Strategy to obtain US Amex

[larrymull]

Do you have a strategy to obtain the checking account? The hurdle for me would be applying in person at a branch

Managed to open the C1 checking account just fine. Did it online, then they wanted me to call and gave them all my details and a copy of Oz passport for verification. It was easier than getting a CC in OZ.

 

[anyonebutqantas]

Managed to get a Capital One Chequing Account sorted, so that will help with verification purposes for AMEX if needed.

All done online? Any address verification?

 

[DC3]

All done online? Any address verification?

Yes, more information, please. Thanks

 

[georgie23]

I have been using nearly all spending on Green card to start showing spending habits. I get 3 x points in restaurants - some places I have spent don't register as restaurants and I miss out on bonus points - is there a way to report to Amex to get correct coding?

 

[DC3]

I have been using nearly all spending on Green card to start showing spending habits. I get 3 x points in restaurants - some places I have spent don't register as restaurants and I miss out on bonus points - is there a way to report to Amex to get correct coding?

Probably easier just to not go back to those restaurants once you know that they don’t code as expected

 

[albyd]

Probably easier just to not go back to those restaurants once you know that they don’t code as expected

I agree or it might draw attention to bonus categories working in AU & that there’s a cohort of us with US Amex cards.

 

[georgie23]

I agree or it might draw attention to bonus categories working in AU & that there’s a cohort of us with US Amex cards.

my understanding was Green is international restaurants

 

[levelnine]

I have been using nearly all spending on Green card to start showing spending habits. I get 3 x points in restaurants - some places I have spent don't register as restaurants and I miss out on bonus points - is there a way to report to Amex to get correct coding?

Amex are notorious for having a narrow restaurant category (eg cafes don't typically categorise as restaurants). You're unlikely to get anywhere with Amex — they will say it is up to the merchant to categorise their business. Stark comparison to Chase where almost anywhere that serves food or drink counts as dining.

 

[georgie23]

yes -some cafe come up and some don't
Consensus is can't change the coding and you win some and lose others - can live with that

 

[mattr00]

As far as I know this is based on the merchant category codes (MCCs) that a retailer selects (or gets assigned) by their terminal provider. I don’t think Amex will be able to change this on their end.

Having said that, they definitely use some other data that we can’t see to determine categories as well. I’ve seen txns that coded as Restaurants not get 3x and vice versa.

 

[DC3]

my understanding was Green is international restaurants

‘Coded’ as restaurants is the key. Amex coding is not something that we can change, or even understand.

And, let sleeping dogs lie

 

[QF029]

I had an issue with paying Chase from my Citibank checking account and now they need to send me a letter to take into Citibank to sort it out. How else are people paying off their cards? I have the funds already in my US account and haven't had to investigate other options in 6 years!

Thanks in advance.

 

[levelnine]

How else are people paying off their cards?

I use a C1 checking account. Use the 'pay card' feature on Chase's internet banking & they pull the funds from C1. Never had a problem with it.

 

[QF029]

I use a C1 checking account. Use the 'pay card' feature on Chase's internet banking & they pull the funds from C1. Never had a problem with it.

I assume C1 is Chase? Can that be opened online?

Worst case I can transfer the money to a relative in the US and connect their account but I figure there must be people here who don't have a us bank account.

 

[levelnine]

I assume C1 is Chase?

Capital One. Yes it can be opened online.

 

[larrymull]

All done online? Any address verification?

All done online but then had to ring through, verification was done via a link sent to my Hushed US#. I took a photo of my OZ passport.. I was then transferred to someone who did another quick verification, gave me a code that I entered on the C1 website and my account was created. This was done this way because of ITIN rather than SSN.

 

[maverick1]

Capital One. Yes it can be opened online.

And they currently have a US$350 bonus offer for opening a new checking account + meeting the offer condition.

 

[QF029]

And they currently have a US$350 bonus offer for opening a new checking account + meeting the offer condition.

Thanks for the tip. It seems like you need a salary, pension etc paid in. Any idea of a transfer from another bank counts? It doesn't read that way.

 

[blacksultan]

Thanks for the tip. It seems like you need a salary, pension etc paid in. Any idea of a transfer from another bank counts? It doesn't read that way.

That’s what I thought as well

 

[QF029]

The comments in this blog indicate it's possible.

[Expired] Capital One $350 Checking Bonus - Doctor Of Credit

Capital One is offering a $350 bonus when you open a new 360 checking account and complete the following requirements

www.doctorofcredit.com

I have applied although I need to call for further verification. I got the message 1 minute before their call centre closed for the night!