@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@trumpet-205 wrote:
@LS2982 wrote:
@CS800 wrote:Do i hear a confirmation that as an existing AMEX customer, a denial = no hard hit?
That's what contributors here have been saying. There are a few threads with this response in it.
That would be great. Was thinking about applying BCE at 2012 and if approved close my ZYNC card.
That's correct. Soft hit if denied and you get your EX FICO. If approved, hard inq and no FICO.
Not exacly true, I just received my 3rd AmEx Card and this time for some reason AmEx sent me a letter Congratulating me and in the Congrats letter it contained my EX FICO they used in part to determine my creditworthiness.
I did not receive a Congrats letter for my first two AmEx cards, but for some reason they sent me a letter this time and in the letter was my EX FICO, I was like YES, I finally know my EX FICO.
I got my Zync and the Platinum about the same time and no FICO or congrats letter.
I would think it would make sense for credit card companies to give the customer their FICO whether approved or denied.
With Amex, you don't get a FICO with approval of their Charge cards. However, if you apply and are approved for a revolver, if they can not provide you with the lowest APR, they are required to send you a "credit score" used to determine the APR applied to your new account. Lucky for us, Amex actually sends a real FICO from EX.
That is the reason some people receive their scores and some don't with Amex. On another note, you may not receive your FICO or "credit score" if you got the best rates from the issuing company. The new laws require that they provide this info only if denied or you didn't qualify for the best rates. (APR)
Starting Score: 642
@impovingmycredit wrote:I just got out of an FR by Amex for the Zync Charge card. I was backdated with this account to 1989 when I opened it near the beginning of this month. I was thinking that since I have no plans to acquire anymore revolving cards at all and I could use some help with AAoA I should go ahead this month and get another Charge card with Amex to backdate then Garden for a year or two. I plan on buying a house toward the end of next year or maybe even the beginning of 2013. My AAoA without the Amex reporting is just under 3 years on all three CRA. What do you think? It's my understanding that if denied, no hard hit on my EX report. Is this true also? Any advice from you Sage MyFICO forum contributors would be great about how this idea might "help or not" my scores.
I would like to clarify something... As I don't see it reflected in this post. In improving's case Amex will NOT pull a hard report as he is an existing CHARGE CARD holder and he is applying for a second CHARGE CARD. If improving would be looking for a Amex REVOLVER there WILL BE a hard pull as the two card divisions (charge and revolving) are considered separate.
Please do NOT app for a revolver if you currently have a charge and think there will not be a hard pull on your EX (or vice versa)!!!
I just want to make sure I understand... If I apply for the 2nd Charge card and I am approved, will there be a hard pull? I do understand about the revolver but I'm a little confused about the Charge product app. Also- do you agree with my thinking on the AAoA issue or do you think that I'll experience a score decrease having another hard pull? Thanks for your input! 
impovingmycredit wrote:
I just want to make sure I understand... If I apply for the 2nd Charge card and I am approved, will there be a hard pull?
Based off of what I have read in these forums and not personal experience, you should not receive a hard pull for the new inquiry. It is my understanding that Amex encourages the use of dual charge TL's as you can "link" your Zync Acct with a green, gold etc..
I do understand about the revolver but I'm a little confused about the Charge product app.
Also- do you agree with my thinking on the AAoA issue or do you think that I'll experience a score decrease having another hard pull? Thanks for your input!
I Agree that your AAoA should increase if you receive an additional backdated Amex. According to the Fico Scoring Pie Chart length of credit history accounts for 15% of your score whereas New Credit (inq's included) account for 10%. The potential benefits of an increased AAoA outweighs that of 1 additional inq. (in the event of an inquiry which the community states you will/should not incur).
But since you are not apping for anything at the present moment. It may benefit you to just garden the one charge card so that Amex can see your (new) spending pattern and reward your pseudo new history with a new TL in 6 months.
(edited for misinformation/clarity 
)
Thanks for the insight. I appreciate the feedback and it helped me alot.
What a great place for credit knowledge!!
I learn something new everyday.
So I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the Amex Gold Card and I was approved!!!! Unfortunately, it did result in a hard pull to Experian but I kinda figured it would. I am looking forward to seeing if this helps my score now. We will see when it reports and I will give everyone an update.
I'm Happy!!