I was just approved for an AMEX Gold Card. I'm so excited! After reading so many success stories on this forum, I went to the "View Your Special Offers" link from the home page and entered my name and address. The site suggested gold, green and zync, so I applied for gold. My scores are listed in my signature, so I was pleasantly surprised.
Since I travel 50% of the time on business, this will come in handy.
Starting Score: 534 EQ FICO: 10/11
I know! 
I do have some lates; most of which are more than a year old. Most recently, there were 2 random lates in October 2011. No COs, collections, judgments or BKs. I assumed that I would be "on the bubble." I had read that AMEX strongly considers util, income and assets, and I believe those elements got me through the gate.
**edited because the post showed up blank**
LS2982 wrote:
FicoTron wrote:
Wow 661 and approved, nice. Any baddies?I'm almost positive they would have approved me at 664 if my util. was 8% and not 38%.
Goes to show that score is less important than other factors they look at. I was denied with a 707 EX score. They were borderline at that score so they pulled my EQ. They were still borderline so they pulled my TU, found my baddies, then denied. Either way, I think my recent inquiries and low AAoA on my EX is why I was so borderline despite a score plenty high enough for Zync.
FicoTron wrote:Wow, that's not what I want to hear. What kind of baddies? Do you have savings/retirement/good income?
jimbo831 wrote:
LS2982 wrote:
FicoTron wrote:
Wow 661 and approved, nice. Any baddies?I'm almost positive they would have approved me at 664 if my util. was 8% and not 38%.
Goes to show that score is less important than other factors they look at. I was denied with a 707 EX score. They were borderline at that score so they pulled my EQ. They were still borderline so they pulled my TU, found my baddies, then denied. Either way, I think my recent inquiries and low AAoA on my EX is why I was so borderline despite a score plenty high enough for Zync.
Keep in mind when I applied, my EX had 3 INQs within the last week, 15 2 months earlier (all auto together) and 1 about 6 months earlier, so that was working against me for sure, and I think that is probably the biggest reason. I also had an AAoA of only 8 months.
That having been said, once they got to my TU, I knew there was no chance of approval. I have a total of 5 collections/charge-offs on my TU. Fortunately for me, all of those are only TU and the other 2 reports are clean of all baddies. I have a small savings and ~$43k income.
I will reapply around November and hope for the best then. By then, I will have no inquiries within 8 months. My AAoA will still be low though, with 4 new revolving accounts opened earlier this month, so I certainly may still be in for another denial. I just am hoping to get my first Amex by the end of 2012 so my backdating can start in 2012 in the future instead of 2013, down the road when I get my Costco TE card, which is my end goal for additional credit cards (along with possibly PNC CashBuilder, still undecided if I want to give them another chance.)
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