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I have a few questions about how AmEx backdating works.
1) I've read people saying that applying in January for an AmEx, in some way, maximizes your backdating. Can someone explain this for me?
2) I was an AU on my dad's AmEx (Delta Gold) back in 2005. He closed the account in 2005, so it only shows a few months of history on it on my CR. My fiancée apped for an AmEx Blue Sky and was approved, and she added me as an AU. Will this/can this backdate to 2005 on my CR?
3) I activated my AU card before she activated her card, so I set up an online account, and it says member since 2010. Besides my old 2005 AmEx AU card, neither of us has had an AmEx before. I didn't have any CCs of my own until 2010, and I'm wondering if this has something to do with the 2010 date (since that's kinda when my credit history started). Regardless, since it says 2010 online, will it report as open since 2010 for her as well? If I am indeed able to backdate my card back to 2005, will it show up as since 2005 for her too?
Thanks for the help!
@Omri wrote:I have a few questions about how AmEx backdating works.
1) I've read people saying that applying in January for an AmEx, in some way, maximizes your backdating. Can someone explain this for me?
2) I was an AU on my dad's AmEx (Delta Gold) back in 2005. He closed the account in 2005, so it only shows a few months of history on it on my CR. My fiancée apped for an AmEx Blue Sky and was approved, and she added me as an AU. Will this/can this backdate to 2005 on my CR?
3) I activated my AU card before she activated her card, so I set up an online account, and it says member since 2010. Besides my old 2005 AmEx AU card, neither of us has had an AmEx before. I didn't have any CCs of my own until 2010, and I'm wondering if this has something to do with the 2010 date (since that's kinda when my credit history started). Regardless, since it says 2010 online, will it report as open since 2010 for her as well? If I am indeed able to backdate my card back to 2005, will it show up as since 2005 for her too?
Thanks for the help!
#1- Amex backdates to the year you first got a card. So if you get 1 in Jan then you get a card that dates to 1 / Year
#2 - I don't think Amex backdates if you were an AU
#3 - Same as #2 answer
1) They back date to the year of your oldest card, and apply the month that you apply.
For example if you had an amex dated Feb 2000. If you apply in Jan of 2013 your new account would be dated 1/2000. If you apply in August of 2013 your new account would be dated 8/2000. If you apply in Jan you recieve 8 more month applied to your AAOA.
I do not believe they offer backdating on AUs.
Those examples really cleared up my understanding, thanks!
Did your dad add you to his 2005 amex in 2010? If so, that might explain it. While AU policies have changed (11/2011, i believe), it used to be their practice to backdate to your oldest card, even if you were an ACM. So if your dad added you to his card in 2010, that might, in fact, be your member since date. In that case, any card YOU open should backdate to 2010. However, your ACM on HER card may not.