Update 7/6/21: DDG has confirmed with AmEx that each Platinum variation is still considered a separate product:
‘previous’ means previous versions of the same Platinum Card. The co-branded Platinum cards are considered different products. So if you aren’t flagged for other criteria (e.g. gaming behavior), you would still be eligible for the welcome bonus.”
Update 7/5/21: One recent data point confirms that AmEx is still giving bonuses on each version of Platinum separately – reader ausd reports getting the regular Platinum a year ago and successfully getting the bonus on a Schwab Platinum now, after the terms change.
Update: Readers note that the terms are more likely meant to consider both the $695 Platinum and the $550 Platinum to be a single product. Separate versions of the Platinum, such as standard and Schwab are probably still considered separately for the purposes of signup bonuses.
As noted in the original post, anecdotally they don’t seem to be enforcing this, regardless, but the new wording likely never meant to exclude it either. A reader sent me screenshots of their chat with AmEx from today which also confirmed that the regular Platinum and Schwab Platinum are considered separate products.
Original Post:
American Express has updated the terms on their Platinum card and the Platinum-Schwab version card to reflect that if you’ve had any version of the American Express Platinum card you can no longer earn the signup bonus on the card. So whether you previously had the regular/vanilla Platinum card and want to signup for the Schwab, or vice versa, the terms disqualify you from earning a signup bonus.
Welcome offer not available to applicants who have or have had this Card or previous versions of the Platinum Card. We may also consider the number of American Express Cards you have opened and closed as well as other factors in making a decision on your welcome offer eligibility.
It’s not know whether these new terms will be enforced, and anecdotally people are seeing their applications and approvals go through without a hitch (no pop-up that would usually come when ineligible). We’ll have to wait for positive confirmations in the future.
The terms on the Morgan Stanley version don’t seem to show this change yet. (If you previously had the Morgan Stanley version and now want to apply for the the vanilla or Schwab version, that might still be excluded.)
Any recent DPs on this? I was approved for vanilla AMEX Plat. in Jun 22 and just got my 150k bonus. Since I am not a traveler, I want to get Schwab Platinum next to cash out my vanilla 150k and then also get the Schwab SUB. Are you still allowed to get both SUBs or did they change the rule recently?
I’m wondering this as well.
P2 got denied for an Amex MS, with reason given that she already had another variety (Amex Schwab). Both relayed in a letter and via phone agent.
One of my family members opened the vanilla Platinum before the changes, and was instantly approved for a Schwab Platinum after the changes (making sure to wait longer than the 90 days required since your last Platinum approval). And due to some big purchases, the 100K MR bonus has already been deposited no problem.
Maybe the denial reason is that it hasn’t been more than 90 days since your last Platinum (which is a rule specific to Platinums) and the agents just didn’t explain that properly or didn’t understand it themselves?
If it had been more than 90 days already, maybe Amex now considers the vanilla personal Platinum one product and groups all of the co-branded personal Platinums as another product, for approval purposes? I really doubt that though, it doesn’t make sense and doesn’t match with what Amex said. As long as there was no hard inquiry you should probably just try again later.
In our case both the letter and multiple reps said that the reason was because they were the same product. Whether that actually meant the 90-day rule or that they’re considered one product, who knows… Might try again later.
Bye bye Amex. You have lots of rules!
Maybe change “All” to “Each” in title? My first reading was one bonus across all the cards…
But I don’t mean to be critical: The work you do is amazing. Thank you.
That was the original title, when he thought the outcome was different. I don’t believe he changes the title when he updates a post (unless the update is in the brackets).
Done. I do update titles sometimes. Thanks
does this mean AMEX has now added life time language to you even if you had applied with terms that didn’t have life time language?
If only I could MS $6,000 in 2 months to cash out at 1.25c
If possible, decrease your federal income tax withholding and prepay the amount with the card.
P2 applied for Schwab Platinum today with the 100K offer and received immediate approval despite also holding the personal platinum that he got about 7 months ago.
FYI I didn’t get the popup, hit the spend in early April. Confirmed in chat and over phone multiple times I had 100k bonus attached. Called this week to see where the bonus was, was told I am not eligible Bc I had this card before. However, I did not have a vanilla version, I did have Schwab and a few Ameriprise versions though. Think I’m SOL, on this one.
if you have confirmation of bonus / welcome offer in chat its a good case for a CFPB complaint
I would like to do this if I can. Tbh never had this happen before. Just head to their website I guess?
I may be wrong, but I think the Ameriprise version was discontinued and cardholders were transitioned to the vanilla Platinum. So because of that, you may have become a vanilla Platinum cardholder in the past without realizing it.
Really though this “aren’t flagged for other criteria (e.g. gaming behavior)” is still dangerous too.
Not really, it’s a pretty standard Amex disclaimer now.
Yes, but a lot of people are getting pop-ups recently for no apparent reason (meaning, they never had the card before), which means something they are doing is getting flagged by AMEX.
BIG sigh of relief