Strategy to obtain US Amex

[nthd_nthd]

So, regarding Amex FR for my cards, I submitted the bank account statements, today received email notifying me my card limit/preset limit was reduced TO 1/3 of the limit before. Each has 3K left now even the Personal card.


What do I do.????? Can I appeal? That's all I got so far. Cards are still blocked.

 

[levelnine]

So, regarding Amex FR for my cards, I submitted the bank account statements, today received email notifying me my card limit/preset limit was reduced TO 1/3 of the limit before. Each has 3K left now even the Personal card.


What do I do.????? Can I appeal? That's all I got so far. Cards are still blocked.

Not really much you can do about it. You have to wait for underwriting to increase/remove the PSL. DPs seem all over the place — some people get it changed after 6 months, some people 3 years. There's probably no harm in calling after a few months to see if you can speed along the process.

 

[nthd_nthd]

Not really much you can do about it. You have to wait for underwriting to increase/remove the PSL. DPs seem all over the place — some people get it changed after 6 months, some people 3 years. There's probably no harm in calling after a few months to see if you can speed along the process.

Just wondering if this the result of GC from staples or Woolworths

 

[levelnine]

Just wondering if this the result of GC from staples or Woolworths

You don't get FR for buying GCs. You get FR for looking like a credit risk — ie spending too much/too quickly compared to your history with Amex/credit profile.

 

[Grrr]

You don't get FR for buying GCs. You get FR for looking like a credit risk — ie spending too much/too quickly compared to your history with Amex/credit profile.

I received a "Future Transactions May Be Declined; We recently approved a transaction, but your balance is high relative to your limited payment history with us."
email after a USD4600 purchase on my 3 month old Green card (which previously had only had much smaller purchases).

I had to wait about 5 days to get funds across (iBKR and a weekend) to pay the suggested amount in that email (~$3k), but in the interim transferred in the $500 I already had sitting in my US checking account, then needed to put a $380 spend on the card.

Got another "Future Transactions May Be Declined" email after that, and held off using the card until after the iBKR payment cleared.

I have some non-AUD purchases (not as big as the one above) I'd like to use the card for in the next month; given the above history, once I've paid the statement balance ($3.6k), should I be ok to carry on, or should I actually pay down the entire amount owing ($5.4k) ?

 

[levelnine]

I have some non-AUD purchases (not as big as the one above) I'd like to use the card for in the next month; given the above history, once I've paid the statement balance ($3.6k), should I be ok to carry on, or should I actually pay down the entire amount owing ($5.4k) ?

No one outside of Amex precisely knows how the algorithm works, so impossible to say.

My inclination is to take the suggested paydown amount as an indication of roughly how Amex is currently comfortable lending you, and try not to go excessively over that (ie don't go 2x that amount).

 

[Grrr]

My inclination is to take the suggested paydown amount as an indication of roughly how Amex is currently comfortable lending you, and try not to go excessively over that (ie don't go 2x that amount).

Thanks

I thought I had also read that it was bad to pay off too much ahead of the monthly statement amount ?

 

[levelnine]

Thanks

I thought I had also read that it was bad to pay off too much ahead of the monthly statement amount ?

US Banks don't care about people paying down their balance early. Some banks care about cycling credit (ie spending $20K in a month with a $10K credit limit by paying down the card and spending up to the limit again), but Amex is not one of them. However, Amex does seem to have some threshold where it will subject you to FR no matter what — it's rare to see someone who has spent $50K in a month not get a FR even if they pay down the balance immediately upon charges posting.

 

[nthd_nthd]

US Banks don't care about people paying down their balance early. Some banks care about cycling credit (ie spending $20K in a month with a $10K credit limit by paying down the card and spending up to the limit again), but Amex is not one of them. However, Amex does seem to have some threshold where it will subject you to FR no matter what — it's rare to see someone who has spent $50K in a month not get a FR even if they pay down the balance immediately upon charges posting.

I had the same warning as @Grrr but paid off little and charged more on the card. That probably the issue. I was nervous about the 3 months time hence trying to put all charges on it especially last Woolworth promo and lots of Gov Bills came. Lesson learnt the hard way.

 

[Viridis]

Your post encouraged me to go ahead and apply for a supp card for my wife connected to my US Aspire card obtained via GT a couple of years ago.

I did the whole thing through live chat and it was very painless. I made it clear from the beginning that my wife doesn't have an SSN/ITIN and I wanted to use a passport, which was fine:

View attachment 375637

They didn't require an upload of the passport page, instead requested the name, DOB, passport number, issue date, expiry date, and issuing place via a live chat 'secret question'.

Took all of about 5 minutes. I did ask if the card could be shipped overseas but was told it could only go to the address on file.

They did say it would be sent via USPS First Class, so I'm expecting it to never reach my MyUS suite. I will follow up after 10 days and request it be sent to Australia.

Any update on this? Did it all go well?

I'm hoping to get my son a supp US Plat - he's going away by himself for the first time and I'd like him to get the lounge access etc

 

[georgie23]

Any update on this? Did it all go well?

I'm hoping to get my son a supp US Plat - he's going away by himself for the first time and I'd like him to get the lounge access etc

I think the answer is no but has anyone got a Supp card (Authorised User) card for P2 in Amex US and then they have been able to get subsequently their own Amex card and build credit file that way?

 

[_TheTraveller_]

I had the same warning as @Grrr but paid off little and charged more on the card. That probably the issue. I was nervous about the 3 months time hence trying to put all charges on it especially last Woolworth promo and lots of Gov Bills came. Lesson learnt the hard way.

Patience is key to all things related to US CCs

 

[sudoer]

Any update on this? Did it all go well?

Yes it went fine - she's got several supps now

I think the answer is no but has anyone got a Supp card (Authorised User) card for P2 in Amex US and then they have been able to get subsequently their own Amex card and build credit file that way?

I believe supp cards will start building credit files (a weird quirk of the US credit rating system) but the supp holder can't apply for a primary card without an existing Aus Amex (for GT), an ITIN, or an SSN

 

[georgie23]

Yes it went fine - she's got several supps now



I believe supp cards will start building credit files (a weird quirk of the US credit rating system) but the supp holder can't apply for a primary card without an existing Aus Amex (for GT), an ITIN, or an SSN

thanks for clarification - interesting indeed

 

[Viridis]

Yes it went fine - she's got several supps now

Thanks. That's excellent. A couple of questions if I may

Did you receive any confirmation that your application was received & pending? An email, text message, that sort of thing; I've received no acknowledgement

I had a quick discussion via the App chat function and the CSA said to just pop in the application via the app which I have done, but there was no opportunity to enter passport details. At what point did you provide these?

 

[blacksultan]

I think the answer is no but has anyone got a Supp card (Authorised User) card for P2 in Amex US and then they have been able to get subsequently their own Amex card and build credit file that way?

It’s done all the time .look up trading credit lines .

Post automatically merged: Monday at 3:03 PM

Thanks. That's excellent. A couple of questions if I may

Did you receive any confirmation that your application was received & pending? An email, text message, that sort of thing; I've received no acknowledgement

I had a quick discussion via the App chat function and the CSA said to just pop in the application via the app which I have done, but there was no opportunity to enter passport details. At what point did you provide these?

I believe you need to provide ssn or passport details within 30 days of approval . Although they don’t appear to be strict . They will send you reminders if required .

 

[georgie23]

It’s done all the time .look up trading credit lines .

I briefly looked into this but didn't spend too much time reviewing, but your stating that with adding a credit line to a AU account they can build up credit file to be able to apply for primary cards themselves. @sudoer mentioned will need GT Amex or ITIN/SSN to eventually get own primary card.

Will plan on getting ITIN for P2 anyway just having trouble getting AU Amex approved for her as primary and seeing if there are alternative ways

 

[blacksultan]

I briefly looked into this but didn't spend too much time reviewing, but your stating that with adding a credit line to a AU account they can build up credit file to be able to apply for primary cards themselves. @sudoer mentioned will need GT Amex or ITIN/SSN to eventually get own primary card.

Will plan on getting ITIN for P2 anyway just having trouble getting AU Amex approved for her as primary and seeing if there are alternative ways

Might work for those who already have their own primary cards or wish to apply later .

 

[Phoenix-1]

Couple of DPs:

Applied for the Chase Ink Unlimited card and was knocked back, even after reconsideration. I have my current Chase Ink Unlimited card maxed at it's limit, so I'll try the reconsideration line again once I've cleared that out. Seems like many churners have also been declined for this card recently.

I spent $4k USD on my Amex Gold personal card and received an email saying future transactions may be declined unless I pay down a suggested amount. I won't be paying this off for a couple weeks, anyone have experience with this sort of thing? Seems like people online are saying it's no big deal. The letter that came with the card on approval mentioned a $5k USD spending approval.

 

[levelnine]

Applied for the Chase Ink Unlimited card and was knocked back, even after reconsideration. I have my current Chase Ink Unlimited card maxed at it's limit, so I'll try the reconsideration line again once I've cleared that out. Seems like many churners have also been declined for this card recently.

Chase have clamped down on Ink approvals in general (not just the Unlimited) in the last month or so.

As for the Amex Gold email, see the last couple of pages of posts.