American Express/Should I Apply

[Camilion]

I have the american express Gold card and have had it since 2001, I got a preapproval officer for the platnium, But just dont think the paying the yearly fees for that is something i want to do )....I do not have the revolver cards and was intrested in giving it a try..The Blue Cash sounds like something i would use....But I am gun shy to apply...I dont want another hard Inq on my report....I have several from a new car loan ..I know they are treated as One but they do look bad...and 5 others that will drop later this year....I have around 700 FICO scores from this site and a 700 EXP from the car loan site..All my reports are clean with NO Baddies at all...My UTI is around 20%...and i have several cards...I guess My question is...DO i have a shot ...(A good Shot) at this card..Or would you Shake the crazy Notions from your head and run)

[Revelate]

Actually since this is Amex, you're in luck.  Since you're already a card member, if you apply and are denied, it's just a soft pull inquiry anyway (no impact to your FICO score).

So if you want one of the Blue Cash revolvers, and they are sweet cards, and you're willing to take the hit if you get approved, then just pull the trigger because there's no hit if you get denied.  Amex is awfully nice about that one compared to everyone else, and it sounds like you're in pretty good shape either outright or on recon (explaining the auto inquiries) anyway.  I'd absolutely apply if I were you, or had your credit profile .

[LS2982]

You may want to get that utilization down below 10%, it should also gain some fico points and could be the difference between a high APR / low CL card and something with better terms.

[webhopper]

I agree with LS2982 about bringing your utilization below 10%. Also, it was my experience that they doncare about your inquiries, they care more about your current relationship with them

[Camilion]

Thank You Guys!! Im off to pay down balances! sounds like my plan is to just garden and pay...with the bounties...) then in bout a year ill hit them with my best shot!

[drkaje]

Lower utilization never hurts but don't forget that Amex uses an internal scoring model. You already have a great history with them so it may not have the same impact compared to someone applying cold.

I'd probably let the inquiries age until Jan. That way your new card will be dated Jan 2001.

[Smerri1029]

If you have great paymeny history with AmEx since 2001 there's really no need to wait. I couldn't see you being denied.

[Anonymous]

Just apply..  I applied on the 29th for the zync and goit it with npsl.  This was my first amex ever.  So then I read I could apply without taking another HP, so I apped for the BCE and got that with a 2k limit.  So finally in.  My scores is PSECU EX 685, my uti is 35%, and had 5 hp the last 6 months 1 of which was amex 2 months ago, no collections, 1 baddie HSBC account from 2005 due to fall off in 5 months.  I also am carrying a 10k balance on my 14k nfcu since it has 0% til 2013.  If you have been a member since 2001 I would say apply!

[pizzadude]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Just apply..  I applied on the 29th for the zync and goit it with npsl.  This was my first amex ever.  So then I read I could apply without taking another HP, so I apped for the BCE and got that with a 2k limit.  So finally in.  My scores is PSECU EX 685, my uti is 35%, and had 5 hp the last 6 months 1 of which was amex 2 months ago, no collections, 1 baddie HSBC account from 2005 due to fall off in 5 months.  I also am carrying a 10k balance on my 14k nfcu since it has 0% til 2013.  If you have been a member since 2001 I would say apply!

---

That's great it worked for you, but just as a note for others reading this ~ You may or may not incur more than one inquiry when you app and are approved for multiple AMEX cards on the same day......YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Correct I should have said YMMV, I only got the 1 hard pull for the ZYNC