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Another American Express card has fallen victim to the inclusion of “family” language. This time, it's the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card. According to the updated terms, you may not be eligible to receive the welcome offer on the card if you've previously carried this same card or held the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at some point.
Here's what you should know about the changes to the fine print on the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card.
New Family Rule on the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card
Each credit card issuer has a different set of rules that you need to play by when applying for credit cards. These may relate to how many cards you can have from that bank at one time or the number of welcome bonuses you can receive on the card in a defined period. “Family” language, however, isn't just about what cards you have and how many of them. It pertains to whether you can earn the welcome bonus on a credit card based on what other cards you have or have had in the past.
Amex has been rapidly rolling out this “family” language to offer terms everywhere, setting its sights on the American Express® Gold Card, Amex EveryDay® Credit Card and Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, The Platinum Card® from American Express, and even the entire Delta credit card lineup.
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card is just the latest casualty. Let's take a look at the new application terms on the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card:
You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card or previous versions of these Cards. You also may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer based on various factors, such as your history with credit card balance transfers, your history as an American Express Card Member, the number of credit cards that you have opened and closed and other factors. If you are not eligible for a welcome offer, we will notify you prior to processing your application so you have the option to withdraw your application.
As Frequent Miler notes, it's worth pointing out that the text says “may not.” In the restrictions for Chase-issued Marriott cards, you'll find the following language — note the presence of the word “not” instead of “may not.”
Welcome offer not available to applicants who (i) have or have had The Ritz-Carlton® Credit Card from J.P. Morgan, the J.P. Morgan Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy® Premier Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy® Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Rewards Business® Credit Card from Chase in the last 30 days, (ii) have acquired the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase in the last 90 days, or (iii) received a new Card Member bonus or upgrade offer for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card from Chase, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, or the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase in the last 24 months.
What “may not” implies is that you could potentially receive a bonus on the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card even if you have the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card — or previous versions of those cards. The language doesn't go as far as the language on the Chase-issued Marriot credit cards goes to specifically say you're definitely not eligible.
Semantics aside, the American Express welcome offer eligibility tool will come in handy if you're unsure whether you qualify for the bonus on the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card — or any other Amex card.
Related: Understanding Marriott Bonvoy® Co-Branded Credit Card Application Rules
Final Thoughts
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card is the latest American Express credit card to fall victim to terms and conditions updates that now include “family” language. While undoubtedly a negative development, the adjusted language isn't iron-clad like it is for Chase-issued Marriot credit cards.
It's not that you won't receive a welcome offer on the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card if you have or have had the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Card or Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card before; it's that you “may not” — a big difference.
Still, the trend is worrying, and it's likely only a matter of time until the “family” language spreads to the rest of American Express' credit card lineup.
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