AMEX giving out accurate EX FICO with denial letters

[evitoss]

I got an offer to app for their Blue Cash card this morning and decided to pull the trigger figuring I would most likely get declined (AMEX seems to hate me). Here's what I got when I checked the status:

 

Reason(s) for Our Decision

 

 

 

 

 

Your FICO® score (See below)

 

 

 

Information About Your FICO® Score

 

We obtained your FICO score from Experian and used it in making our credit decision. Your FICO score is a number that reflects the information in your credit report. Your FICO score can change, depending on how the information in your credit report changes. On July 26, 2011, your FICO score was 645. The FICO score ranges from 300 to 850. The following are the key factors that contributed to your FICO score:

 

 

 

 

Serious delinquency, and public record or collection filed.

 

Proportion of loan balances to loan amounts is too high.

 

Length of time accounts have been established.

 

Time since derogatory public record or collection is too short.

 

 

 

 

FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the United States and in other countries.

 

 

 

Your Right to Get Your Credit Report

 

Our decision was based in whole or in part on information obtained in a report from each consumer reporting agency in this letter. Please know that the consumer reporting agency played no part in our decision and cannot supply you with the specific reasons for our decision. You have a right under the Fair Credit Reporting Act to know the information contained in your credit file at the consumer reporting agency. It can be obtained by contacting them directly. You also have a right to a free copy of your report from the consumer reporting agency if you request it within 60 days after you receive this notice. If you find that any information contained in the consumer report you receive is inaccurate or incomplete, you have the right to dispute the matter directly with the reporting agency.

 

 

Could this be my actual EX FICO score or FAKO? I would think that if it's from the CC company it would have to be accurate. Up until now, I thought there was no way you could find this actual score.

 

The score is suprising because my EQ is at 699. Apparently INQ's do make a huge difference. All of the accounts are the same, but EX has 19 INQ's on it, while my EQ has only 2.

Edited July 26, 2011 by evitoss

[foeplay]

I got that email too and was tempted. I have a similar score as you, so glad I didn't app!

 

Do you have any other AMEX accounts?

Edited July 26, 2011 by foeplay

[hairmetal4ever]

Almost makes me want to apply (I know I'll be declined) just to see a real EX FICO...

[evitoss]

I got that email too and was tempted. I have a similar score as you, so glad I didn't app!

 

Do you have any other AMEX accounts?

 

I don't have any personal accounts with them. I have a corporate account through the company I work for, so they do have my social on file.

[disnugaswagg]

Well I applied with AMEX yesterday and was approved for the Gold Rewards Business card. While speaking with a representative, she stated that if you do not have a fico over 690 and atleast two lines of excellent revolving credit (min. 2 yrs), then do not apply for the Blue Cash because it is a very, very difficult card to get. Also, she stated that its easier to go for the Zync or the Green AMEX(these are not credit cards, but charge accounts) and then move your way into the Blue Cash after 13 mnths.

 

As far as the FICO scores, they are extremely close to the scores from myfico.com.

 

Remember that inquires do have an impact on your credit score... as they age and get closer to a yr old, their impact starts to lessen the impact on the score. Inquires, from all of my research, carries about 10% when the fico score is being calculated.

 

Lastly, if you are planning on getting an American Express make sure that you wait at least 90 days, preferably 180 days just to be on the safe side, then reapply.

[ArchonInitiative]

This is something EVERYONE will have to start doing. It's one of the new requirements under the banking reform act.

[LTomBerry]

Well I applied with AMEX yesterday and was approved for the Gold Rewards Business card. While speaking with a representative, she stated that if you do not have a fico over 690 and atleast two lines of excellent revolving credit (min. 2 yrs), then do not apply for the Blue Cash because it is a very, very difficult card to get. Also, she stated that its easier to go for the Zync or the Green AMEX(these are not credit cards, but charge accounts) and then move your way into the Blue Cash after 13 mnths.

 

As far as the FICO scores, they are extremely close to the scores from myfico.com.

 

Remember that inquires do have an impact on your credit score... as they age and get closer to a yr old, their impact starts to lessen the impact on the score. Inquires, from all of my research, carries about 10% when the fico score is being calculated.

 

Lastly, if you are planning on getting an American Express make sure that you wait at least 90 days, preferably 180 days just to be on the safe side, then reapply.

 

This is really good info to know. I have somewhere around a 750 but my two cards I have open are from Oct 2009 and May 2010. Looks like I'll be waiting another year to open that Blue Cash. It's worth the wait - that's a card I plan on keeping for the rest of my life.I'll have to think about whether I want to do a charge card in the interim, almost not worth the hassle.

[PunisherSD]

I was approved for a blue cash card with a EX FICO of 669.

[disnugaswagg]

Quick question: Did you have any AMEX products before you got your Blue Cash?

Edited July 26, 2011 by disnugaswagg

[foeplay]

I was approved for a blue cash card with a EX FICO of 669.

What disnugaswagg said.

[PunisherSD]

Quick question: Did you have any AMEX products before you got your Blue Cash?

 

Nope. I had a corporate card way back in 2000 that I closed in 2001. No amex products until January of this year. Applied for both the zync and the blue cash same day.

[MarvBear]

I got an offer to app for their Blue Cash card this morning and decided to pull the trigger figuring I would most likely get declined (AMEX seems to hate me). Here's what I got when I checked the status:

 

Reason(s) for Our Decision

 

 

 

 

 

Your FICO® score (See below)

 

 

 

Information About Your FICO® Score

 

We obtained your FICO score from Experian and used it in making our credit decision. Your FICO score is a number that reflects the information in your credit report. Your FICO score can change, depending on how the information in your credit report changes. On July 26, 2011, your FICO score was 645. The FICO score ranges from 300 to 850. The following are the key factors that contributed to your FICO score:

 

 

 

 

Serious delinquency, and public record or collection filed.

 

Proportion of loan balances to loan amounts is too high.

 

Length of time accounts have been established.

 

Time since derogatory public record or collection is too short.

 

 

 

 

FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the United States and in other countries.

 

 

 

Your Right to Get Your Credit Report

 

Our decision was based in whole or in part on information obtained in a report from each consumer reporting agency in this letter. Please know that the consumer reporting agency played no part in our decision and cannot supply you with the specific reasons for our decision. You have a right under the Fair Credit Reporting Act to know the information contained in your credit file at the consumer reporting agency. It can be obtained by contacting them directly. You also have a right to a free copy of your report from the consumer reporting agency if you request it within 60 days after you receive this notice. If you find that any information contained in the consumer report you receive is inaccurate or incomplete, you have the right to dispute the matter directly with the reporting agency.

 

 

Could this be my actual EX FICO score or FAKO? I would think that if it's from the CC company it would have to be accurate. Up until now, I thought there was no way you could find this actual score.

 

The score is suprising because my EQ is at 699. Apparently INQ's do make a huge difference. All of the accounts are the same, but EX has 19 INQ's on it, while my EQ has only 2.

 

 

one of the new requirements of the Dodd-Frank act. All financial institution are required to comply, and it became effective on 07/21/2011, to provide the consumer the score along with the top 4 reasons or top 5 reasons if one of the reasons is too many inquiries.

[disnugaswagg]

Congrats! As I mentioned earlier, if you already had any AMEX products with good standing, you had a better chance of getting a the Blue Cash. Yesterday, I was approved for the American Express Business Gold Rewards card. I do not have the Blue Cash yet, but from speaking to an underwriter, she gave me some of the specifics, which I posted previously.

[Stanggt03]

Tempting just to get the FICO score, since I'm not a member of PSECU.

Edited July 26, 2011 by Stanggt03

[Big Dutch]

Since this week marks the 1 year anniversary that i've been working on my GF's credit, i decided to use this opportunity to apply for AMEX, get denied and see her FICO score, since she won't be applying for anything major in the next 12 months. ( last EX FICO was 584 Auto Enhanced in March ) So i had her apply for the AMEX Green, and well.. it backfired.. she was approved, with 12 baddies on her report, incl 2 open COs from 2010. Will we still get a FICO score?

 

She had a few active tradelines , like a $150 JCP, $400 BBRZ, $450 Cap 1 secured and a Cap One auto loan. She was an AU on one of my AMEX cards.

 

BTW she started off at 469 EQ fico, and is now at 589 EQ and 605 TU

[evitoss]

Since this week marks the 1 year anniversary that i've been working on my GF's credit, i decided to use this opportunity to apply for AMEX, get denied and see her FICO score, since she won't be applying for anything major in the next 12 months. ( last EX FICO was 584 Auto Enhanced in March ) So i had her apply for the AMEX Green, and well.. it backfired.. she was approved, with 12 baddies on her report, incl 2 open COs from 2010. Will we still get a FICO score?

 

She had a few active tradelines , like a $150 JCP, $400 BBRZ, $450 Cap 1 secured and a Cap One auto loan. She was an AU on one of my AMEX cards.

 

BTW she started off at 469 EQ fico, and is now at 589 EQ and 605 TU

 

That's an awesome backfire in my book .

[evitoss]

So I called for a recon (figured it was worth a shot since I applied already). I couldn't believe what she told me. She says "Well, it seems like your UTL is a little high", I said "High? It's at like 4 percent". Her response was "We show it at 6.4 percent".

 

6.4 percent?!?!?!? Since when was having less than 10 percent UTL high?

[Stanggt03]

Since this week marks the 1 year anniversary that i've been working on my GF's credit, i decided to use this opportunity to apply for AMEX, get denied and see her FICO score, since she won't be applying for anything major in the next 12 months. ( last EX FICO was 584 Auto Enhanced in March ) So i had her apply for the AMEX Green, and well.. it backfired.. she was approved, with 12 baddies on her report, incl 2 open COs from 2010. Will we still get a FICO score?

 

She had a few active tradelines , like a $150 JCP, $400 BBRZ, $450 Cap 1 secured and a Cap One auto loan. She was an AU on one of my AMEX cards.

 

BTW she started off at 469 EQ fico, and is now at 589 EQ and 605 TU

Whoops! LOL! It's obviously the AU account doing it. Wish that would happen to me, but even with better scores and TLs, that pesky BK will have me getting "free" scores for the next 9 years.

[RAguy]

Almost makes me want to apply (I know I'll be declined) just to see a real EX FICO...

 

 

 

+1 The bad thing is I have 21 INQs on EX already... of course 2 of those are due to drop off next month so maybe I'll pull the trigger....

[Capn12]

Well, dang you bad influences!! I wanted to see if my CRs were clear enough to warrant AmEx worthyness....

 

Dear Capn12,

 

 

 

We are pleased to approve your application for American Express® Green Card, and we'd like to welcome you to the benefits and services that come with Card membership. We are expediting the delivery of your Card, and you will receive it in 2 to 3 days.

 

 

 

Very nice! First card I have applied for in 1.5 years or so. I had no INQ on Ex, so figured, what the hell...

 

I'm in the AmEx family, it feels pretty good! I'm making a pure guess as to my EX score, probably 670-700ish.

[CreditMuppet]

Congrats Capn12!

 

Thinking of doing an Amex App myself sometime in August. If you dont mind be asking any baddies (late's, CO's etc) on your CR at the time of the App? Definately a great milestone to reach!

 

 

Well, dang you bad influences!! I wanted to see if my CRs were clear enough to warrant AmEx worthyness....

 

Dear Capn12,

 

 

 

We are pleased to approve your application for American Express® Green Card, and we'd like to welcome you to the benefits and services that come with Card membership. We are expediting the delivery of your Card, and you will receive it in 2 to 3 days.

 

 

 

Very nice! First card I have applied for in 1.5 years or so. I had no INQ on Ex, so figured, what the hell...

 

I'm in the AmEx family, it feels pretty good! I'm making a pure guess as to my EX score, probably 670-700ish.

[Capn12]

Congrats Capn12!

 

Thinking of doing an Amex App myself sometime in August. If you dont mind be asking any baddies (late's, CO's etc) on your CR at the time of the App? Definately a great milestone to reach!

 

 

Well, dang you bad influences!! I wanted to see if my CRs were clear enough to warrant AmEx worthyness....

 

Dear Capn12,

 

 

 

We are pleased to approve your application for American Express® Green Card, and we'd like to welcome you to the benefits and services that come with Card membership. We are expediting the delivery of your Card, and you will receive it in 2 to 3 days.

 

 

 

Very nice! First card I have applied for in 1.5 years or so. I had no INQ on Ex, so figured, what the hell...

 

I'm in the AmEx family, it feels pretty good! I'm making a pure guess as to my EX score, probably 670-700ish.

 

Well, my EX is my weakest CR honestly. I had 2 30 day lates from GMAC, back in November and December of 2004. Also, had 3 COs from 2004, all scheduled to drop off in the next 2-3 months.

 

So, far from clean, but I figured I had a shot at a true charge card through them, and it gets my foot in the door.

[Capn12]

Dang double posts!

Edited July 27, 2011 by Capn12

[Stanggt03]

Crap. I went ahead and applied. I was, as expected, declined. However, the only reason was BK. No score. Guess I gotta wait for the mail to get my score. Surprising that there weren't any other reasons.

[evitoss]

Crap. I went ahead and applied. I was, as expected, declined. However, the only reason was BK. No score. Guess I gotta wait for the mail to get my score. Surprising that there weren't any other reasons.

 

Which card did you apply for? I wonder if they are giving the FICO score only with certain cards.