Reopening AMEX card after paying charge-off

[ebuddog]

I had a charge-off on my Amex Delta Skymiles card in Feb '08. I want to re-establish a relationship with them, and have read about Amex backdating, so I called up the Internal Collections department and paid the balance on the charge-off. The rep from IC told me that I wouldn't be able to reopen the card and that I would need to wait about 10 days for the check to clear and for the system to update in order to re-apply. I didn't like that answer, so I called the Customer Support line and was told that she wasn't able to get into the account because the system doesn't show the account paid yet. A few questions:

 

1) Is this correct? Is there no way I can re-open the old card?

2) Has anyone done something like this before?

3) If I do have to re-apply, do they start from scratch like I've never been a member or do they take that into account?

 

Thanks!!!

[Tyra]

1) Is this correct? Is there no way I can re-open the old card?

Correct. They open a new account with the opening date of your old account year and the current month. So separate tradeline.

 

2) Has anyone done something like this before?

Lots of people have done it. Probably a couple hundred on this forum.

 

3) If I do have to re-apply, do they start from scratch like I've never been a member or do they take that into account?

They take it into account. After you get the new account and you call in to CSR they will thank you for being a member since 2008. It is to your advantage to wait until January. If you got approved now, your opening date will be 12/08. If you get approved in January, your opening date will report as 01/08 so your card will be 11 months older if you open it one month later.

 

[ebuddog]

1) Is this correct? Is there no way I can re-open the old card?

Correct. They open a new account with the opening date of your old account year and the current month. So separate tradeline.

 

2) Has anyone done something like this before?

Lots of people have done it. Probably a couple hundred on this forum.

 

3) If I do have to re-apply, do they start from scratch like I've never been a member or do they take that into account?

They take it into account. After you get the new account and you call in to CSR they will thank you for being a member since 2008. It is to your advantage to wait until January. If you got approved now, your opening date will be 12/08. If you get approved in January, your opening date will report as 01/08 so your card will be 11 months older if you open it one month later.

 

 

Awesome, thanks for the reply!

 

I opened that account in '05, so with the back date be to the chargoff date or from when I opened the card in '05?

 

Is the Zync card still the easiest card to get?

 

EDIT: Also, on my CRs will the DOLA update for the chargeoff?

Edited December 21, 2011 by ebuddog

[ebuddog]

bump

[Tyra]

I opened that account in '05, so with the back date be to the chargoff date or from when I opened the card in '05?

05 would apply. It is your original membership year plus the current month.

 

Is the Zync card still the easiest card to get?

Yes, by far.

 

Also, on my CRs will the DOLA update for the chargeoff?

Posters have different experience. However it reports it will be better for your report than how it is reporting now.There are others here who can answer with recent experience.

[ebuddog]

I opened that account in '05, so with the back date be to the chargoff date or from when I opened the card in '05?

05 would apply. It is your original membership year plus the current month.

 

Is the Zync card still the easiest card to get?

Yes, by far.

 

Also, on my CRs will the DOLA update for the chargeoff?

Posters have different experience. However it reports it will be better for your report than how it is reporting now.There are others here who can answer with recent experience.

 

 

I thought unpaid and paid collections had the same effect on the score, the only difference was DOLA?

 

EDIT: clarified.

Edited December 21, 2011 by ebuddog