Strategy to obtain US Amex

[QF_Flyer]

How long have you had your other US Amex cards open? Does your Amex app show a FICO score or not yet?

Do you know how long it should be before a FICO starts appearing? Today is two months I've had the account, so not expecting anything immediately, but it'd be good to manage my expectations. If I can apply for a second at the 4-6 month mark, that would be great.

Post automatically merged: Sep 3, 2022

I agree. All 3 of My Amex cards were received this way. Some may have got lucky but Amex don't compromise on the 10 day rule in my experience..

Yes this is exactly what I was told and how it worked in practice, has to be 10 days from approval before they'd let me do e-notary and then send a card to Aus.

 

[neeyuese]

Do you know how long it should be before a FICO starts appearing? Today is two months I've had the account, so not expecting anything immediately, but it'd be good to manage my expectations. If I can apply for a second at the 4-6 month mark, that would be great.

Post automatically merged: Sep 3, 2022

For me it take 8 months to show up FICO score.

 

[DC3]

For me it take 8 months to show up FICO score.

Same here. 8 months. Consistent with other posts upthread. Minimum 6-plus months at best.

 

[QF_Flyer]

For me it take 8 months to show up FICO score.

Thanks, I won't hold my breath in that case!

 

[blacksultan]

Do you know how long it should be before a FICO starts appearing? Today is two months I've had the account, so not expecting anything immediately, but it'd be good to manage my expectations. If I can apply for a second at the 4-6 month mark, that would be great.

Post automatically merged: Sep 3, 2022

Yes this is exactly what I was told and how it worked in practice, has to be 10 days from approval before they'd let me do e-notary and then send a card to Aus.

Can do without e notary . Today was first time they asked me for same . But I hung up and tried again and they identified me using existing cards and itin .

Post automatically merged: Sep 3, 2022

Thanks, I won't hold my breath in that case!

Usually 6 months and you need to have us addresses linked .

 

[QF_Flyer]

Can do without e notary . Today was first time they asked me for same . But I hung up and tried again and they identified me using existing cards and itin .

Post automatically merged: Sep 3, 2022

Usually 6 months and you need to have us addresses linked .

Thanks, e-notary I meant was for my first card, no issues just a call at around 03:00 AEST with the US based Notary and all was well, I'd assumed that was only required as it was the first, but happy to do it again if required.

 

[blacksultan]

Finally got my chase sp card activated after the Nth call and second for today . I got a Cso who did not insist on calling me back on my number( that was not possible ) . Also got online account set up .
Considering my card was previously flagged Is it advisable / necessary to make a small online purchase in the us ? Like for a charity ?

 

[DC3]

Considering my card was previously flagged Is it advisable / necessary to make a small online purchase in the us ?

Probably a good idea to reduce the chance of being flagged again?

 

[blacksultan]

Probably a good idea to reduce the chance of being flagged again?

I paid planet express $5 . Wondering if I should take any other precautions . I know have 2 months to spend usd 4000.

 

[levelnine]

I paid planet express $5 . Wondering if I should take any other precautions . I know have 2 months to spend usd 4000.

With both Amex and Chase, I find that my cards typically get flagged once when using them in Australia, often for a big purchase (it was $500 with my latest Amex). One call to confirm it was me making the purchase and they remove the fraud flag and I never have any problems from then on.

 

[blacksultan]

How is the priority pass card for aspire issued ? Are the details sent online or does one actually need the physical card and mail ? Is it sent by courier or regular mail to Australia ?

 

[levelnine]

How is the priority pass card for aspire issued ? Are the details sent online or does one actually need the physical card and mail ? Is it sent by courier or regular mail to Australia ?

You'll get an email with a registration code in a few days after approval. Download the PP app to your phone, sign up using the code and voila.

 

[blacksultan]

You'll get an email with a registration code in a few days after approval. Download the PP app to your phone, sign up using the code and voila.

Thanks . After approval of Amex card or pp registration ? I was approved 2 weeks ago . No code yet . Although I didn’t register for pp membership through Amex app . Do I need physical card they send ?

 

[levelnine]

Thanks . After approval of Amex card or pp registration ? I was approved 2 weeks ago . No code yet . Although I didn’t register for pp membership through Amex app . Do I need physical card they send ?

Email will come from PP after approval of Aspire. Looking back at my records, mine actually took about 2 weeks. The app is the PP app. Don't need physical card.

 

[larrymull]

Does anyone know the trick to creating a TextNow account? I am using a VPN (USA) but it is saying that I cannot create an account and there is an error. Then it is always wanting to check I am a human not a bot. Is there a workaround, as I've tried multiple ways over the past week.

 

[blacksultan]

Does anyone know the trick to creating a TextNow account? I am using a VPN (USA) but it is saying that I cannot create an account and there is an error. Then it is always wanting to check I am a human not a bot. Is there a workaround, as I've tried multiple ways over the past week
.I have always signed up directly no issues . No vpn .

Post automatically merged: Sep 7, 2022

Does anyone know the trick to add csp to Apple Wallet . I can’t add it . I get the contact card issuer / try later message constantly . Does using a vpn help ?

 

[lilkid28]

Hi all, I've held the Hilton Aspire for about 20 months now. I have been using the following method to pay my statement balance via the following method:
1. Top up Revolut account with AUD
2. Convert AUD to USD
3. Transfer USD to my Citibank AU Global Currency USD account
4. From Citi USD account, pay to Amex US

I used my card a fair bit in the first 12 months or so, then didn't use much in the last 6 months. My previous Revolut to Citi transfer was in Feb 2022 with no issues. I recently did a transfer again a few days ago and the transaction failed. On Revolut app chat, the CS said on Revolut end it's successful, but the beneficiary (Citibank) bank rejected it.

Anyone can advise or suggest other easy/cheap-ish method to pay off the US statement balance? I don't have a US bank account and don't have plans to go there anytime soon.

 

[DC3]

Hi all, I've held the Hilton Aspire for about 20 months now …. Anyone can advise or suggest other easy/cheap-ish method to pay off the US statement balance? I don't have a US bank account and don't have plans to go there anytime soon.

There’s Wise, as mentioned by some posters upthread. I’ve been using Wise for about two years without any issues. The transaction fee suits my small payments.

Amex AutoPay, monthly, works well, debiting the Wise balance (through Evolve Bank and Trust)

 

[sudoer]

+1 for Wise using the exact setup @DC3 mentioned. Works flawlessly, loading my Wise account with USD is either instant (for amounts under the PayID/Osko cap) or 4-5 hours for amounts above the cap.

 

[levelnine]

I agree that Wise is a good and easy solution. My only caveat is that you do get charged a fee of about 0.5% (unlike Revolut), so you want to make sure you're getting good value out of your points because you incur two costs that you don't have with Australian cards — namely, the Wise transfer fee and exchange rate risk.

That's why I only spend on my US cards when working towards a sign up bonus (which for me is pretty much always) because the return on spend is so high (typically 15+%) that it offsets these costs or when I am overseas where I can't earn points on my Australian cards without a foreign transaction fee.