Strategy to obtain US Amex

A data point for those holding the Aspire: my recent stay at the Conrad Bali triggered the $250 resort credit just 5 days after checking out. Some blogs online suggest the credit usually takes 3-4 weeks and Amex T&C state up to 12 weeks, so I was quite pleased to see it post before my next statement.

Can highly recommend this as an alternative to our only domestic resort option, Hilton Surfers Paradise. Depending on rates you can sometimes get close to squeezing two nights into the $250 credit - just keep in mind that you need to book a flexible 'pay at hotel' rate, paying in advance on Hilton.com won't trigger the credit.

Hilton Bali is also classed as a resort, I can't comment on the property but it's worth mentioning they have a "Free Bonus Points" rate right now that comes with 5k points for no additional cost.

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Igreen said:
I am with Finale, rather than applying for the CSP go for the Chase Hyatt card if your goal is Hyatt points. Furthermore, you get Hyatt stays for spends. I have both cards (Hyatt and CSP) and rarely use it since I am binging on Amex biz cards and have to meet min spends. However, At Hyat hotels I use the Hyatt card and at the start of the year to make the 15k spend to get my second free Cat 4 cert and total 11 nights.
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If you obtain your Hyatt card at year end( Nov ) does your total spend in the calendar year count towards the spend required for additional night ? Is it carried forward into next year ?
 
What's everyone's credit limit situation like with Amex US? I recently got a second Amex US card and they gave me a 30k credit limit on the card, so now I have a combined credit limit of 50k. I heard it's not a good idea to have a credit limit above 25k on a single card as it can trigger a financial review, should I ask them to reduce my credit limit or would it just cause more problems?
 
glasszon said:
What's everyone's credit limit situation like with Amex US? I recently got a second Amex US card and they gave me a 30k credit limit on the card, so now I have a combined credit limit of 50k. I heard it's not a good idea to have a credit limit above 25k on a single card as it can trigger a financial review, should I ask them to reduce my credit limit or would it just cause more problems?
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They have proactively increased the credit limit in my case the more I have kept the card, seems like it happens when I pay it off in full.

I think there wouldn't be a problem of reducing the limit on request.
 
finally received my FICO score. Applied for green via GT and immediately approved. No secondary checks at all. Applied for a checking account for nothing!

Next step on the journey would be to apply for an ITIN. I recall earlier in this where a few members added their ITIN to their equifax file. Is this done via phone or their website? Does anyone have anymore details?
 
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richh1833 said:
Applied for a checking account for nothing!
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On the topic of checking accounts ...

For anyone that is eligible, there is an incredible offer on Amex's business checking account at the moment: 60K MR for simply putting $5K in the account for 60 days and doing 10 transfers in/out.

I recently combined that with a Business Platinum card for 180K MR (170K + 10K for an employee card), which I got by calling up and asking for the offer.

240K MR for $USD695 is a fairly good deal, especially as I can offset most, if not all, of that annual fee through the Dell and airline credits.
 
richh1833 said:
finally received my FICO score. Applied for green via GT and immediately approved. No secondary checks at all. Applied for a checking account for nothing!
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Congrats, was this your 2nd or 3rd GT?
 
sudoer said:
Congrats, was this your 2nd or 3rd GT?
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2nd GT. I could have applied without GT without being logged in and use the function where they check your australian credit score as well but it seems like GT was a bit less of a hassle.

Does anyone know if there are any US cards with supermarket bonuses that work with Australian supermarkets?
 
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richh1833 said:
Does anyone know if there are any US cards with supermarket bonuses that work with Australian supermarkets?
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Chase Freedom but there is a forex fee so I only did it when there was some kind of bonus or to make a minimum spend. I used to have an Ink back in 2013-4ish, I used it to buy wish cards at Officeworks at 5x and no forex fee for Woolies.
 
levelnine said:
How can you buy Officeworks gift cards at 5x for no forex fees?

The Chase Ink Cash, which has 5x for office stories, has a forex fee.
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It might have changed. The Ink product I had back then had 5 x at office supply stores, no forex fee. I got Chase Ultimate Rewards from this card, the Freedom and the CSP which I pooled and transfered as needed.
 
richh1833 said:
2nd GT. I could have applied without GT without being logged in and use the function where they check your australian credit score as well but it seems like GT was a bit less of a hassle.

Does anyone know if there are any US cards with supermarket bonuses that work with Australian supermarkets?
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The Citi Premier Card currently gives 3x on USD value of supermarket and Fuel spend with no FX fee. I use it for my supermarket and Fuel Spend.
 
richh1833 said:
finally received my FICO score. Applied for green via GT and immediately approved. No secondary checks at all. Applied for a checking account for nothing!

Next step on the journey would be to apply for an ITIN. I recall earlier in this where a few members added their ITIN to their equifax file. Is this done via phone or their website? Does anyone have anymore details?
Click to expand...

How long was your card open, before the FICO score appeared?
My Hilton Aspire card is nearly 6 months old, but no FICO score yet.
 

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