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The American Express Pop Up is a tool introduced by Amex to check your eligibility for welcome offers before the bank checks your credit report.
This is good for you because it prevents an unnecessary hard or soft credit check. Limiting the amount of credit checks you have is important for an excellent credit score.
Unfortunately, getting the Amex pop up message means you may not be eligible to receive the welcome offer. Amex welcome offers can be substantial and are a big part of maximizing Amex military credit card benefits.
Learn how to maximize your military benefits in the free Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course. I'll walk you through in 10 short lessons over 5 days how to maximize your military benefits on cards.
Amex Application Pop Up
Let's review what the Amex pop up actually says. It's below in an image and text:
The Amex pop up text reads:
Spencer, based on your history with credit card balance transfers, American Express welcome offers, introductory APR offers, or the number of Cards you have opened and closed, you are not eligible to receive the welcome offer.
We have not yet performed a credit check. Would you still like to proceed?
Note: Your application will be considered withdrawn if no action is taken on this page.
Many people report getting this pop up even though they have never broken any of Amex's application rules. For me personally, I have never closed any of my Amex cards but I have opened quite a few. Over 40 cards to be exact. I have also never done a balance transfer or used an introductory APR.
If you get the pop up message, you can cancel your application and will have no record of the application on your credit report. Canceling your application should have no affect on your credit score.
It's unclear why some people get the Amex pop up. However, there are success stories of getting around the Amex pop up.
How To Get Around the American Express Pop Up
There are many data points available online of people being in the “Amex jail” and getting out but no consistent method to escape. Here's what most people do to escape the Amex pop up jail:
- Wait for a few weeks.
- Spend money across all their open Amex cards
Most people who successfully get approved for a card after receiving the pop up wait a few weeks or even months. They also spend a bit of money, at least $20, on each of their open cards.
Personally, I set up my automatic billing like Spotify and Netflix across all my cards and then set up auto pay from my checking account so I never miss a payment.
If you are in the Amex jail, fear not! You may soon be released. And then you can learn how to apply for awesome cards like:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express review
- American Express® Gold Card review
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® review
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express review
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card review
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card review
The Amex Pop Up Jail is when you apply for an Amex card and you are informed that you are not eligible to receive the welcome offer.
“Amex jail” is when you can't get approved for another American Express card because of your application history, number of cards opened or closed, or your use of introductory APR offers or balance transfers.
3/10/25 was trying for amex marriott business. got the popup. i hit back until i reached info page then i hit the wrong button and closed the window. crap, i thought. i immediately opened a new window, did the whole app over, and voila,
“THANK YOU FOR APPLYING FOR THE MARRIOTT BONVOY BUSINESS™ AMERICAN EXPRESS® CARD.
Your application has been received and will be processed as soon as possible. We will notify you of the decision by mail within 14 days.”
also logged out of amex first.
Spencer,
Started the 5/24 plan and then went AmEx Green and Gold. I applied for Platinum about 60 days after Gold and landed in pop up jail. Kept spending on both Gold and Green and applied again 30 days later—still no welcome offer.
Is it a bad idea to apply to another non-AmEx card for a couple of months so I could earn a different bonus, or do you think that further sandbags my chance at an AmEx Platinum welcome offer?
I did this and received the following message: We can’t approve your application.
There has been no impact to your credit score.
You’ll receive a letter within the next 10 business days explaining the specific reason. Thanks for your interest in an American Express Card.
Something I am curious about is if this work around also provides an opportunity to earn a welcome offer on a lower tier card, if you already have a higher tier. For example, if you have the Aspire, could you do this technique and then receive the welcome offer for either of the two lower tier hilton cards? Looking for any data points
Be the data point you want to see :)
I applied for Bonvoy Brilliant card last night. My first Marriott card, my third Amex (already Platinum and Business Gold). Platinum is a few years old, and I use it often, Business Gold is new, just started using it. I was placed in pop up jail and unfortunately was not aware of the back button trick. Any suggestions on if I can try again, since I withdrew my application, or should I wait? I want to take advantage of the 185k Marriott points offer, which ends October 2nd.
I’ve had success with the back button trick.
When you get the pop up don’t click anything>Hit the back button till you either go back to the blank app page or the page with the apply now button>apply again>It will bypass the algo for the pop up and give you a 14 day review message w/ no credit pull (essentially sent your app for manual review). If approved, you will be sent an email and you can accept (hardpull) or deny with no credit pull. I always call amex to make sure the SUB offer is attached before accepting. My wife and I have been in pop up jail for about a year, and this trick has worked twice now (2 for 2) but YMMV.
Hopefully this helps somebody out, cheers and TYFYS.
This is brilliant! It’s my first time in the pop up jail and I saw this method. It really bypassed the algorithm and sent it to manual review.
Hey, did this actually work for you? I tried this method and got the email saying I was approved but I am skeptical to click accept offer in case there is not a SUB attached. I have called Amex and chatted with them online and none of the reps could confirm whether or not the welcome offer was included. Said they could only see it once the card was linked to my account.
I got to the same spot and decided to accept regardless bc I wanted the card. I will try to update once I receive the card whether it worked or not.
Called AMEX after getting the card and they said I would get the SUB. Still skeptical but seems legit to me!
Did you ever get the SUB for this, or just the card? Just wondering. I tried this hack and got a “We’re sorry, Marc. We can’t approve your application.” and says i’ll receive a letter within 10 business day.
Worked for me! Same as some of the others, while I was under the manual review the Amex reps couldn’t confirm if I was eligible for the bonus until after I accepted. Once I received the card I was able to get a positive response in the chat.
Of note, it tried to stop me from pushing the back button (I got another pop up saying I would lose my application data) so I had to hold the back button (on my iPhone, basically using the history feature) and click back to the start of the application page and resubmit before I got the notification that my application would be reviewed.
Wife and I have been in pop-up jail for 18 months now, glad to get out!
How long did it take before you got the email after the manual review?
Hit the minimum spend and got the welcome bonus today!
This worked for me! Been in pop up jail for at least 7 months. Have tried increasing spending and I only have 2 amex cards (blue cash which is 6 years old and platinum which is over a year old), tried private browser, called amex, tried referral links and non referral links.
My account shows I am pre-approved for the card even but I’d still get pop up jail. Will try to remember to update if the sign up bonus applies.
Bonus hit today!
As another data point, I was in pop-up jail but applied and followed the steps you listed James. I was sent to manual review but with no indication in the email or from a representative to confirm the welcome offer still was attached, I accepted the card. After accepting and adding the card to my account, I called customer service who confirmed that the welcome offer was attached to my account! There seems to be a trend of having to accept in the blind but it worked out in the end.
So I did this and was approved but haven’t accepted yet. I try using chat and calling and no one can give me a straight answer for if I’ll receive the SUB. When I called they said the SUB is automatically attached and they’ll determine eligibility after I accept, like wth. How did you navigate this? Thanks!
Does this work for the Schwab Platinum Card?
I haven’t been able to figure that out, but I would recommend getting the basic platinum for one year and then transitioning to Schwab when the AF hits. Thats what I plan to do, as the SUBs tend to be better for the basic platinum.
Gave this a shot with a 125,000 point bonus I found. They couldn’t tell me whether the SUB was attached before I accepted. Went in blind, and just got the card and can confirm that it is attached. It seems like you need to go in blind, but I haven’t heard a story where the SUB wasn’t attached in the end. Best of luck to others
When I do this the I just get an ‘we can’t approve your application’ and when I check the status it says it is denied due to a duplicate application. Has anyone else had this?
Was this the message that you / others received?
We’re sorry. An unexpected error has occurred.
Your application is received and currently being reviewed. We will review your application as soon as possible and provide you with a decision or request more information if needed within 14 business days. In the meantime, please do not submit another application for the The Platinum Card®.
Thank you for this tip! I’ve been in pop-up jail for about 18 months. I just tried this last night but I’m wondering how long it was until you got the email of approval? TIA!
Is there a new addition where if you have a platinum card you can’t get bonuses on any new Amex family of cards?
The wording in the Amex terms and conditions is “you may not be eligible.” Some people are getting through, for instance earning an Amex Gold welcome bonus when they already have an Amex Platinum. However, if you’re just getting started building your credit cards stash, read my Amex family language article. If you want to maximize your Amex military benefits, you’ll need to start with the lowest annual fee cards and work your way up to the top.
Amex Green -> Amex Gold -> Amex Platinum
Hilton (no annual fee) -> Amex Hilton Surpass -> Amex Hilton Aspire
I’m struggling to get out of pop-up jail. Been in for 9 months now and have put significant spend in the last few months (6k on Platinum and 5.5k on the Gold). I have opened 5 cards in the last 24 months (3 Chase, Amex Platinum and Amex Gold), so that may be part of it. I wish a former Amex employee would spill the beans on the secret formula!
Has anyone been in pop-up jail with just one card? I have multiple Chase cards but only have one Amex. Is Amex seeing the Chase cards I have and should I spend more liberally across those? I applied for my Amex platinum in 2022.
Yes, it’s possible to be in Amex jail with only 1 Amex card. Amex will not care about multiple Chase cards. They also won’t care about spending on those Chase cards. Which Amex card are you getting the pop up for? What’s your credit score?
Yes, I have one AMEX card, have spent 13k this year on it, have never closed account (from any lender). it’s weird because they frequently send me pre approved loan offers, increased my limit to 17k recently (unrequested), offers for upgrade to Reserve, random low APR oFFers. It seem that they like me, until I try to add a card, then they are happily to take my annual fee, but say I’m ineligible for offers. I just don’t get it.
I am on pop up jail right now. Let’s how I can get out, will be putting some spending.
Any luck on your end with this?
Showed up for me…have been putting small bills and still showed up. I guess I will be putting all my spending there now.
I had a recent data point of a friend who was in and out of the pop-up jail in a few days. Put spend on some of his accounts and made a few large purchases. Was able to open an Amex Green card after less than 2 weeks in the jail. There is hope!
I hate the amex pop-up! my wife and I are both stuck in jail now. It’s been 3 or so months for us. We tried even spending across the cards and all the tricks we’ve seen! :*(
Any status updates on your pop up jail? Its been nearly 3 years now?
Now James is in real jail :(
I have been in pop-up jail for 5 months now. I think I have a life sentence :(