Strategy to obtain US Amex

[thedamon]

I'm a Chase Banking customer. Received a rejection as a statement in the app :-(.

It said they made the decision based on:

1. Not enough accounts opened long enough to establish a credit history
2. Insufficient or no balance in Chase deposit and/or investment accounts

Is there anything that can be done here or am I screwed? My first Amex was from Jan 2023. According to the letter itself, I had a credit score of 758 which should be decent enough?

After Googling seems that they generally refuse anyone with less than 12-18 month credit history in the US. Should I just try again in a few months?

 

[Tiki]

$10k gets caught up for about 3 weeks

Wow, too rich for my blood! Is it downward scaleable like if I just wanted to meet a minimum spend? Like maybe $1000?

 

[Franko Costa]

Wow, too rich for my blood! Is it downward scaleable like if I just wanted to meet a minimum spend? Like maybe $1000?

Issue with 1k is that it's not worth it imo.

With the wedding story, I would think a 2% fee was too much, but then I think of the bonus points (like 15k for $4k spend) would be a cheap way to get points. Paying tax here we come! Only issue is that the bonus points is capped at 75k so 5 cards

 

[ithongy]

Many years ago there were Vanilla gift cards in the USA. I remember popping into a CVS pharmac_ in Maui while my husband held our place in line to enter a luau while I bought a few to deposit in my B of A account and pay the credit card. This has been shut down years ago though. I have also heard of buying stuff on Ebay from your spouse or partner, never tried it though. All I really want to do is meet the high minimum spending for the SUB because I don't really spend that much in everyday life.

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Post automatically merged: Dec 26, 2023

I'm a Chase Banking customer. Received a rejection as a statement in the app :-(.

It said they made the decision based on:

1. Not enough accounts opened long enough to establish a credit history
2. Insufficient or no balance in Chase deposit and/or investment accounts

Is there anything that can be done here or am I screwed? My first Amex was from Jan 2023. According to the letter itself, I had a credit score of 758 which should be decent enough?

After Googling seems that they generally refuse anyone with less than 12-18 month credit history in the US. Should I just try again in a few months?

How much has interest rates gone up since 2020? How easy is it to obtain credit these days? They don't hand them out like candy anymore.

 

[jbmemories]

Another DP for Chase Application.

Initially rejected due to:

1. Not long enough counts opened long enough to establish a credit history
2. Balance of the Cards is high compared to the Credit Line Ratio
3. Not enough diversification on different lines of credit.

I called the recon line to see if there was anything I could do with some sweet talking/persuasion. I corrected that I have had a long enough credit history (2+ years), and my FICO score was within the range of the card I was applying for. However, to note, I did not apply for Chase's more premium cards (like CSR/CSP) and the Freedom line as I have purchases in the US I can take advantage of (and use other cards to avoid a 3% Fx Fee).

Had to send some documents through, such as proof of SSN/ITIN, Proof of ID (accepted Passport) as well as proof of address. Having a couple of bills from AMEX and having a bank account with another bank in the USA helped with the proof, and it was approved after the review.

I would highly recommend that those chasing outside of AMEX have longer years of opening/activity (i.e., try and never close your first US CC!) and ensure the FICO score shown on the AMEX is high to help with your success chances.

 

[desafinado74]

Another DP for Chase Application.

Initially rejected due to:

1. Not long enough counts opened long enough to establish a credit history
2. Balance of the Cards is high compared to the Credit Line Ratio
3. Not enough diversification on different lines of credit.

I called the recon line to see if there was anything I could do with some sweet talking/persuasion. I corrected that I have had a long enough credit history (2+ years), and my FICO score was within the range of the card I was applying for. However, to note, I did not apply for Chase's more premium cards (like CSR/CSP) and the Freedom line as I have purchases in the US I can take advantage of (and use other cards to avoid a 3% Fx Fee).

Had to send some documents through, such as proof of SSN/ITIN, Proof of ID (accepted Passport) as well as proof of address. Having a couple of bills from AMEX and having a bank account with another bank in the USA helped with the proof, and it was approved after the review.

I would highly recommend that those chasing outside of AMEX have longer years of opening/activity (i.e., try and never close your first US CC!) and ensure the FICO score shown on the AMEX is high to help with your success chances.

Thank you for the helpful DP. Which Chase card did you apply for? And was it easy to set up the card details on the Chase website? I also assume that you can pay off the Chase bills with another bank account, and not just with the Chase checking account ?

 

[prozac]

DP?

 

[Viridis]

DP?

Data Point ….. (I’m guessing)

 

[prozac]

Data Point ….. (I’m guessing)

Thanks. Helpful to know we are not all office types.

 

[jbmemories]

Thank you for the helpful DP. Which Chase card did you apply for? And was it easy to set up the card details on the Chase website? I also assume that you can pay off the Chase bills with another bank account, and not just with the Chase checking account ?

I applied for one of the Freedom cards as I am chasing for cashback atm and not the UR Points. I believe I can request it to be given in UR points should I apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve/Preferred down the line. I haven't gotten the card yet, so I will set it up when I get it. It should be similar to setting up the AMEX account (but if I am wrong, someone whose done this, please correct me!)

You can pay with another bank account, so no need to worry about a checking account. I might open one later, but again, I already have one bank account. I am not fussed about opening another one.

Thanks. Helpful to know we are not all office types.

yeah sorry DP = Data Point (thank you Viridis!); I just wanted to share my experience and process in case others have a similar situation as myself.

I do recommend that those wanting to expand from the AMEX lineup ensure you've paid as much credit as you've spent so that the utilisation rate is low for when they pull the FICO reports.

 

[desafinado74]

I applied for one of the Freedom cards as I am chasing for cashback atm and not the UR Points. I believe I can request it to be given in UR points should I apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve/Preferred down the line. I haven't gotten the card yet, so I will set it up when I get it. It should be similar to setting up the AMEX account (but if I am wrong, someone whose done this, please correct me!)

You can pay with another bank account, so no need to worry about a checking account. I might open one later, but again, I already have one bank account. I am not fussed about opening another one.


yeah sorry DP = Data Point (thank you Viridis!); I just wanted to share my experience and process in case others have a similar situation as myself.

I do recommend that those wanting to expand from the AMEX lineup ensure you've paid as much credit as you've spent so that the utilisation rate is low for when they pull the FICO reports.

Thank you for replying again. I am looking at the Chase Freedom Unlimited card myself (I think the CSP and Hyatt / Aeroplan cards are out of my range for now)

Please let us know about your experiences in setting up the card once you receive it.

 

[Martin999]

You need to call Chase for setting up your account.

Another thing to note, you can request for your card to be shipped immediately to Australia upon approval but remind them to ship via rush shipping/express or else it will be via USPS mail.

 

[nj12]

You need to call Chase for setting up your account.

Another thing to note, you can request for your card to be shipped immediately to Australia upon approval but remind them to ship via rush shipping/express or else it will be via USPS mail.

Did you have your first Chase Card shipped to Aus? I was approved for CSP on 20DEC however I called a day later and it was already on its way to myUS address however has not appeared in my suite yet. Subsequent calls have resulted in Fraud department wanting to call my US number which is textnow so calls not going through. I have just set up Google Voice with a Tello number but that number will not be on my credit report yet but I'm going to see if that number will work for verification. The clock is ticking for MS requirement to be met so need the card soon but others on this forum have indicated that its quite difficult to have the first card sent to Aus.

 

[Martin999]

Here’s another Chase DP contribution.

1 year credit history with AMEX, applied online without VPN, gotten a we’re processing your application, called Chase hotline and was presented with 2 weeks message.

Called in 24 hours later still 2 weeks message , received an email 30 minutes later informing to upload documents to verify date of birth and current billing Address.

Called in the next day and Changed to 7-10 working days, decided to connect with a real person and was transferred to ( I think fraud department ) , he verified identity based on public records such as your old mailing address / current address and social security number.

If you’re using ITIN like me, you have to remind them that you’re not American and without SSN as they may mistaken you applying with SSN. The agent will read up IRS disclosure which you are expected to read back your ITIN number back to him. Was put on hold for 2 minutes and approved over the phone with 18k CL(slightly higher than AMEX) for a Marriott boundless card.

Called the hotline again and requested my card to be sent overseas( I forgotten to request rush shipping)and the agent gladly assisted. The original mail arrived 1 month later as there were typo in the address lol.

Called in again to request for replacement cards after 5 day's,they shipped via rush shipping this time using UPS.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

You need to call Chase for setting up your account.

Another thing to note, you can request for your card to be shipped immediately to Australia upon approval but remind them to ship via rush shipping/express or else it will be via USPS mail.

Yep. You'll need to call up Chase to set up your account which may involve sending a text to your number. From my experience, this was not an a standard OTP text but rather some identify verification check. They couldn't send it to my Google Fi number or my GV number. They had to try and call Google Fi number. I had some massive issues on this front since it took over 3 hours of trying before I could get the card set up.

Re getting your card sent to Aus, I think a few managed to do it but YMMV in terms of difficulty.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Thank you for replying again. I am looking at the Chase Freedom Unlimited card myself (I think the CSP and Hyatt / Aeroplan cards are out of my range for now)

Please let us know about your experiences in setting up the card once you receive it.

Is there any reason you might think CSP is out of your range?

I applied and was approved, albeit not automatically, for CSP with a 1Y2M credit history. Had a 5K aspire and an Amex green at the time.

 

[Martin999]

Did you have your first Chase Card shipped to Aus? I was approved for CSP on 20DEC however I called a day later and it was already on its way to myUS address however has not appeared in my suite yet. Subsequent calls have resulted in Fraud department wanting to call my US number which is textnow so calls not going through. I have just set up Google Voice with a Tello number but that number will not be on my credit report yet but I'm going to see if that number will work for verification. The clock is ticking for MS requirement to be met so need the card soon but others on this forum have indicated that its quite difficult to have the first card sent to Aus.

Yup, I had my first card sent overseas.(told them I am travelling right now and would like my card be sent overseas)

Google voice works for call back and general OTP but doesn’t work for fraud dept OTP.
I have not link my Tello number with Chase yet.

 

[jbmemories]

Yup, I had my first card sent overseas.(told them I am travelling right now and would like my card be sent overseas)

Google voice works for call back and general OTP but doesn’t work for fraud dept OTP.
I have not link my Tello number with Chase yet.

Once you were approved, did you call a day later or in a few hours to request express shipping to get them to send it overseas? Does Tello accept Chase verification calls? Usually, MVNO-type cellular accounts in the US have issues with this kind of verification (even for my T-Mobile prepaid).

Yep. You'll need to call up Chase to set up your account which may involve sending a text to your number. From my experience, this was not an a standard OTP text but rather some identify verification check.

Could you not have set it up online using the card once you received it?

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Could you not have set it up online using the card once you received it?

You need to call for your first time. Same thing for your first business account as well.

 

[desafinado74]

Is there any reason you might think CSP is out of your range?

I applied and was approved, albeit not automatically, for CSP with a 1Y2M credit history. Had a 5K aspire and an Amex green at the time.

My US credit history is too short at this stage i think. Did you apply for your AMEX cards with or without an ITIN ? I got my AMEX Aspire via GT without ITIN back in June 2022, then used ITIN to get the AMEX Everyday card and Cap 1 SavorOne card in March this year. I was wondering if my credit history dates back to June 2022 or it only starts when i first use my ITIN ?