![Credit Card Purchase](/images/articles/other/americanexpressbluecashcreditcard4.jpg)
"During that same conversation with the Amex rep, I asked about the percentages on my purchases. On my statement the rebates indicated only 1.5 percent on gas and groceries and .5 percent on drugs and all other purchases. I knew I would have to wait one year for the rebate but in the meantime I was told it would accumulate and it would reflect on my statement each month--how much I had actually made toward my rebate. I was also aware that there was a $6500 purchase limit before reaching the 5 percent rebate and 1.5 percent would show on my statement.
I assumed that as soon as I had made purchases on Blue Cash totalling $6500, the lower percentages would automatically turn into 5 percent. Wrong. A few days ago, I received a statement from Amex and my usage for the year was $7500 so I was over the $6500. Still I was reading 1.5 and .5 percent on my statement. So I called them again.
'Why hasn't my Blue Cash card converted the rebate over to the higher rate?' I asked. I was told that now, I would start getting 5 percent on all my purchases after $6500. In other words, everything over $6500 entitled me to the higher percentage.
At the same time I was speaking to the Amex rep, I went on the Internet and saw that a class action suit has been filed. I guess many other consumers were led to believe that they would get 5 percent back on gas, drugs and groceries (and everyday purchases on everything else was 1.5 percent) as long as they spent $6500 for the year.
This is very annoying especially because I have another credit card that gives me 3 percent on all my purchases, from the first dollar spent.
If I read between the lines, or if Amex told me, I would never have purchased this card. I would have put my moving expenses (totalling over $5,000 that I even offered to pre-pay) on the blue cash card—they wouldn't let me. That would have automatically put me over my $6500 limit. Instead, I used my Chase credit card and I got $150 back.
I think Amex gives these cards out to consumers with small limits, those who cannot make large purchases on the card so they can never reach that $6500; instead when the year ends, their balance goes back to zero.
Amex Credit Limitation
Since last October, I put about $500 on my blue card each week. When I wanted to make a big purchase, I was over the limit of $2,000. Even when I called and said I would deposit $5,000 cash on my Blue Card, they wouldn't accept it because they don't want to pay the 5 percent.
READ MORE AMEX BLUE CASH LEGAL NEWS
Tina, my fiancé and I have asked for a credit limit increase 4 times. We both have a good credit rating and we have never paid Amex a penny in interest—so why won't they increase the limit? I have one credit card with a $30,000 limit and another with $19,500. And Tina has a perfect credit rating. That's how American Express wants to do business: They come out with this great plan but won't let people use it.
We aren't talking a lot of money here: Amex owes us 3.5 percent on 5 percent. So that's a few hundred dollars. But assuming everyone else has the same contract that we have, that's a lot of money Amex owes to their consumers. Cha-Ching!"
Mark and Tina now use a credit card that gives them the best benefit and it isn't Amex Blue Cash.