and then furnish those docs.
strict depends on the rep and the reason you got flagged

Offline joey89

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1075 on: March 20, 2012, 04:20:49 PM »
So you has no reportable income, no assets, you showed them nothing, and you survived?
Correct. with my SPG and my PLAT card intact, had to close PRG and Delta
I did show bank statements but nothing major on that front either

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1076 on: March 20, 2012, 04:25:43 PM »
Correct. with my SPG and my PLAT card intact, had to close PRG and Delta
I did show bank statements but nothing major on that front either
I would have have a hard time believing that you actually had a financial review.

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1077 on: March 20, 2012, 04:31:42 PM »
Correct. with my SPG and my PLAT card intact, had to close PRG and Delta
I did show bank statements but nothing major on that front either

So you has no reportable income, no assets, you showed them nothing, and you survived?

Correct. with my SPG and my PLAT card intact, had to close PRG and Delta
I did show bank statements but nothing major on that front either
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1078 on: March 20, 2012, 04:34:33 PM »
I would have have a hard time believing that you actually had a financial review.
I had f/r after putting a $6k charge on my plat. my accounts were frozen for 17 days. Sent in bank statements that had money in and out of the account, but not a high balance. And survived. If you don't want don't believe it
@ajk for the amount I had on my bank statements might as well have been nothing ;)

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Re: Amex F/R Master Thread
« Reply #1079 on: March 20, 2012, 04:39:58 PM »
I had f/r after putting a $6k charge on my plat. my accounts were frozen for 17 days. Sent in bank statements that had money in and out of the account, but not a high balance. And survived. If you don't want don't believe it
@ajk for the amount I had on my bank statements might as well have been nothing ;)
I believe you.

You are a lucky fellow.