[Targeted] American Express Blue Cash Preferred $100 Upgrade Offer

The Offer

  • American Express are offering some Blue Cash Everyday cardholders the opportunity to upgrade to Blue Cash Preferred and get the following bonus:
    • $100 cash back after you spend $1,000 within the first three months

Card Details

  • Annual fee of $95
  • Card earns at the following rates:
    • 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 in spend annually, then 1%)
    • 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores
    • 1% back on all other purchases

Our Verdict

What’s interesting about this offer is that it requires you to enter your CID & last four digits of your SSN, this makes me believe American Express is cracking down on people who aren’t targeted but use the generic login link to get targeted. They have offered a bonus of $150 just recently, so this $100 bonus isn’t that attractive. If you have questions about American Express upgrade offers they will be answered here. General questions about American Express answered here. The good thing about upgrade offers is that they don’t do a hard pull and you’re also able to get the bonus if you’ve already had the card before (and can get the bonus in the future if you haven’t had the card before).

Hat tip to reader Ben & all the readers on Twitter who helped me out

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21 Comments
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EastSideBK
EastSideBK (@guest_447657)
July 27, 2017 09:02

Will or Chuck,

I have had the Blue Cash Preferred card for over 3 years now; I got my statement yesterday and was only charged $75 for the annual fee. Everything I have seen about this card (including what you have written here) says the annual fee is now $95, both for new AND existing cardholders.

Have you heard of anyone else only getting charged $75?

Thank you in advance for your help as I determine whether I should hold onto this card or not for another year.

TJ
TJ (@guest_421465)
June 15, 2017 21:04

I got the $150 offer a few months ago that expired. I recently was emailed this $100 offer. I logged into Amex today and I see in the Amex Deals the $150 offer to upgrade even though I have the email offer for $100. So maybe check Amex Deals out to anyone whose interested.

Joseph
Joseph (@guest_420651)
June 14, 2017 14:28

Does anyone know if upgrading like this will disrupt any ongoing Amex deals tied to the card? I’ve got the Hulu one going and don’t want to disrupt a $50 credit for another functionally $50 statement credit.

Eric
Eric (@guest_420719)
June 14, 2017 16:32

I’ve never done this upgrade offer but when I downgraded from BCP to BCE earlier this year my Amex Offers weren’t affected.

Jan B
Jan B (@guest_420647)
June 14, 2017 14:17

I upgraded previously this year under the $150 cash back offer.

Was expecting to consider $150-$99 as my actual value but instead, I was only billed $39.98 for my pro-rated annual fee.

To move to 6% on grocery store purchases on gift card purchases and selected food purchases was definitely worth it. And, redeeming cashback at $25 a pop, although a bit time consuming, is icing on the proverbial cake.

When I max out at 6, I may just change the card again!

Harv
Harv (@guest_421087)
June 15, 2017 09:10

Has anyone else received a pro-rated annual fee ? This seems unusual.

Steve
Steve (@guest_423449)
June 19, 2017 17:06

Yes, AmEx prorates the annual fee when you upgrade (at least for BCE to BCP; I haven’t tried others), and they tell you this on the phone when you do the upgrade.

Eric
Eric (@guest_420600)
June 14, 2017 12:07

Thanks for the credit Doc! I can’t believe my screenshot was used 🙂

GPO
GPO (@guest_420566)
June 14, 2017 11:11

I got this offer, was thinking about and waiting ur review. Anyway, not doing before end o July when the offer is due. I can wait to maybe get a better offer and also, as far as I know, the 6K limit is calendar year.

I use my BofA till there, then move to AMEX.

Peter
Peter (@guest_420338)
June 13, 2017 23:03

They have been emailing me this $100 offer but then also put $150 upgrade offer in my Amex Offers.

Lame deal. Not upgrading. Have never had BCP.

zeta
zeta (@guest_420300)
June 13, 2017 21:34

Can we downgrade afterwards?

Nick
Nick (@guest_420298)
June 13, 2017 21:25

I’ve seen better upgrade offers

Dave
Dave (@guest_420305)
June 13, 2017 21:48

Indeed. Weak bonus, Annual fee, $1000 spend requirement..
Pass..

RD
RD (@guest_420274)
June 13, 2017 20:31

Quick question – does the following sentence mean that I can get a sign-up bonus for the platinum because I only got an upgrade from gold (60K points)?