Guess Im not blacklisted with AMEX anymore

[devil21]

Seems some of my old creditors have been forgiving lately as Ive been approved for an AMEX Gold (preapproval letter by mail), even though they were hounding me for a 10+ year old balance on a green card only a couple years ago. Interestingly when I logged in to my new online access it still says "Member since 1996" lol. Will my new Gold card say that? Only thing Im wondering is if they'll try to dump the old balance onto this new card? Is AMEX just being slick or have they actually forgiven me and taken me off their blacklist? Ive heard about their Oasis repayment program but it seems they aren't even trying to get me into that. Just gave me a new Gold card....

 

Ill keep this thread updated if anyone is interested.

Edited February 24, 2011 by devil21

[hairmetal4ever]

Weird. At first, I'd say that somehow your entire record was purged, probably accidentally by some IT guy doing system maintenance.

 

However, since the "member since" date is intact...just think of this as a mulligan and don't screw it up this time!

 

I've never burned Amex but they consider me the Devil due to a BK on my reports...so I need to wait a while before I'm in.

 

Wait...did you "accept" the preapproval and actually get approval, or are you going off the mailer? I've heard that Amex will generate preapprovals based on a soft pull without checking their blacklist database, since your credit itself (w/the CO from Amex gone) might actually be OK for an Amex, blacklist aside.

Edited February 24, 2011 by hairmetal4ever

[toopooor]

Amex seems to be in a forgiving mood lately - i don't believe they'll add the old balance. (and can't for those who filed BK).

 

Did you move since your account went bad? Someone in another amex BL thread mentioned they spoke with a CSR who said something about the BL using address matching (not strictly the SS#), so if the CR is clean and the address different from the one on the bad account, you can get around the BL.

 

In my experience, Citi uses address matching for its blacklist (and someone, Shawnee maybe, was denied because their address was BL.)

[devil21]

Indeed I have moved and in the couple months since I moved Ive been getting lots of preapproval letters in the mail. Both AMEX and Discover (both had charged off accounts) have given me new accounts, though the past transgressions were in the 90s. Seems there's somethig to this address thing.

 

I accepted a preapproval letter by mail. It was talking about how responsible I am and how I deserved an AMEX Gold card so wouldn't I please accept it? I bit and got approved on the website, even set up my online account info.

[spoonieluv]

That is unAmex like. Bump

[hairmetal4ever]

Makes me almost want to apply and see if they've gotten that "anti-BKers who never even IIB'ed an Amex Card" bug out of their a$$es.

[devil21]

They sent a green card offer about a month ago. When I didn't apply I guess they up'ed the ante to a Gold. It does seem unusual for AMEX so we'll see what happens. I do not have card in hand yet and I WILL watch the account balance for a few days before I activate it to see if they're trying to be slick.

[Rotten Maters]

This is in somewhat a similar vein, not exactly your same scenario but a little maybe. I had opposite results from AMEX lately as everyone else. I have had a Delta Skymiles AMEX since 2003. Zero balance at current time. Right now, my CL is $7,000, which is the minimum for my particular card. However, back in 2005 they had jacked the CL all the way up to $21,000. In the past few years, I got in serious financial straits, and carried some serious balances on the AMEX from month to month, and they started doing CLD's as a result -- that's why I'm back at $7,000. They are NOT reporting late with any CRA's. But I know for a fact that I did NOT get my AMEX bill (even the minimum payment) paid on time several times back in early 2010. Ever since July 2010, I've had a near zero balance, and it's always paid on time now.

 

Fast forward to this past week. I call AMEX and ask them for a CLI. I was denied CLI, based on among other things, past payment history on my AMEX card. My question is, how long does an AMEX card usually have to remain in good standing before they'll consider a CLI?

[hairmetal4ever]

Has anyone WITH A BK had any Amex luv lately?

 

If so I may pull trigger, if not, I'll wait at least until late next year when my IIB's are all gone.

[Menta33]

Has anyone WITH A BK had any Amex luv lately?

 

If so I may pull trigger, if not, I'll wait at least until late next year when my IIB's are all gone.

 

What I have heard is that you can improve your changes by getting AU on someone else's card first that trusts you and then charging and paying the balances you charge using your own login so that AMEX sees a track record of you charging and paying the balance yourself. They track AUs with their own account number and login, so they are able to get this information. I'd suggest doing this first to increase the chances of being approved. I'm told that someone with a high 600s FICO Exp score was successful using this tack.

[hairmetal4ever]

Has anyone WITH A BK had any Amex luv lately?

 

If so I may pull trigger, if not, I'll wait at least until late next year when my IIB's are all gone.

 

What I have heard is that you can improve your changes by getting AU on someone else's card first that trusts you and then charging and paying the balances you charge using your own login so that AMEX sees a track record of you charging and paying the balance yourself. They track AUs with their own account number and login, so they are able to get this information. I'd suggest doing this first to increase the chances of being approved. I'm told that someone with a high 600s FICO Exp score was successful using this tack.

 

Good idea. I am an AU on my wife's Blue (only dates back to 2007), and although I use my card more than she uses hers, she normally makes the payments herself, since we primarily use it for either "household" purchases (Costco) or travel expenses. The main reason I use my card more is that she never can find hers in that cavernous purse of hers, we're almost always together when it gets used. That and she makes three times as much money as me!

 

 

I wonder how long they'd want to see this activity?

Edited February 26, 2011 by hairmetal4ever

[jtca925]

I was just approved for an Amex Green Preferred Rewards card last night after I had received two pre-selected offers this week. I was certain that I was blacklisted as I'm pretty sure I had two defaulted accounts with them back in 1995. I'm ecstatic about the approval but the prospect of them possibly backdating my "member since" to 1982 is even better. This is TOTALLY going to help my AAOA and my FICO scores.

[devil21]

I was just approved for an Amex Green Preferred Rewards card last night after I had received two pre-selected offers this week. I was certain that I was blacklisted as I'm pretty sure I had two defaulted accounts with them back in 1995. I'm ecstatic about the approval but the prospect of them possibly backdating my "member since" to 1982 is even better. This is TOTALLY going to help my AAOA and my FICO scores.

 

I doubt the tradeline will be from 1982, rather the "Member Since" number on the card will be the original date you got into the system with AMEX. Sounds like you have a very similar situation to mine. Maybe they're being lenient with past defaults as long as you have solid (but profitable for them) credit now.

[Elizabeth_Speaking]

I don't have an AMEX and it'll be a while before I do, but could asking for a backdate trigger them digging around and finding an old default? This is assuming they didn't already know about it when they approved the account.

[Menta33]

I don't have an AMEX and it'll be a while before I do, but could asking for a backdate trigger them digging around and finding an old default? This is assuming they didn't already know about it when they approved the account.

 

To mitigate that risk, you could charge and PIF for a couple of months before asking so that they could see new track record and worst case that they did close, you would have positive history with them this time reporting and in their files.

[jtca925]

I actually have one of the old AMEX accounts still showing on my Experian report with an open date of 11/1982. It shows "Paid As Agreed - Closed by Credit Grantor" with no balance. It was last updated in 2005. Experian is the CBR they pulled for the approval. It's why I'm hoping they'll backdate without me having to ask.

[devil21]

Update:

 

Gold card arrived in mail today. I reviewed the card agreement to make sure they can't dump the old balance onto it. I didn't see anything that would allow that. The member since date says "11" though the online part says 1996. I don't think Ill push my luck and try to get them to change the card. So far so good.

[Menta33]

Update:

 

Gold card arrived in mail today. I reviewed the card agreement to make sure they can't dump the old balance onto it. I didn't see anything that would allow that. The member since date says "11" though the online part says 1996. I don't think Ill push my luck and try to get them to change the card. So far so good.

The online part is the important part, the date printed on the card is just gravy on top.

[hegemony]

Weird. At first, I'd say that somehow your entire record was purged, probably accidentally by some IT guy doing system maintenance.

 

 

nope.

[hegemony]

Update:

 

Gold card arrived in mail today. I reviewed the card agreement to make sure they can't dump the old balance onto it. I didn't see anything that would allow that. The member since date says "11" though the online part says 1996. I don't think Ill push my luck and try to get them to change the card. So far so good.

The online part is the important part, the date printed on the card is just gravy on top.

exactly. the tradeline will report the same as the online date. congrats devil21

[devil21]

Thanks heg and others. I haven't used it yet but Ill get around to it soon. Did I mention AMEX waived the annual fee for the first year too?

 

It goes to show that you can screw AMEX over and still get back in good with them if you clean things up later in life.

[devil21]

Thought Id update this thread. Ive seen a lot of groaning about AMEX on CB lately but Im happy with them! The Gold card has been working fine for the last couple months and everything has been great. If I get an FR Ill just close it and be done with it since Im already ahead of the game with AMEX.

[Rebuilding2010]

Did I mention AMEX waived the annual fee for the first year too?

I'm pretty sure that's an open offer to anyone.

[choirlady]

Seems some of my old creditors have been forgiving lately as Ive been approved for an AMEX Gold (preapproval letter by mail), even though they were hounding me for a 10+ year old balance on a green card only a couple years ago. Interestingly when I logged in to my new online access it still says "Member since 1996" lol. Will my new Gold card say that? Only thing Im wondering is if they'll try to dump the old balance onto this new card? Is AMEX just being slick or have they actually forgiven me and taken me off their blacklist? Ive heard about their Oasis repayment program but it seems they aren't even trying to get me into that. Just gave me a new Gold card....

 

Ill keep this thread updated if anyone is interested.

 

Congrats!