Strategy to obtain US Amex

[lilkid28]

Received by bonus 150k Hilton points after hitting 4k USD spend. Expecting the points from normal spend after statement date in a week's time or so. With XE seeming to be the only option, I will pay the statement off with the USD20 fee and then keep the card in drawer for now. Will probably use it if I have big overseas travel/spending to make it worthwhile. Otherwise, I do have ANZ Travel and Coles Mastercard which offers no FX fees for overseas spend too. As long as I use the perks (Priority Pass, Hilton Diamond) and free night from the Hilton Aspire card, more than makes up the Annual Fee.

 

[blacksultan]

Received by bonus 150k Hilton points after hitting 4k USD spend. Expecting the points from normal spend after statement date in a week's time or so. With XE seeming to be the only option, I will pay the statement off with the USD20 fee and then keep the card in drawer for now. Will probably use it if I have big overseas travel/spending to make it worthwhile. Otherwise, I do have ANZ Travel and Coles Mastercard which offers no FX fees for overseas spend too. As long as I use the perks (Priority Pass, Hilton Diamond) and free night from the Hilton Aspire card, more than makes up the Annual Fee.

Is that your only US Amex ?

 

[lilkid28]

Is that your only US Amex ?

My only US Amex. I do have a couple of AU Amex.

 

[DC3]

Received by bonus 150k Hilton points after hitting 4k USD spend ...

And you did that spend in 2 weeks. You aren’t one to muck around.

 

[PointsLife1]

Slightly concerning email received today from Amex.

We were unable to send mail to your current billing address.

Please help us by updating your billing address as quickly as possible so we can deliver important information about your account.

Like many others I have the free version of MyUS and from the data points from all it seems all mail is rejected and sent back to sender.

It could be the Priority Pass membership which I never received but just called to receive the password in order to add to the app.

I could only see Suite 5990 and not the last 3 x numbers on MyUS so have updated that part, maybe buying some time for a different strategy or update MyUS to the mail and package version but at 25USD per month are we now paying too much for a credit card that also costs 20USD every time to pay it off through XE?

 

[blacksultan]

Slightly concerning email received today from Amex.

We were unable to send mail to your current billing address.

Please help us by updating your billing address as quickly as possible so we can deliver important information about your account.

Like many others I have the free version of MyUS and from the data points from all it seems all mail is rejected and sent back to sender.

It could be the Priority Pass membership which I never received but just called to receive the password in order to add to the app.

I could only see Suite 5990 and not the last 3 x numbers on MyUS so have updated that part, maybe buying some time for a different strategy or update MyUS to the mail and package version but at 25USD per month are we now paying too much for a credit card that also costs 20USD every time to pay it off through XE?

There are other mail receiving sites that are cheaper and you can pay as you use . I have posted a link previously .

Post automatically merged: Feb 1, 2020

Slightly concerning email received today from Amex.

We were unable to send mail to your current billing address.

Please help us by updating your billing address as quickly as possible so we can deliver important information about your account.

Like many others I have the free version of MyUS and from the data points from all it seems all mail is rejected and sent back to sender.

It could be the Priority Pass membership which I never received but just called to receive the password in order to add to the app.

I could only see Suite 5990 and not the last 3 x numbers on MyUS so have updated that part, maybe buying some time for a different strategy or update MyUS to the mail and package version but at 25USD per month are we now paying too much for a credit card that also costs 20USD every time to pay it off through XE?

Actually once you receive your first card you can update your billing address to your overseas one .

 

[albyd]

I like MyUS but agree it’s not cheap at $US25 plus delivery - I think I got charged $US15
To deliver 2 cards. Surely it doesn’t need a bid box to deliver what could’ve been put into an envelope and sent by USPS quite inexpensively. Might be a bit of gouging going on there.

Are others using a different mail service? How are the results so far? I’m reluctant to change but not resistant to it. Can’t see previews of my mail and have to order a shipment when i think there’s something of interest in there.

 

[DC3]

... We were unable to send mail to your current billing address.

Please help us by updating your billing address as quickly as possible so we can deliver important information about your account ...

... It could be the Priority Pass membership which I never received but just called to receive the password in order to add to the app ..

When I received my Priority Pass card due to holding the (AU) Amex Plat Charge card, it was mailed by Priority Pass, not Amex.

Also, have you updated your mailing preferences as yet (changing it to paperless) in your Amex account, in order to reduce the chance of hard copies being mailed to you (including statements)? Card Management>Settings (paperless).

 

[PointsLife1]

When I received my Priority Pass card due to holding the (AU) Amex Plat Charge card, it was mailed by Priority Pass, not Amex.

Also, have you updated your mailing preferences as yet (changing it to paperless) in your Amex account, in order to reduce the chance of hard copies being mailed to you (including statements)? Card Management>Settings (paperless).

Yes that was the first thing I did when receiving the card (paperless statement) so was trying to think what it could be?

 

[PointsLife1]

No I am referring to the free global transfer option available through the checking transaction account .


Looks like tracking details have now been generated and are available through my amex account.

Low cost/PAYG mail forwarding service: FREE US Mailing Address | Package Forwarding | PostScan Mail

Has anyone had experience with PostScanMail? I really like the look of it and can choose from multiple addresses in the US, surely sooner or later US Amex will wonder why so many people live at 4283 Express Lane and all pay their bills using XE

Was also wanting to get the Amex Green card next but MyUS won’t send it as it will only be in an envelope and not the premium welcome box from the likes of Bonvoy Brilliant and Hilton Aspire.

I think the Florida humidity is getting to me, might be time to move to Southern California

 

[albyd]

Guessing we’ll need to get another notarized postal form done with any change in physical address?

mom going to have a look at PostScanMail -thanks for highlighting it. Agree, too many of us living in Florida at Express Lane night be noticed.

 

[DC3]

... Agree, too many of us living in Florida at Express Lane night be noticed.

So, now we all move to California at the same time?

 

[PointsLife1]

So, now we all move to California at the same time?

Haha yes

You can actually choose any State and it has multiple address options.

Hawaii maybe?

 

[albyd]

Seems cheaper as well if you don’t choose a fancy location eg Bronx vs NYC. Can’t find any pricing for actual mail forwarding. I might not be looking on the right place and no one there to answer my question unlike MyIS which seems to have someone there around the clock. It is more expensive though.

if someone has seen it can you please post the link to the pricing. Just don’t want to get ripped off for forwarding small and light mail items like CCs. I know they need to make a profit but $US15 for 2 CCs is a little steep - although allowing us to have a product we otherwise couldn’t get.

 

[blacksultan]

Has anyone had experience with PostScanMail? I really like the look of it and can choose from multiple addresses in the US, surely sooner or later US Amex will wonder why so many people live at 4283 Express Lane and all pay their bills using XE

Was also wanting to get the Amex Green card next but MyUS won’t send it as it will only be in an envelope and not the premium welcome box from the likes of Bonvoy Brilliant and Hilton Aspire.

I think the Florida humidity is getting to me, might be time to move to Southern California

Did you actually have to wait for at least 6 months before you applied for your second US Amex ?

 

[PointsLife1]

Did you actually have to wait for at least 6 months before you applied for your second US Amex ?

No just in the planning stages now, with hotels now sorted with the Bonvoy Brilliant looking to get a decent membership rewards card for Avios most likely transfer partner.

I notice most people have chosen the Green card and what do people think of it?

Also weighing up Gold or Platinum.

 

[albyd]

For me, I chose Green because I like the bonus categories and the more ‘reasonable’ AF as already have high AF Australian cards.

 

[blacksultan]

I have the green card as well because of its reasonable AF and MR program . Are all aware that with US MR one can transfer directly to additional card holders FF program accounts as well ? This benefit is not available with the OZ Amex

Post automatically merged: Feb 1, 2020

Just curious is there any reason some have not updated their address to their oz address after receiving their card ? Is it for the purpose of consistency with future cc applications ?

 

[blacksultan]

I did a Global Transfer a few years ago without actually moving there. I don't know if it's still working.

The requirement is you have to be in the US (to open bank account). No SSN/ITIN needed. I heard if you have a relationship with bank like HSBC (premier?), they will open an account without you being there.

1. Open a bank account with any bank, in my case, Citi using a US address. I used a friend's address.

2. I did a Global Transfer without closing my Australian accounts. Amex did not need anything except doing an address verification by doing 3-way call with Citibank.

Done. Card arrived at my friend's within a week. They started showing my credit score after around 6 or 7 months.

I use Google voice to get US number and can use hangouts app to call US for free.

I started with PRG then applied for Platinum after a year. Now I also have SPG ($10k limit) and Hilton Aspire ($20k). I also have US Citi Prestige with 20k limit (upgraded from their standard card). These US banks are very generous considering I'm a self employed. Amex USA is similar to AU. They never ask for a proof of income. There is also no minimum income requirement. I applied to the plat telling them I earn only about 50k.

First card when doing Global Transfer can be done online. The rest will need to be by phone due to the lack of SSN/ITIN. Sometimes I needed to do a followup call (They asked me about SSN but I just gave my passport number). If you call during their business hours, they cantransfer you to a department that can give you an approval straight away. They never ask me to send a copy of my passport.

For Citi, it can only be done in branch. They only need my passport and bank statement which I just used theirs as I have some USD going through that account.

For Amex, I never told them I don't live in the US. For Citi, they know I live in Australia as the account was open with AU residential address and US mailing address.

Now looking for some easy way to obtain ITIN so I can apply for cards easier. Heard Chase won't ITIN now but SSN only. Some of their cards look great but I guess I should be happy with what I'm having now.

Do you have to wait for at least 6 months before you apply for your second and subsequent cards ?

 

[DC3]

... Just curious is there any reason some have not updated their address to their oz address after receiving their card ? Is it for the purpose of consistency with future cc applications ?

Raising red flags, perhaps?