1060 replies to this topic

[BobWang]

Since this has become such a hot topic, I thought it was time to try and centralize the discussion.
One thread on how people went about getting added as AUs, then how they got their own AmExes backdated, should help everybody.
Some people like Dr. Tang, and my graduate are coy, and don't want to draw attention to themselves, I understand.
But those who are willing to share their experiences, please STRUT away.

[BobWang]

Dang, mmm, don't make this sound like AA.

[mmm]

Coy?

Okay, I'll go first.

My name is MMM and I am a backdated, Gold AMEX card carrying, AU graduate.

I was given the opportunity to become an AU out of the unselfish, kindness of BW's heart. He is such a sweet person! Who is NOT shy (or coy at all)! I never requested to be added as an AU, it was offered to me and even though providing personal information was required, I felt it was right for me. In July 2010, I saw my first AMEX C/L show up on my credit report. First it was on EX, then it followed on the other two.

In August, I applied for my own card. I did not have a specific reason to request the gold card, I just thought it was pretty. I never received any pre-approvals before that.

In regards to my backdating experience, shortly after activating my card I called to request that it be backdated. I was initially told NO and that's when I received my first F/R. At the conclusion of my first F/R I received a call from a AMEX supervisor and was told that my card was unfrozen and he thanked me for becoming part of the AMEX family. I then took that opportunity to again request that my card be backdated. He said he would take care of it and he did. The next month, my AAOA was looking pretty sexy!

I keep referencing my first F/R because I am currently going through my second F/R, and I sincerely believe that it is only because one of my AU's innocently enough used the card on PayPal for an EBAY purchase. So far, the update of this most recent F/R is that they specifically advised me of my pre-set spending limit, BUT they are still not unfreezing the account until they further investigate what they have defined as suspicious usage of my AU. So being an AU is cool, but please be careful how you use the card.

The only other thing I would mention about being an AU is, you will have privileged information such as the primary card holder's address, and you will need to protect that information just as diligently as you would your own. And also, when you apply for different types of cards later on (I'm speaking of ones like Citi, Chase, GEMB or whatever) you will need to keep that address in mind because from that point on, some of the identifying questions the other lenders will ask will be associated that address because it will show as a previous address.

I hope some of this helps and (since it looks like I will have quite a while to just sit and listen to my arteries harden while I wait for my FICO to increase) feel free to ask me any questions you like.

Edited by mmm, 18 February 2011 - 07:17 PM.

[mmm]

Dang, mmm, don't make this sound like AA.

I just wanted to make sure you had enough information to get a good start.

I'm sorry it came out as two posts my browser keep cutting me off. I guess I talked too much.

[BobWang]

Good point about PayPal.
My AUs PLEASE, PLEASE, do not start shopping at thrift stores with MY AmEx.

[romecoo]

That's strange,

I use my card at least once a week at Walmart, and shop online with ebay and thru Paypal all the time and have not triggered any F/R YET!!! so who knows...

[mmm]

That's strange,

I use my card at least once a week at Walmart, and shop online with ebay and thru Paypal all the time and have not triggered any F/R YET!!! so who knows...

Really? Wow! How seasoned is your card? Mine is a charge card that is "technically" (technically is defined as when they originally issued it to me) less than 1 year old with 3 AUs so far. Maybe that had something to do with my 2nd F/R and their concern also. The PayPal payment was the only charge on it at the time, so there must have been something they did not like about it. But you are right, who really knows.

Edited by mmm, 18 February 2011 - 07:35 PM.

[BobWang]

That's strange,

I use my card at least once a week at Walmart, and shop online with ebay and thru Paypal all the time and have not triggered any F/R YET!!! so who knows...

I think Walmart is OK, but I notice none of my AUs have used their cards there.

[JaseT]

Good idea Bob! I will be added as an AU soon and I'll be attempting to have my two recent AMEX accounts backdated. It will be interesting to see how AMEX handles it, especially since one of the cards is a Zync and they seem to be a bit reluctant to backdate that product.

Time will tell!

[BobWang]

Good idea Bob! I will be added as an AU soon and I'll be attempting to have my two recent AMEX accounts backdated. It will be interesting to see how AMEX handles it, especially since one of the cards is a Zync and they seem to be a bit reluctant to backdate that product.

Time will tell!

Yup, Zync seems to be the Kryptonite for BackDating.

[VK]

ok, I figured I will crap in another thread too, what the heck

somehow I didn't realize mmm was also an AU graduate.

So, in the JaseT's AmEx thread, 2 people who found my posts had a sense of "entitlement", R2010 and mmm, were both AUs? what is this, trying to be protective of Papa Bear?

And BW, of course, dangles something in front of CB members, but once people start discussing it, he surely withdraws from any discussion.

end of the thread crapping,

VK

[audrahz]

Excellent idea Bob, as I have been looking for this information for the last few weeks!

I got my own card this month, and then asked my dad about adding me as an AU on his green (which I thought dated back to 1968, but in fact dates back to 1965). After I get the AU card, I'll see about getting mine back-dated to dad's year

[BobWang]

ok, I figured I will crap in another thread too, what the heck

somehow I didn't realize mmm was also an AU graduate.

So, in the JaseT's AmEx thread, 2 people who found my posts had a sense of "entitlement", R2010 and mmm, were both AUs? what is this, trying to be protective of Papa Bear?

And BW, of course, dangles something in front of CB members, but once people start discussing it, he surely withdraws from any discussion.

end of the thread crapping,

VK

VK, the cat's out of the bag now.
So, I guess what I'm kind of trying to do, is to catalyze a chain-reaction of BackDating AUs.

[BobWang]

Excellent idea Bob, as I have been looking for this information for the last few weeks!

I got my own card this month, and then asked my dad about adding me as an AU on his green (which I thought dated back to 1968, but in fact dates back to 1965). After I get the AU card, I'll see about getting mine back-dated to dad's year

I'm pretty sure a family member requesting backdating, will have a much easier time of it than some of my AUs.

[VK]

ok, I figured I will crap in another thread too, what the heck

somehow I didn't realize mmm was also an AU graduate.

So, in the JaseT's AmEx thread, 2 people who found my posts had a sense of "entitlement", R2010 and mmm, were both AUs? what is this, trying to be protective of Papa Bear?

And BW, of course, dangles something in front of CB members, but once people start discussing it, he surely withdraws from any discussion.

end of the thread crapping,

VK

VK, the cat's out of the bag now.
So, I guess what I'm kind of trying to do, is to catalyze a chain-reaction of BackDating AUs.

to tell you the truth, I don't know what cat and which bag, but I believe you.

VK

[audrahz]

It was ballsy enough asking my dad about adding me as an AU... asking AmEx about backdating (this sounds absolutely silly) makes me nervous. But, as my dad said, you'll never get a 'yes' unless you ask the question! I still haven't gotten the AU card yet, and it was requested by my dad on 02/09 - they soft-pulled exp. I called AmEx about it yesterday, they asked some verification questions, and they popped the card in the mail. I should've asked about backdating my card then!

[v8envy]

From my experience with AU's I approached my dad about being added, We both talked to the AMEX CSR together they informed be that because his first AMEX was a corporate card and even though his personal card is back dated to the date of the corporate card they would show the AU account as opening the day he opened his most recent account and guess what 5 months ago... Not really going to help, He got his corporate AMEX in 1989 and still carries it. From my understanding he's basically just an AU on that account because the company he works for owns that account. Anyhow sorry for that rant, I thought I was in with some back dating but no dice. Worst case scenario my brother has a gold card he got 5 years ago, better then nothing but I'm still looking!

[BobWang]

It was ballsy enough asking my dad about adding me as an AU... asking AmEx about backdating (this sounds absolutely silly) makes me nervous. But, as my dad said, you'll never get a 'yes' unless you ask the question! I still haven't gotten the AU card yet, and it was requested by my dad on 02/09 - they soft-pulled exp. I called AmEx about it yesterday, they asked some verification questions, and they popped the card in the mail. I should've asked about backdating my card then!

Yes, having an AU charge card already saying Member Since 1965, makes your own easier down the road.

[BobWang]

From my experience with AU's I approached my dad about being added, We both talked to the AMEX CSR together they informed be that because his first AMEX was a corporate card and even though his personal card is back dated to the date of the corporate card they would show the AU account as opening the day he opened his most recent account and guess what 5 months ago... Not really going to help, He got his corporate AMEX in 1989 and still carries it. From my understanding he's basically just an AU on that account because the company he works for owns that account. Anyhow sorry for that rant, I thought I was in with some back dating but no dice. Worst case scenario my brother has a gold card he got 5 years ago, better then nothing but I'm still looking!

Yes, unfortunately, corporate cards don't count in this game.

[v8envy]

1965 Nice! Congrats

[BobWang]

1965 Nice! Congrats

That's the record, so far.

[tjguitar]

Bob and others,

do you have to be a CURRENT AU to get backdated, or can you just have the history of past AU card on your credit report?

We actually had one of the amex's taken off my report when I was mortgage shopping, but I still have a previous closed AU Amex on one (or more) of my CR's....

Does it work for ANY personal Amex card? (such as Costco)


Thanks!

[v8envy]

I would like a card dated 19 years before I was born!!!

[BobWang]

Bob and others,

do you have to be a CURRENT AU to get backdated, or can you just have the history of past AU card on your credit report?

We actually had one of the amex's taken off my report when I was mortgage shopping, but I still have a previous closed AU Amex on one (or more) of my CR's....

Does it work for ANY personal Amex card? (such as Costco)


Thanks!

Well, I'm pretty sure you have to have an active AmEx card on which you are the AU.

*IF* one of my ex-AUs is willing to be a guinea pig...
Do you want to go ahead and get the Platinum, and try to get it backdated with an inactive AU status?

Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, you know who you are.

[BobWang]

To answer the second part of the question, yes, the Costco SHOULD work.