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A credit card's welcome offer is generally one of the main incentives for applying for a credit card. So what happens if the card issuer no longer discloses how much you earn before you apply, or changes its rules around who's eligible and who isn't?
American Express recently changed the language for the terms on the Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Gold Card. The card issuer no longer specifies the exact number of points you can earn for the card's welcome offers. And Amex isn't the only issuer making changes to how its welcome offers work.
With its recent Chase Sapphire Reserve®* update, Chase also altered its rules around who can earn a Sapphire card welcome bonus. Previously, you could earn a Sapphire card's welcome bonus again if you hadn't earned one within 48 months. Now, you can only earn one Sapphire bonus per lifetime.
What's happening with credit card welcome offer changes? I'll run you through the details for both American Express and Chase's welcome offers.
How American Express adjusted its welcome offer language
Here's how Amex changed its language on the Platinum Card.
Old offer: 80,000 points for spending $8,000 in the first six months.
80,000 points for spending $8,000 in the first six months. New offer: You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first six months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Find out your exact welcome offer when you apply.
The company similarly changed how it talks about the Gold Card's bonus:
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