Strategy to obtain US Amex

[Franko Costa]

One Final update - I think now I'll focus on my day job for a while as I'm a little despondent about all this.

My CSP app got declined. I have a FICO score of 842 (according to Citi and similar on AMEX) so I'm a little miffed. After waiting on hold for 75 mins, I finally got through to a condescending operator who told me my application was declined. Apparently, they'd reconsidered my application 5 times and I was speaking with the Fraud department when the line initially picked up on # 1 888 609 7805.

He wouldn't tell me anything other than I didn't meet Chase's unspecified criteria - the exact details of which he couldn't tell me in case I'd then use those details to game the system.

Chase & C1 are off the list for me. I'll stick with Citi and AMEX for the time being. Glad I was able to open Amex banking accounts after I got my ITIN.

I just opened up my amex checking account today. They had sent me an email wanting all this stuff but just received an email saying it is open without me sending anything through.

With chase it is annoying as the cards are too good to allow me to forgot about them (or least say that I will forget about them for 2 years given the 5/24 rule).

 

[desafinado74]

So, I went to Bank of America today, and the application is "in progress", they said to me the response arrives in the mail or a card it is either approved or declined. Supposedly, you don't receive any correspondence by email.

Seems odd. It is now a waiting game.

How do you find the customer service in general in BOFA and Chase ? They also seem to know how to deal with foreign customers with no ITIN etc.

 

[Sora]

How do you find the customer service in general in BOFA and Chase ? They also seem to know how to deal with foreign customers with no ITIN etc.

They're good or have been with me. To be fair, when have I ever gone to an Aussie bank to sit with someone to open an account?

I am not sure if they get some sort of incentive to open new accounts, but from my experience being here in 2015 and now, it seems the same.

Be prepared that you may need to schedule a meeting with them, but in my cases both with Chase & BOFA I have walked in and its not been an issue to sit with someone to open the accounts.

 

[larrymull]

Interesting situation happened to me over the last week. I had opened a CapitalOne Checking Account last month successfully online and was sent a debit card as well. I paid $100usd in to the account via PayPal. A month later I have received an email from them saying if I don't call them they will cancel my account. I rang them provided said ID's again, and ITIN and the lady who I spoke to escaluated the case and the only way they could allow me to keep the account open was to come in to a branch personally, which I couldn't for obvious reasons.

So as such they have closed my account. Has anyone had this problem before?

 

[levelnine]

Has anyone had this problem before?

Someone did just a few comments above yours.

 

[larrymull]

Someone did just a few comments above yours.

Not just a 1 off then, good to know.

 

[Sora]

Do they even have C1 branches? I know in LA they only have C1 Cafes.

 

[Daventry]

Not just a 1 off then, good to know.

It’s also happening to new applications, not just existing ones.

Let’s hope there’s still a chance to apply for their credit cards a few weeks/months later

 

[maverick1]

Interesting situation happened to me over the last week. I had opened a CapitalOne Checking Account last month successfully online and was sent a debit card as well. I paid $100usd in to the account via PayPal. A month later I have received an email from them saying if I don't call them they will cancel my account. I rang them provided said ID's again, and ITIN and the lady who I spoke to escaluated the case and the only way they could allow me to keep the account open was to come in to a branch personally, which I couldn't for obvious reasons.

So as such they have closed my account. Has anyone had this problem before?

I got a similar email for C1...I didn't bother calling them and let them close my a/c...I had already received my SUP of US$350 but the main idea was to have an ongoing relationship with them to pursue credit cards sometime later.......

 

[DC3]

… the only way they could allow me to keep the account open was to come in to a branch personally, which I couldn't for obvious reasons.

As they don’t seem to have branches near Sarasota, then I guess I won’t be calling in to a Branch either.

Edit: Oops. Looks like they have a ‘cafe’ in South Miami

 

[anyonebutqantas]

As long as people got their SUB from the account opening offers that's the main thing!

 

[desafinado74]

They're good or have been with me. To be fair, when have I ever gone to an Aussie bank to sit with someone to open an account?

I am not sure if they get some sort of incentive to open new accounts, but from my experience being here in 2015 and now, it seems the same.

Be prepared that you may need to schedule a meeting with them, but in my cases both with Chase & BOFA I have walked in and its not been an issue to sit with someone to open the accounts.

That is good to know : )
If you don't mind me asking, which Bofa and Chase branches did you visit in LA ?
(I plan to visit the US within the next year or so and most likely i will be flying into LA)
Gotta say though, every bank branch has terrible to average ratings on Google reviews lol

 

[desafinado74]

Interesting situation happened to me over the last week. I had opened a CapitalOne Checking Account last month successfully online and was sent a debit card as well. I paid $100usd in to the account via PayPal. A month later I have received an email from them saying if I don't call them they will cancel my account. I rang them provided said ID's again, and ITIN and the lady who I spoke to escaluated the case and the only way they could allow me to keep the account open was to come in to a branch personally, which I couldn't for obvious reasons.

So as such they have closed my account. Has anyone had this problem before?

I gotta say i have been very lucky with C1. I opened a checking account with them 6 months ago, and i was not required to go into a branch. I also managed to successfully apply for a lowly SavourOne credit card, which i have been using for the past 6 months for small charity donations to US based NGOs. And last week C1 pre approved me for a no fee Quicksilver credit card lol

 

[Sora]

That is good to know : )
If you don't mind me asking, which Bofa and Chase branches did you visit in LA ?
(I plan to visit the US within the next year or so and most likely i will be flying into LA)
Gotta say though, every bank branch has terrible to average ratings on Google reviews lol

I’m sure they all vary.

I went ti the Crenshaw location, that’s where my brother lives. The one thing that happened yesterday was they introduced me to “Operation good hope”, which seems to be designed for Americans not well off, I’m not quite sure why they wanted to refer me to this even without an ITIN or SSN, maybe because I wanted a secured card?

Maybe they get a benefit by a referral?

But otherwise I don’t listen to the reviews because it all comes down to the person who handles your matter and the way you need to understand reviews are that most people will post a negative review before they post a positive one.

You’ll probably find less engaged staff in some locations but more engaging in others, it’s really hard to say what locations are better if at all.

 

[desafinado74]

I’m sure they all vary.

I went ti the Crenshaw location, that’s where my brother lives. The one thing that happened yesterday was they introduced me to “Operation good hope”, which seems to be designed for Americans not well off, I’m not quite sure why they wanted to refer me to this even without an ITIN or SSN, maybe because I wanted a secured card?

Maybe they get a benefit by a referral?

But otherwise I don’t listen to the reviews because it all comes down to the person who handles your matter and the way you need to understand reviews are that most people will post a negative review before they post a positive one.

You’ll probably find less engaged staff in some locations but more engaging in others, it’s really hard to say what locations are better if at all.

That is very true re depending on the individuals.
Haha, well, if the card is alright and is low fee or no fee , just sign up for it lol
Though, it would have been handy if you had an ITIN to attach to the card, so that you can build up a US credit history.

 

[levelnine]

Next Chase Ink card just approved. Looks like they're taking about a week to process at the moment, which is very slow by Chase's usual standards.

 

[Sora]

That is very true re depending on the individuals.
Haha, well, if the card is alright and is low fee or no fee , just sign up for it lol
Though, it would have been handy if you had an ITIN to attach to the card, so that you can build up a US credit history.

Yes, when I have a few more dollars I will apply. I just don't have it right now. But, in saying that they do say if you are under a family/friends card as a secondary it should build something under your name as well. OR, is that a myth?

I also found this website.

All Bonus Offers

Collection of all current bank, brokerage, and credit card bonus offers. With sorting and filtering capabilities. Discover the best bank sign-up bonuses at bankrewards.io! Easily find lucrative offers for checking/savings accounts, brokerage accounts, and credit cards. Our simple interface...

www.bankrewards.io

Not sure if it will help you, but it has a list of all the bank bonuses which I am scouring.

 

[desafinado74]

Yes, when I have a few more dollars I will apply. I just don't have it right now. But, in saying that they do say if you are under a family/friends card as a secondary it should build something under your name as well. OR, is that a myth?

I also found this website.

All Bonus Offers

Collection of all current bank, brokerage, and credit card bonus offers. With sorting and filtering capabilities. Discover the best bank sign-up bonuses at bankrewards.io! Easily find lucrative offers for checking/savings accounts, brokerage accounts, and credit cards. Our simple interface...

www.bankrewards.io

Not sure if it will help you, but it has a list of all the bank bonuses which I am scouring.

You can actually ask your brother to add you as an authorised user into his credit card account.
See below for a bit more info :

5 Ways Immigrants Can Build Credit in the United States

 

[Sora]

You can actually ask your brother to add you as an authorised user into his credit card account.
See below for a bit more info :

5 Ways Immigrants Can Build Credit in the United States

I am on his Chase and American Express

 

[desafinado74]

How does one check the FICO score on their AMEX account ? It seems like AMEX has changed the layout.