Strategy to obtain US Amex

[blacksultan]

I think my Citi Priority account let's me withdraw cash free worldwide but unlike Schwab the ATM which i am taking out from may have a fee. Schwab refunds this, Citi does not.

I have not used withdrawals much, it's easier for me to "wire" from US account to EU and withdraw the money in Euro with any bank account i have atm. Revolut does the conversion. My wire is just topping up instantly from my Citi debit card to Revolut via Apple Pay. It codes as purchase, and it is instant. My citi debit card doesn't have any fees or anything and just codes it as a cash withdrawal.

3% FTF is Foreign Transaction Fee. Is the surcharge that usually US cards get charged for being swiped abroad. All of my cards have no fee, except the Double Cash (2% cashback, plus relationship multiplier). I use the Double Cash strictly when i am in US soil , otherwise it lives in the drawer.

Is that cash withdrawal interest free like normal purchase as well ?
The go back in time is a great feature as well .

 

[deuterx]

Is that cash withdrawal interest free like normal purchase as well ?
The go back in time is a great feature as well .

Yes, for my kind of Citi account it behaves as a normal purchase. No interest no anything.

Hehe, i know... haven't used Curve much as i just use Hilton or Prestige directly without Curve.

 

[PPS_SYD]

Just a small update.

I logged into my Amex account this morning & was pleasantly surprised to see my FICO score showing up. Took about 5 months from when I first opened my card.

I am not sure what sped-up the process, as data points around it range from 6-12 months. One thing that might have made a difference is my frequent usage of the card, not necessarily large spends, just the frequency.

 

[PointsLife1]

Just a small update.

I logged into my Amex account this morning & was pleasantly surprised to see my FICO score showing up. Took about 5 months from when I first opened my card.

I am not sure what sped-up the process, as data points around it range from 6-12 months. One thing that might have made a difference is my frequent usage of the card, not necessarily large spends, just the frequency.

What score did you receive?

 

[PPS_SYD]

What score did you receive?

729

 

[blacksultan]

Just a small update.

I logged into my Amex account this morning & was pleasantly surprised to see my FICO score showing up. Took about 5 months from when I first opened my card.

I am not sure what sped-up the process, as data points around it range from 6-12 months. One thing that might have made a difference is my frequent usage of the card, not necessarily large spends, just the frequency.

Do you still have a US address registered?

 

[PPS_SYD]

Do you still have a US address registered?

Yes, is that a concern?

 

[blacksultan]

Yes, is that a concern?

No .it`s normal. I haven`t had my score generated as I have always had my oz address linked. I have had my card since Dec 19. I believe its only generated if you havea US address.

 

[glasszon]

No .it`s normal. I haven`t had my score generated as I have always had my oz address linked. I have had my card since Dec 19. I believe its only generated if you havea US address.

I wonder whether there's more to it, I have my card since Jan 20 with a US address and I still haven't got a FICO score when I checked yesterday. I haven't used the card since I met the sign-up bonus because of the $20 fee to pay off the card each month.

 

[PointsLife1]

No .it`s normal. I haven`t had my score generated as I have always had my oz address linked. I have had my card since Dec 19. I believe its only generated if you havea US address.

Would you switch back? Or the FICO score not something you are interested in. Having the cards sent straight to Oz would be tempting though.

 

[blacksultan]

Would you switch back? Or the FICO score not something you are interested in. Having the cards sent straight to Oz would be tempting though.

I could switch to a US address when I `m not expecting something to be sent to me.
Its definitely worth considering and i can use a FICO score for other cards.

 

[PPS_SYD]

I could switch to a US address when I `m not expecting something to be sent to me.
Its definitely worth considering and i can use a FICO score for other cards.

How long after obtaining FICO score is it ok to apply for another card, I wonder

Post automatically merged: Sep 18, 2020

I wonder whether there's more to it, I have my card since Jan 20 with a US address and I still haven't got a FICO score when I checked yesterday. I haven't used the card since I met the sign-up bonus because of the $20 fee to pay off the card each month.

I reckon its the lack of activity which is impacting it.

 

[DC3]

I wonder whether there's more to it, I have my card since Jan 20 with a US address and I still haven't got a FICO score when I checked yesterday. I haven't used the card since I met the sign-up bonus because of the $20 fee to pay off the card each month.

Similar here. Had the card since January with a USA address. However, I make several small transactions in most months, but no FICO score as yet.

 

[Finale]

You can try credit.com. The score there is not FICO but VantageScore 3.0 powered by Experian. It doesn't match what is showing on Citi and Amex but close (Citi is different from Amex as well). It's the only place other than Amex/Citi that I can view credit score without ITIN/SSN. Info there including number of accounts, credit limit, etc shown on credit.com is accurate for me (Citi and Amex combined).

When signing up, I think it will ask some questions for verification. Not sure if it matters if you use a forwarding address.

How long after obtaining FICO score is it ok to apply for another card, I wonder

I applied for my second Amex card in less than 6 months (5 and a bit). Credit score wasn't even showing on the site at that time. The score showed up straight away as soon as I got approved. Not sure if it's a coincidence. I heard Amex is fine as soon as you have a credit history.

 

[deuterx]

You can try credit.com. The score there is not FICO but VantageScore 3.0 powered by Experian. It doesn't match what is showing on Citi and Amex but close (Citi is different from Amex as well). It's the only place other than Amex/Citi that I can view credit score without ITIN/SSN. Info there including number of accounts, credit limit, etc shown on credit.com is accurate for me (Citi and Amex combined).

When signing up, I think it will ask some questions for verification. Not sure if it matters if you use a forwarding address.



I applied for my second Amex card in less than 6 months (5 and a bit). Credit score wasn't even showing on the site at that time. The score showed up straight away as soon as I got approved. Not sure if it's a coincidence. I heard Amex is fine as soon as you have a credit history.

Yes Finale got it right. credit.com works. I use it too for the Vantage score. Also Credit Secure by American Express works for the whole Fico8 scores from the 3 bureaus. I usually apply for a card every 10 months to 12 months, but applying to a new card every 6 months would be fine.

So far I don't have any card plans, I think next January I will upgrade the Hilton to a Surpass or Aspire depending of the offer I get.

 

[blacksultan]

I think the rule for Amex is not more than 2 cards in 3 months

 

[PPS_SYD]

I think the rule for Amex is not more than 2 cards in 3 months

2 cards over a 90 day period is quite generous in itself. I would like to get the Bonvoy, but holding off for an increased sign-up bonus. Surely Amex can do better than 75,000 points for a $450 card.

 

[PPS_SYD]

Anyone with Bonvoy card, how long after the approval were the 15 nights added to your Marriott account?

Also, if you had pre-existing MB account with points in it, did those points also come across under your credit card points or do they remain separate?

Lastly, on the Bonvoy card, do you earn points as you spend, like our Australian cards, or are they added at end of month like some US charge cards?

Thanks kindly.

 

[Finale]

Anyone with Bonvoy card, how long after the approval were the 15 nights added to your Marriott account?

Also, if you had pre-existing MB account with points in it, did those points also come across under your credit card points or do they remain separate?

Lastly, on the Bonvoy card, do you earn points as you spend, like our Australian cards, or are they added at end of month like some US charge cards?

Thanks kindly.

I got the nights as soon as the account was linked (there was an issue linking to my account due to my name). It is a business version though. I got a personal one before they offered this but it should work the same.

Only YTD points earned with Amex are showing in my account while Hilton aspire shows everything I have.

You get points once a month. I never know how many points I earn during the billing period until the statement is out. Not sure if it's hidding somewhere.

 

[PPS_SYD]

I got the nights as soon as the account was linked (there was an issue linking to my account due to my name). It is a business version though. I got a personal one before they offered this but it should work the same.

Only YTD points earned with Amex are showing in my account while Hilton aspire shows everything I have.

You get points once a month. I never know how many points I earn during the billing period until the statement is out. Not sure if it's hidding somewhere.

Thanks Finale. I got the business version too and had linked my pre-existing MB account at the application stage. I will be monitoring for any issues with linking, although the phone agent did say both my name and the business name will appear on the card.

Curious about separate points balance though, to make a redemption its best to have everything pooled. There must be a way to overcome this.

Also, you should be able to view the points earned on individual transactions under
Statements & Activity>Points Summary.