There have been several terrific, targeted American Express offers floating around over the past few months, including 150,000 Membership Rewards points after $6K spend for the consumer Platinum, 130,000 points for the Business Gold after $10K spend and another Business Gold offer for 180,000 points after $20K in spend.
For shear magnitude, though, nothing beats the 250K Business Platinum offer. The spend is significant at $30K, but this particular offer allows six months to meet the spend instead of the normal three. The offer first surfaced last month when we reported it was being sent tp some people via mailer. Later, we discovered that it was possible to find out if you were targeted by speaking with an agent over the phone, even if you hadn’t received a mailer. The phone offer was slightly better than the mailer version in that it included the option to get another 10,000 points by adding an authorized user card (for a total of 260,000 Membership Rewards points).
Now, US Credit Card Guide has posted a link directly to an application page for the 250K + 10K welcome offer. The link bypasses the initial landing page that you normally encounter when you click through an Amex credit card offer, so it theoretically allows someone who isn’t targeted to apply for the welcome offer without needing to call or use various private browsers.
But be cautious. These sorts of links can be dangerous and there have been reports of them leading to an Amex shutdown. We initially debated about whether or not to even share the link, but now that it’s making its way around the interwebs, we decided to share it as an FYI to readers (and also to let folks know to be aware of the risk if they see the link elsewhere).
The Deal
- American Express Business Platinum targeted welcome offer: Earn 250,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $30,000 within the first 6 months of card membership. There is an option to earn an additional 10,000 points by adding an authorized user and spending $1,000 on the authorized user card (the authorized user spending does apply towards the total minimum spend of $30K)
Key Card Details
| Card Name w Details & Review (no offer) |
|---|
FM Mini Review: This card is absolutely loaded with high end perks. Depending upon your situation, those perks may be worth the annual fee or much more. Click here for our complete card review $695 Annual Fee Earning rate: 5X flights and prepaid hotels at AmexTravel.com ✦ 1.5X points per dollar on eligible purchases of $5000 or more (on up to $2 million of those purchases per year) ✦ 1.5x on US construction/hardware stores, US electronic goods, and US shipping ✦ 1X elsewhere ✦ Terms apply. Card Info: Amex Pay Over Time Card issued by Amex. This card has no foreign currency conversion fees. Noteworthy perks: Select one qualifying airline and receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for qualifying charges ✦ Up to $400 a year in statement credits for Dell purchases ($200, twice-yearly) ✦ Up to $200 in Hilton credits ($50 per quarter) ✦ Up to $120 in wireless services credits per year ($10 per month) ✦ Up to $120 Global Entry/TSA Precheck fee reimbursement.✦ Priority Pass membership (Lounges only) with 2 guests and other airport lounge benefits (Centurion and Delta) ✦ Rental car elite status ✦ Marriott Gold status ✦ Hilton Gold status. ✦ $199 CLEAR fee reimbursement annually ✦ 35% Airline Bonus: Get 35% points back after you Pay With Points for flights with your selected airline (or premium cabin with any airline). Enrollment required for select benefits See also: Amex Platinum Guide |
Quick Thoughts
While this is a killer offer, I probably wouldn’t take the risk of using the link to apply. There’s so many safe (or at least relatively safe) methods to get a pile of of Membership Rewards points right now that, for me, the bank isn’t worth the risk on this one. That said, I know there’s a lot of folks out there who like to push the envelope and will feel differently. I would at least advise trying the phone method first, in case you can get targeted that way. It will come with much less shutdown danger.
(h/t: US Credit Card Guide)
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What an absurd post. These blogs have lost any semblance of self awareness. We just wanted to share? More like, the OP was afraid of having egg on their face for not being one of the first to show off this hack. It is a shame but the blogs are really ruining an old hobby.
Question 1: I’ve seen the offer mentioned on a few web sites and all say “be careful.” How does one “be careful?” One either applies or does not apply. How does one “carefully” apply?
Question 2: When you say “shutdown,” do you mean all of one’s Amex cards would be closed? Or, just that Business Platinum? Or, those points would be disgorged?
1) careful meaning understand that these links (that are post-targeted) have increased risks as opposed to the links that show an offer, after which you have to log-in to find out if you’re targeted. We don’t know where the link originated, in the past there have been shutdowns related to these sorts of things. With the advent of the pop-up window, as well as the ability to log-in before applying, some folks say that these links don’t have any more or less danger than any others. But, the more you know, the more you know.
2) complete shutdown of all cards, forfeiture of membership rewards and no ability to apply for new cards. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen a wave of shutdowns like this and it’s usually at least somewhat temporary (ie, after a few years, they forget that you were naughty).
LoL! – ‘after a few years, they forget that you were naughty‘
Still not as good as 2 x 150K offers.
100% true.
Can you please explain your thinking here? Because with the 2 offers you’d also pay the AF twice… I don’t often see that factored into the value of the card but I always subtract the AF from the points to get a sense of true worth…?
Do you know when was the last time leaked link resulted in a wave of shutdowns? Late 2021 shutdowns were tied to Adam and late 2020 shutdowns were related to PayPal key. It must have been before the PPK incident.
Can you please explain what you mean about shutdown? I have a personal amex plat, but no biz card. What am I risking?
called on both P1 & P2 and no 250k offer. however, i did sign up for the 160k platinum (NLL) that popped up in acct and the 145k gold offer via incognito referral.
Terrific! Those are great offers!
thank you to the FM team.
i had another 160k Platinum (NLL) offer on P2’s account, but am already stretched very thin trying to figure out how to spend $25k in 3 months.
I greatly appreciate your research and legwork on this issue. I was eager to give it a try. I deemed the risk of cancelation to be worthwhile because AmEx remains desperate to rebuild its customer base after losing Costco, jetBlue et al. I just tried and can report lifetime language. However, the 150K invitation by snail mail lacks the language. Ah, well!
Thanks for reporting back!
So you ended up not applying for it?
Do you think that calling to see if you’re eligible is prudent if you currently have 3 business platinum cards? Asking for a friend.
Lol, that’s kind of you to inquire on their behalf. So, two parts to the answer. I wouldn’t be worried about anyone looking at your “friend’s” account and deciding to hit the shutdown button. I know folks with 5+ BizPlats with no issue. However, we’ve had very mixed DP’s as to whether or not the phone offers are NLL (no lifetime language). Some folks say there’s no language in the terms they receive, some folks say there is and/or they get the pop-up saying they won’t receive bonus points. So, IF your friend calls and IF they get the offer, ask the rep to e-mail them the terms so that you…err, they…can ensure eligibility for the welcome offer.
Many thanks – I mean my friend says many thanks!
@Tim Steinke – can I use the same EIN # for my second biz plat card that I use on my current biz plat or do I need to use a SSN?
Yep, you can use the same EIN, but similar to Christian’s point above, it just needs to be an offer without the once-in-a-lifetime language that appears on normal AMEX welcome offers.
This link may cause you to get cancelled, warning about this link. Here is the link lol. You’re knees must hurt
Personally, I think it is the right move and I appreciate it. There’s a high YMMV offer with a risk. You choose your own adventure
My knees do hurt! But I suspect it has more to do with age and less to do with any Amex offers…:)
I used to have a lot of knee pain. Then, about 5 years, I switched to a no-carb diet to address pre-diabetes and, to my surprise, the knee pain resolved in a week.
So, my advice is: less carbs, more cards!
Not nearly as badly as my eyeballs hurt when rubes who don’t know the difference between your and you’re make snarky ignorant ****posts.
Maebe Its bcuz their stew ped. They’re name is Stew Pedaso, like the read whine.