Just a useless point of information:
When I was a teenager (1995) I was an AU on my father's Amex Platinum charge card, dropped it in 2001. No experience with Amex since then. When I got a BCE card this fall the card read "Member Since 17," but on my online account it read "...since 1995."
This week I added a PRG (charge) card and got it in the mail today, and it said member since "95". I don't know, maybe it's the charge vs. credit card thing, or maybe they just throw any random date on their cards. Either way, I wish they still backdated!
Lol, we ALL want backdating back
. My green says member since 17, my 2 ccc's say member since 98
. My green says member since 17, my 2 ccc's say member since 98
As much as I'd love to strut around with my ancient 20th century "member since" date, I know that absolutely no one cares. BUT...this forum has taught me that I'll be doing my son a huge solid by adding him as an AU next year when he turms 15. If I had the AAoA benefit of my old '95 card today, I'd be writing this post naked from the Riviera right now.
@Billharrell wrote:As much as I'd love to strut around with my ancient 20th century "member since" date, I know that absolutely no one cares. BUT...this forum has taught me that I'll be doing my son a huge solid by adding him as an AU next year when he turms 15. If I had the AAoA benefit of my old '95 card today, I'd be writing this post naked from the Riviera right now.
Amex not only doesn't backdate anymore, but they now date AU accounts to the day that the AU was added, not when the primary cardmember actually opened the account. While it would certainly be great for him to get those 3 years in before he turns 18, adding a card from any other lender would actually help his credit age more since he would inherit the complete account history.
As for the original question, yes there is a quirk the last year or so with Amex where the primary cardmember's first card issued on a new account may say "Member Since 17." But simply ordering a replacement card will get you a card that has your real Member Since date. I was annoyed when I opened my SPG in March and added my wife when applying. Mine arrived with "Member Since 17" and hers arrived with "Member Since 03" which is the year I first added her as an AU on my original 3 Amex cards. LOL My Platinum SkyMiles card did actually arrive with the correct Member Since date, though.
I should also point out that while we will likely add both kids as AUs when they turn 13 (possibly before since they may need them for daily use) on cards that will be 30+ years old at that point, I have absolutely every intention of adding them as Platinum card AUs on their 15th birthdays regardless of account dating.
I really think we need to start a campaign for Amex to reopen backdating. It would be a great way to expand loyalty amongst us Amexers. Make Amex Great Again 2018 Backdate or Bust
. Make Amex Great Again 2018 Backdate or Bust
@AverageJoesCredit wrote:
I really think we need to start a campaign for Amex to reopen backdating. It would be a great way to expand loyalty amongst us Amexers
Right? I kick myself for not opening a PRG early in 2015 before backdating ended. I'd like to try one out but not at the expense of my AAoA (I already took the hit last year for my NFCU card and this year for USAA-both very well worth it) or at the expense of upgrading my Zync. That was such a cool and unique benefit that Amex had.