Strategy to obtain US Amex

[Franko Costa]

This 10x MR points on restaurant spend for referral is awesome! I can't wait for my P2 to get her ITIN

 

[_TheTraveller_]

MsProzac, living in US, applied for a card a few months back and got knocked back. She has a bank account and thinks she will try again after she submits her tax return soon.
I was thinking she should go for a Amex Green card first. Then a premium next. Where are the best Green offers atm?

Don't quote me on this but I think there are some changes to the language in the T&C's. I don't remember if plat gold green is the way to go or if it was green gold plat.

 

[levelnine]

Don't quote me on this but I think there are some changes to the language in the T&C's. I don't remember if plat gold green is the way to go or if it was green gold plat.

It's ascending that's now the only path (ie Green -> Gold -> Platinum). Other way no longer works.

 

[Tiki]

Yeah I am shut out of Amex now because I had a Gold back in 2014 so I will never get a bonus for the Green. And the annual fee for Platinum is too much for me. And I am dumping the Hilton Surpass at renewal because they cancelled Priority Pass even for those of us who were in the middle of our membership. So I am pretty fed up with Amex anyways. Cap 1 and Citi are no longer that enticing because of reported over-fraud alerting on FT. And TK devalued their program so no more cheap redemptions and TK has more fees.

Moving forward, UA is looking good for TK and other *A so I will be a Chase customer as long as I can.

 

[cathalm8]

It's ascending that's now the only path (ie Green -> Gold -> Platinum). Other way no longer works.

I have a Amex green GT. Does that mean I can upgrade to gold. Is that worth doing? I assume not as you don't get any bonus points?

 

[levelnine]

I have a Amex green GT. Does that mean I can upgrade to gold. Is that worth doing? I assume not as you don't get any bonus points?

You can, but if at all possible, apply for the Gold outright to get the sign-up bonus or, if that's not possible, wait for an upgrade offer that comes with some bonus points.

The rule I'm talking about is in relation to sign-up bonuses. If you've had the Gold, you're not eligible for a sign-up bonus on the Green, but the converse does not apply.

 

[prozac]

You can, but if at all possible, apply for the Gold outright to get the sign-up bonus or, if that's not possible, wait for an upgrade offer that comes with some bonus points.

The rule I'm talking about is in relation to sign-up bonuses. If you've had the Gold, you're not eligible for a sign-up bonus on the Green, but the converse does not apply.

That was my thoughts to suggest to MsProzac get Green first. So still possible to get SUB if she goes Gold? Would that apply via one of these online referrals?
I previously had the Hilton card in mind for the lounge pass but they have now dropped PP. What are affordable alternatives? The site upgradepoints dot com suggests Gold is good for lounge buddy pass, where you can pay yourself and receive a credit ;

• Up to $189 annual CLEAR Plus credit
• Up to $100 annual LoungeBuddy credit

What is CLEAR Plus?

 

[Viridis]

Any DPs on using US cards in Europe? I'm heading over soon and I wanted to make sure that I didn't need a pin. I called Chase and they said there is no pin and the only time you need a pin is for cash advanced (technically correct) but we know in Aus that large purchases will require a pin.

Contrary to what others have said .....

I have the US Platinum Amex

It has a separate ATM PIN issued by Amex that is not the 4 digits on the front of the card. If you go into your account and select Card Management there will be selections for 'ATM PIN' and 'Change ATM PIN'. You will need to receive a one-time verification code to access them

I haven't been to the States since before the pandemic and didn't use a petrol station so I've no idea if it's appropriate for that. I have been recently to UK/Europe and was never asked for a PIN but all transactions were via my mobile wallet.

That may be just good fortune because I think both jurisdictions now require contactless transactions to randomly ask for a PIN, regardless of the amount, to enhance financial security (but I could just be making that up - happy to be corrected)

 

[levelnine]

'ATM PIN' and 'Change ATM PIN'.

That PIN is for cash advances by ATM withdrawal, not purchases. Not sure if it overrides the billing ZIP code that some terminals will ask for.

 

[Finale]

Yeah I am shut out of Amex now because I had a Gold back in 2014 so I will never get a bonus for the Green. And the annual fee for Platinum is too much for me. And I am dumping the Hilton Surpass at renewal because they cancelled Priority Pass even for those of us who were in the middle of our membership. So I am pretty fed up with Amex anyways. Cap 1 and Citi are no longer that enticing because of reported over-fraud alerting on FT. And TK devalued their program so no more cheap redemptions and TK has more fees.

Moving forward, UA is looking good for TK and other *A so I will be a Chase customer as long as I can.

Back then it would be Premier Rewards Gold? I had that card in 2016. Cancelled in 2018. Last year the new Gold card terms also said no bonus if you had Premier gold but I heard a few people getting it so I tried my luck and got the bonus for the new Gold card. Since it was a long time ago, you might still get the bonus for Green or even Gold now. Not sure it's the risk you would like to take.

I know how you feel. After 8 years and still holding 15 US cards, I don't have many cards left to apply. I might focus on churning Chase business cards this year.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Anyone ever been contacted by an Amex account manager recently? I did and had a brief conversation about expenditure etc. Got me a bit worried haha.

 

[levelnine]

Anyone ever been contacted by an Amex account manager recently? I did and had a brief conversation about expenditure etc. Got me a bit worried haha.

Generally they're sales calls — they want to know more about you to sell you more products. Can be safely ignored.

 

[sunarde]

Hi all,

Been following this thread for a while and thought I'd finally apply for my first Amex GT. My application over the phone has since been declined (They will be keeping the application open for 60 days) as they will not accept MyUS address that was used in the application as it's been identified on their end as a mail forwarding service.

Has anyone experienced this and do you have any recommendations? I have HSBC all set up now ready to go and can update the details there if required.

E

 

[nthd_nthd]

Hi all,

Been following this thread for a while and thought I'd finally apply for my first Amex GT. My application over the phone has since been declined (They will be keeping the application open for 60 days) as they will not accept MyUS address that was used in the application as it's been identified on their end as a mail forwarding service.

Has anyone experienced this and do you have any recommendations? I have HSBC all set up now ready to go and can update the details there if required.

E

I started my journey late last year - Got ITIN as well. After 3 months, jumping so many hoops and obstacles, still didnt get anywhere - havent got any approval - amex said could not identify me by my ITIN - I was furious and wondering for months. 2 days ago managed to login IRS account and found they have my residential address in Australia - even that address is slightly off the street number . Requested for change, now waiting for that to apply in my files - they said around 2 weeks. GT still get me on standby unless I submit the 4506C form - I suspected they required this because of wrong address on my ITIN file. Applied via Nova Credit as well - Still got rejected.

 

[maverick1]

Hi all,

Been following this thread for a while and thought I'd finally apply for my first Amex GT. My application over the phone has since been declined (They will be keeping the application open for 60 days) as they will not accept MyUS address that was used in the application as it's been identified on their end as a mail forwarding service.

Has anyone experienced this and do you have any recommendations? I have HSBC all set up now ready to go and can update the details there if required.

E

Amex not accepting myus - don't think that has happened to anyone here.
Having said that I recently got an email for my Amex checking account which said something about the address on the account -

If an invalid address is provided, we may freeze your Account until a valid address is provided and/or close your Account.​

•​ If the U.S. Postal Service notifies us of a change in your postal address, we may change your address based on that information​

 

[albyd]

Hi all,

Been following this thread for a while and thought I'd finally apply for my first Amex GT. My application over the phone has since been declined (They will be keeping the application open for 60 days) as they will not accept MyUS address that was used in the application as it's been identified on their end as a mail forwarding service.

Has anyone experienced this and do you have any recommendations? I have HSBC all set up now ready to go and can update the details there if required.

E

Thanks for the heads up re myUS. Had worked for me with Amex in the past though C1 refused to accept it for a CC application recently. They let me apply for a checking account which they subsequently shut down for an undisclosed reason. I think might have to move from myUS.

Any other suggestions of services which are currently working with CC companies?

 

[desafinado74]

So far so good with MyUS for my AMEX account. But i know Capital One does not like MyUS addresses.

 

[Voele]

My application over the phone has since been declined

Did you apply over the phone or did you apply online and got declined over the phone when confirming address?

I too am considering to apply for my first GT in the upcoming days, but now I'm wondering if I should use a different address forwarding service.

 

[prozac]

Did you apply over the phone or did you apply online and got declined over the phone when confirming address?

I too am considering to apply for my first GT in the upcoming days, but now I'm wondering if I should use a different address forwarding service.

Sorry, I feel i should know this but having a blank. GT? Global transfer is all I can come up with.

 

[sunarde]

Did you apply over the phone or did you apply online and got declined over the phone when confirming address?

I too am considering to apply for my first GT in the upcoming days, but now I'm wondering if I should use a different address forwarding service.

I applied over the phone as I could not do it online. When attempting to add issue date when selecting the 'passport information' option... the system kept flagging an error that it cannot be BEFORE MY DOB which was super weird.

Wondering if I should bother trying with another US Address service, if anyone has a recommendation.?