Strategy to obtain US Amex

[thedamon]

I don't have a Fico score after 11 months, but was able to upgrade my Bevy to Brilliant immediately

Does it not affect your credit score to upgrade the first US card you have? I thought any changes would have a negative effect?

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Does it not affect your credit score to upgrade the first US card you have? I thought any changes would have a negative effect?

I believe it might keep the same card number and for reporting purposes it's the same card.

If they've approved it then it should be fine.

Thanks for the prompt, no notification here (just like they don't ever receive anything sent to them in my case), but I'll need to make that change as that's my addy.

I did get an email about it!

 

[Finale]

Recently approved for the Citi Biz AA 65K/$0AF/$4K/4 months (now up to 75K/$0 AF/$6K/6 months — sadly Citi don't match) & Barclays AA Red 60K+15K AU/$99 AF/no spend/4 months.

Citi is fairly awful to deal with. Need to receive a code in the mail to be approved for the card. Unable to add to Apple Pay — fraud blocked and letter with code takes ages to come, so gave up and just use physical card. You get random fraud warnings, but funnily enough they don't stop you from using the card if you wait 24 hours for them to disappear. Phone app mostly works. Website rarely works, but can do most functions on the phone app.

Barclays much easier, though I got passed on the phone to 8(!) different people to find the right person to verify (you're looking for the security team). But very simple — able to verify on the phone unlike with Citi. As I only need to make one purchase on the card and AU card to get the bonus, won't have to worry about fraud blocks — will be two purchases then into the drawer.

I have had citi cards since 2016 and never had any issue with fraud even with 3-4k transactions. Last week, both of my cards were locked due to high fraud alert when trying to spend less than $200 at Superdry. Nothing suspicious other than some small 20 transactions in 2 days and they were pretty much the stores we regularly bought stuff from. Called them and sorted it out in 10 mins and was told both cards were fine. Only one card was unlocked though. Had to call again and got an ineffient agent who took 30 mins to sort it out.

I think it could be that I stopped adding travel notices. I used to have to do this every 3 months or oversea transactions were pretty much denied (card not blocked though). Stopped over a year ago because that section was broken lol and thought they didn't need this anymore. Looks like I have to add this to my calendar again.

Are you accessing the Citi app and website within Australia without a vpn? Trying to figure out if being overseas is triggering all these fraud alerts. I will have a narrow window while I am transiting LAX and could possibly walk into the Sepulveda branch if I had to prove my identity. I gave up on Cap 1, they just aren't liking my profile as a future customer and don't want hard inquiries on all 3 credit bureaus messing me up with Chase next year once I get past 5/24.

I have a spare cheapie Samsung I can set up as a US Google Pay and download US apps just for the specific use. I don't have to use Google or Apple Pay, as long as I can do the spends online or in person.

I access Citi without using VPN past 7 years. The only time Citi needs VPN is when they send you offers (ie statement credits) to email that need activation. Best to add travel notices I guess.

 

[shadowwalker91]

I believe it might keep the same card number and for reporting purposes it's the same card.

If they've approved it then it should be fine.



I did get an email about it!

Yes, my card number remains the same.

This is before my annual fee appears. Hopefully, I will get the 85k FNA for renewal

But wondering if it is because I have my overseas address as shipping address that I am not getting my Fico score

 

[DC3]

… I have my overseas address as shipping address …

Was that because someone recommended this?

 

[shadowwalker91]

Was that because someone recommended this?

I requested for my first amex card to be sent to my overseas address and the cso updated it. Never change it back yet as I always wanted the Brilliant.

 

[DC3]

I requested for my first amex card to be sent to my overseas address and the cso updated it. Never change it back yet as I always wanted the Brilliant.

Hopefully someone will confirm that this was a good idea

 

[Sora]

I transferred from Revolut to Chase Bank for the Signup bonus, seems it did not trigger. The same applied to the American Express Checking.

I did call chase, they said on their side it doesn't appear as triggered and still to-do.

 

[Finale]

I transferred from Revolut to Chase Bank for the Signup bonus, seems it did not trigger. The same applied to the American Express Checking.

I did call chase, they said on their side it doesn't appear as triggered and still to-do.

It didn't work at Amex as well?

 

[DC3]

… seems it did not trigger. The same applied to the American Express Checking …

Was this more than a couple of weeks ago? DOC has some very recent DPs (especially over the past few days) for the Amex checking bonus. Amex seems to have recently slowed down on the alert emails and the bonus crediting

[Expired] American Express $250 Checking Bonus - Doctor Of Credit

American Express is offering a $250 bonus when you open a new personal checking account and complete the following requirements

www.doctorofcredit.com

 

[mattr00]

DP for this. AMEX checking funded through WISE on the 17th and got the email today

 

[Finale]

I

Was this more than a couple of weeks ago? DOC has some very recent DPs (especially over the past few days) for the Amex checking bonus. Amex seems to have recently slowed down on the alert emails and the bonus crediting

[Expired] American Express $250 Checking Bonus - Doctor Of Credit

American Express is offering a $250 bonus when you open a new personal checking account and complete the following requirements

www.doctorofcredit.com

Looks like the email still comes the following Tuesday (US time) after you make a deposit. Sora made a deposit last week if I remembered correctly. Maybe already got email this morning?

 

[Sora]

It didn't work at Amex as well?

So far, no updates from them.

Was this more than a couple of weeks ago? DOC has some very recent DPs (especially over the past few days) for the Amex checking bonus. Amex seems to have recently slowed down on the alert emails and the bonus crediting

[Expired] American Express $250 Checking Bonus - Doctor Of Credit

American Express is offering a $250 bonus when you open a new personal checking account and complete the following requirements

www.doctorofcredit.com

I think it was about the 17th, 18th, I did the Chase ones around the same time. They could be slowing down, just worried the Amex one didn't trigger, the same way that the Chase one didn't as well.

DP for this. AMEX checking funded through WISE on the 17th and got the email today

I might send funds back to my account and use Wise, it might work. Who can be certain, because neither the Chase nor Amex matters have a bonus tracker, apparently there is one, but it doesn't appear on Chase.

Looks like the email still comes the following Tuesday (US time) after you make a deposit. Sora made a deposit last week if I remembered correctly. Maybe already got email this morning?

Yes, just got it!!

 

[DC3]

So far, no updates from them ….

Yes, just got it!!

Severe patience (lacking) Grasshopper

 

[Sora]

Severe patience (lacking) Grasshopper

Learning to be patient.

But all is good. Now to try and trigger that Chase.

 

[dontwanttoregister]

Hopefully I’m mistaken but looks like the Hilton Aspire is no longer available for new applicants? Despite the very recent changes, it’s still attractive to me, but those changes may only apply to existing cardholders?

I had held back for some time to align with Diamond expiry, but it seems I may now have missed the boat!

 

[levelnine]

Hopefully I’m mistaken but looks like the Hilton Aspire is no longer available for new applicants?

Very much still available to new applicants. What leads you to think otherwise?

 

[PointsLife1]

Very much still available to new applicants. What leads you to think otherwise?

I've noticed on occasions some cards go missing on the Amex website for a day or so and then reappear. Maybe just updating some details or bonus offers.

 

[dontwanttoregister]

Very much still available to new applicants. What leads you to think otherwise?

Hmmm. On desktop, the only Hilton card showing for me under hotels is the Surpass, and the direct Aspire link goes to an error page. It’s also missing from the carousel of all cards at the bottom of the Cards page - it says 15 cards, and shows 15 cards, not including Aspire! After seeing your comment, I’ve searched on a mobile browser and Aspire shows. Curious! But thanks, I’ll hop on it!

 

[maverick1]

When I started my journey a few years ago my card of choice was the Bonvoy Brilliant but with lifetime status the increased $200.00 fee didn't seem valuable to me and with it coming up next month decided to try the downgrade path to the now not available to new applicants $95.00 Bonvoy card and was very easy and just used the online chat function to first try for a retention offer and when was denied asked for the $95.00 card and all done via Amex chat and already updated in the app and apple wallet.

I was thinking do that when my Bevy comes up for renewal next Feb. But the 35k annual cert is no longer an attractive option. I already have the Marriott Biz which I might keep instead as it doesn't count for 5/24. I'm going to hit the limit of 5 active Amex lending products either end of this year or sometime next year, so will need to cull some cards on the way and might add charge cards instead,