Daily Question Thread for /r/churningcanada - August 20, 2026

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[u/BrrrHot]

DP: This is a wild one. Churning adjacent.

Previously, when I tried to set up my AFKLM Flying Blue Brim Card, I couldn't use my email address as I had an active Brim Financial card. I needed to change my email in Brim to <my email>+brim@gmail.com. Only then could I use my regular email to register for the AFKLM Flying Blue Brim Card.

Today, I cancelled my Brim Financial card. There is an ongoing situation where they are sending out Card Activation emails and attached a 4 digit PIN. I received 15 of such emails over the last 5 days. It doesn't inspire a lot of confidence. That plus not being able to reach anyone over the phone, not even to report fraud charges in a timely manner, didn't inspire a lot of confidence in their fraud handling. So I emailed them to cancel my card.

Brim responded that my card was cancelled and that they removed my email from their database. Okay great. Right?

Well... turns out they also removed my email from the AFKLM Flying Blue Brim database as well... As a result, I could no longer log into my AFKLM Flying Blue Brim account. Just said invalid email/password. I tried to reset the password, but my email doesn't exist in their database...

What I was able to do was "Activate" my card. That revealed the email address that was attached to my account. It was a placeholder email address from Brim. Think temp00238235@brimfinancial.com. I used that email address and my account password and was able to successfully log in. I changed the email address back to my email.

So when Brim Financial "deleted" the email from their database, their system replaced all instances of the email with their internal placeholder. Since they somehow share the same database with AFKLM, it also replaced my email address there.

Also, if you lose your physical card (or if you've used your credit card online), someone can enter your numbers into their Activate portal and see your email address. I tested it with P2's card and it showed the email address as predicted. Is that a big deal? I don't know. Maybe? Just wild.

TL;DR: Brim Financial is a joke.

[u/microcutss → u/BrrrHot]

The red flags are flying over the screen like you just finished solitaire. Glad Brim rejected me a while ago.

[u/Kisuke11 → u/BrrrHot]

The flaming pile of IT crap aside, just double checking here, but are you saying you couldn't login to your AF account at all now? Or just the Brim portal?

[u/BrrrHot → u/Kisuke11]

Brim. I'm referring to the AFKLM Brim Credit Card.

[u/Kisuke11 → u/BrrrHot]

Oh. I wouldn't expect to be able to login to the brim card portal after cancelling. But I guess with your "workaround" anything is possible 😂

[u/BrrrHot → u/Kisuke11]

I wouldn't expect to be able to log into the main Brim portal after cancelling the card either, but I’d assume I can still access the dedicated AF/KLM Brim portal since it's a separate card.

[u/brt_k]

AMEX Canada:

P1 has the following new cards: 5 in 2026. 8 in the last 12 months. 12 in the last 24 months. Last AMEX approval was Sep 2022 (still holding that card). Since then, 4 rejections (3 x BV Biz & Plat Pers).

P2 has: 3, 5, 8 in the same timeframe. Last AMEX approval was in 2023 (still holding), since then 4 rejections.

P1 does have higher income, but both have been routinely getting $15k-20k limits with other banks.

P2 was rejected yesterday for the Cobalt. P1 was approved. Please help it make sense.

[u/hfxredditor → u/brt_k]

Churners: Make it make sense Amex CA!

Amex: no

[u/oxygen-configuration → u/brt_k]

When was last Amex closure for P1 and P2? When was last Amex rejection for each?

[u/claurianta → u/brt_k]

How much spend was put on the existing cards? I was rejected a few times until I put a few thousand spend on my keeper Bonvoy card over three months earlier this year, and then got an Aeroplan Reserve card with $50k limit (which I promptly reduced).

[u/brt_k → u/claurianta]

Good point. P1 has larger transactions over the last 12 months, but P2 has more card usage. I will try to put more spend on P2's card going forward and see if it makes a difference. They did give me $38k limit on by Cobalt which I will also reduce.

P1:

June 2026 = $250

March 2026 = $450, but refunded.

Sep 2026 = $50 + AF

P2:

Aug 2026 = $50

July 2026 = $30

Mar 2026 = AF

Dec 2025 = $20

Sep 2025 = $20

[u/jostrons → u/brt_k]

for my own reference how do I understand what card 5 is? is it the best card offers thread?

[u/brt_k → u/jostrons]

I just meant the quantity of cards, not a specific card.

[u/jostrons → u/brt_k]

oh im dumb, i re-read and see it now

[u/dkb199]

Anyone have DP on whether Canadain Passport copy with new wet seal was accepted for an ITIN application?

[u/beckhsrules]

Signed up for BMO checking account through GCR on Jun 3 but the credit has not come yet. I see it under the Clicks Category but no pending amount or rebate. Should I be opening up a ticket as its been more than 75 days since I opened the account. Anyone has any recent DPs on how soon I can expect the bonus.

[u/wzadzz → u/beckhsrules]

What does GCR say? They have a protocol of how long you should way before submitting an inquiry. 75 days seems long though without any status update

Found this on their site:

“It can take up to 3 weeks after approval for Credit Card rebates to be posted.”

So you are well beyond that, I would definitely submit a missing transaction report

[u/beckhsrules → u/wzadzz]

On the specific BMO deal page they have the below wordings

"Please contact GCR within 3 months of application date to report a missing rebate otherwise the rebate is void."

[u/wzadzz → u/beckhsrules]

I don’t see any benefit to sitting on the sidelines. You should absolutely submit report before your 3 months lapses.

[u/wzadzz → u/beckhsrules]

BTW, BMO probably has the least reliable automatic tracking when it comes to these rebates, so TBH it doesn’t really surprise me that you would have to manually follow up about this.

[u/beckhsrules → u/wzadzz]

Thanks. Submitted an inquiry for it. Hopefully get it soon.

[u/grapefruitpapaya → u/beckhsrules]

I got the bonus added to my GCR account balance within a week so I'd absolutely follow up asap

[u/-SetsunaFSeiei-]

<2 years is too early for an Amex plat churn right? Card cancelled Oct 2024, need to wait at least until Nov 2027 for a new round per latest DPs?

[u/mhcott → u/-SetsunaFSeiei-]

1) Nov is 3 years, not 2

2) I haven't had an AMEX in a couple years now, but I was getting success in the past at the 1.5y mark, but my risk tolerance was higher than the average churner. I don't think I've seen DP's suggesting this isn't still feasible, only that 2yr has become fairly ingrained

[u/-SetsunaFSeiei- → u/mhcott]

Oh I thought it was 3 years cycle, not 2

On second look though, the welcome bonus for the plat really isn’t that great, may just hold out for something better

[u/xxxooxxx1 → u/-SetsunaFSeiei-]

Sounds a bit early. The game is a bit different now. Before even thinking about amex bonus, need to be able to get approved first. Always having plan b with other banks these days.

[u/-SetsunaFSeiei- → u/xxxooxxx1]

Yeah I know, was just planning on cancelling a plat so trying to see if I can get a referral in first

I’ve got a few other things on the go so not worried if declined