Strategy to obtain US Amex

[PointsLife1]

View attachment 238064
JW Marriott Gold Coast is still category 5.

Post automatically merged: Jan 16, 2021

Strange my screen advises category 6.

 

[glasszon]

I just got an email from Amex US asking me to update my income for my Hilton Aspire card, are they reviewing my account? I hope it is not the start of a financial review.

 

[timmy1234]

I just got an email from Amex US asking me to update my income for my Hilton Aspire card, are they reviewing my account? I hope it is not the start of a financial review.

Is this your first card? how long have you had this card?
Whats the total credit limit you have reached with Amex? Read DP in forums and blogs, 35k limit is the time more qts are asked.

 

[auflier]

how obssessed everyone here shows how uncompetitive cards in australia

 

[DC3]

Is this your first card? how long have you had this card?
Whats the total credit limit you have reached with Amex? Read DP in forums and blogs, 35k limit is the time more qts are asked.

I received my Aspire (my only Amex) in mid January 2020, with the $5,000 credit limit. Same time as glasszon, from memory. So I hope that there’s not much to worry about.

 

[Finale]

Amex asked me a few times to update my income past 5 years. I think they just want to consider giving you a higher or lower credit limit based on the new income. I normally just ignore it. If they want to do a financial review, they will ask for documents. I updated my income twice but gave them a bit more like 5k-10k.

Citi sent me an email a few times as well and they said

Help us better serve your credit needs
Update or confirm your income information today.

Why does Citi ask for this information?

In order to better serve you, Citi collects this information on an annual basis so we can evaluate your account for future credit needs, including potential credit line increases.

I wouldn't worry about it. My limit was around 30k or 35k and with a new card, they just moved a limit from another card.

 

[Finale]

It looks like United Travel Bank is dead starting Jan 14. Got my 2 Airline credits early this year, hope no clawback.

 

[glasszon]

Is this your first card? how long have you had this card?
Whats the total credit limit you have reached with Amex? Read DP in forums and blogs, 35k limit is the time more qts are asked.

First card and only card, held it for a year with a $5k limit.

It looks like United Travel Bank is dead starting Jan 14. Got my 2 Airline credits early this year, hope no clawback.

Sad, I haven't got around to using this year's travel credit on the Amex Hilton Aspire card yet.

 

[steveyyf]

View attachment 238065

Post automatically merged: Jan 16, 2021

Strange my screen advises category 6.

You are right. just checked they actually quietly increased the cat from 5 to 6.

 

[steveyyf]

just got approached by club marriott. the annual fee is 399 and they give two club marriott cards, one main and one supplementary card. Anyone is interested in joining together and share the cost?

 

[glasszon]

just got approached by club marriott. the annual fee is 399 and they give two club marriott cards, one main and one supplementary card. Anyone is interested in joining together and share the cost?

I got an email from club marriott too, it looks like the annual fee is country specific, can we obtain club marriott via another country to get a lower annual fee? For example, accor plus tend to be cheaper in Southeast Asia countries.

(And given this is posted in the Amex US thread, is Club Marriott better or signing up for the Marriott Brilliant credit card be better?)

 

[steveyyf]

I got an email from club marriott too, it looks like the annual fee is country specific, can we obtain club marriott via another country to get a lower annual fee? For example, accor plus tend to be cheaper in Southeast Asia countries.

(And given this is posted in the Amex US thread, is Club Marriott better or signing up for the Marriott Brilliant credit card be better?)

It is similar fee in Asian countries but offer more dinning vouchers, hotel room voucher for the hotel you joined the program. As we are in Australia it makes more sense to join the program as pacific member here as we are not based in Asian countries. Marriott brilliant credit card has nothing to do with this program. You can have both and the benefits do not overlap.

 

[timmy1234]

update on HSBC Premier US.
Nearly a month later I got my US account setup. Below are some of the features

1) No fees on everyday banking transactions including no HSBC ATM Fees3 and no HSBC incoming or outgoing wire transfer fees 2) No Foreign Transactions Fees7 on your Premier debit card 3) Make fee-free transfers to globally linked HSBC accounts with Global View and Global Transfers 4) Free International account opening8 and portable credit history to help meet your needs, wherever life moves you

In addition to amex, this is handy when moving overseas to get a local card.

 

[albyd]

That’s great you’re set up. Did you also apply for a free HSBC Premier MC if you have any interest In that? Your RM will be able to help you with that application will be very easy. I’ll let you decide if you think it’s worth it to you but possibly another card to have in the US of that helps with any broader US card objectives you might have.

 

[timmy1234]

No I did not apply for the HSBC Premier. If I recollect correctly there was more questions to answer. I will try my RM. I am not sure whats your experience has been with RM, they are just a name but the service is very slow.

 

[albyd]

Mine has been ok - possibly overly ‘nice’ to the point where it seems disingenuous. I have otherwise got good service when I needed it and haven’t spoken to him in months and don’t need to do so.

 

[timmy1234]

Did you apply for the credit card while doing the US application? I just got my card and enabled global view since I did not get my pin? Did you apply for the World Elite or Just the world card?

 

[PointsLife1]

Those are standard. Chase never says they accept a bank statement and at one point (even last year), they rejected it (HUCA did the trick). They seem cool with statements these days. 99% approval

Success!!! Approved for my first Chase credit card and wow that it some process as I woke up at 5:00am to call Chase after receiving "please call us to confirm application letter" I had to speak to 4 consultants over 44 minutes and most of the time you are in silence. Finally at the end we have some good news and you have been approved.

 

[Finale]

Success!!! Approved for my first Chase credit card and wow that it some process as I woke up at 5:00am to call Chase after receiving "please call us to confirm application letter" I had to speak to 4 consultants over 44 minutes and most of the time you are in silence. Finally at the end we have some good news and you have been approved.

Congrats! The next one should be easier now I will be down to 3/24 next month and will grab 2 more cards from them before starting on Amex again.

 

[snabbu]

As a newcomer to this thread and admit I have not read all 1500 odd posts, what is the condensed version of the advantages of a US Amex over an AU version? I also have a HSBC Premier account with a Mastercard but no Amex.