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Annual Fee Increasing for Existing AMEX Blue Cash Preferred Cardholders

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    Disappointing news for folks with the AMEX Blue Cash Preferred card.

    Via Doctor of Credit, the annual fee for existing cardholders will increase from $75 to $95 starting August 3, 2016.  Just like it is for new applicants.

    Starting August 3, 2016, Existing AMEX Blue Cash Preferred Cardholders Will Have to Pay a Higher $95 Annual Fee

    Here’s more about this news and what it means for you.

    Annual Fee Increase for Folks With the AMEX Blue Cash Preferred Card

    Link:   Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express

    I recently wrote about the annual fee increase from $75 to $95 for the AMEX Blue Cash Preferred card starting August 3, 2016.  And I’d hoped that existing cardholders would be able to keep the lower $75 annual fee.

    But that doesn’t seem to be the case!

    Folks on Reddit have reported their AMEX Blue Cash Preferred statements showing they’ll have to pay the higher $95 annual fee starting in August too.

    So if you’re considering getting this card, I’d suggest applying before June 15, 2016, when the increased sign-up bonus for this card is set to expire.

    That way you’ll earn the better sign-up bonus AND only pay a $75 annual fee for your first year of cardmembership.

    Don’t Want to Keep Your AMEX Blue Cash Preferred Card?

    If you don’t want to pay the higher $95 annual fee, you can cancel your card.

    Or ask American Express to downgrade the card to the AMEX Blue Cash Everyday card.  It does NOT have an annual fee.

    Just keep in mind there’s a limit to the total number of AMEX cards you can have at once.

    Is the AMEX Blue Cash Preferred Card Right for You?

    Apply for the AMEX Blue Cash Preferred card by June 15, 2016, and you’ll earn $150 back (as a statement credit) after meeting minimum spending requirements.

    You’ll also earn up to an additional $200 back by getting 10% back at US wireless telephone service providers, on the first $2,000 in purchases made on the your card, until December 31, 2016.

    The current $75 annual fee is NOT waived the first year.

    And you’ll also get:

    It’s NOT a good card to use abroad.  Because it adds a 2.7% foreign transaction fee.

    In the short-term, this is a good deal if you’re going to spend a lot on cellular service before the end of the year.

    In the long-term, you might like this card because you earn 6% back at US supermarkets (on up to $6,000 in spending per year).  That can really add up!

    If you spend the maximum for 6% back at supermarkets, you’ll earn $360 cash back ($6,000 X 6%).  So even with a $95 annual fee, you’ll come out ahead.

    You can read my review of the card here.

    Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)