Is it hard to get approved for an AMEX gold rewards (premier)?

[Butter41]

I have had an AMEX zync, with no preset limit for about 9 months. Never late, never missed a payment. I was an authorized user on a AMEX gold card from 2005, but AMEX closed the account for no reason. It was a horrible experience then with AMEX, but I decided to try again. When I was approved for the Zync, I was shocked. Apparently, there is no bad credit from AMEX from the Gold card. I have my Zync backdated to 2005.

With the Zync being closed and receiving a letter saying that they may close the Zync account in the future, I would like to go back to a AMEX gold premier.

I have been laid off from a 60K a year job and will soon be starting a new job at about 25K a year, in a completely different field.

My fico scores are TU 652, Equifax 662

1.) Is there a difference in getting approved for the Gold vs. the Gold premier card?

2.) Will my income and length of time at a new job be determining factors?

3.) If I get approved for another AMEX card, should I close the Zync? (it seems to be inevitable that AMEX will be closing all Zync accounts.)

[adavis425]

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@Butter41 wrote:

I have had an AMEX zync, with no preset limit for about 9 months. Never late, never missed a payment. I was an authorized user on a AMEX gold card from 2005, but AMEX closed the account for no reason. It was a horrible experience then with AMEX, but I decided to try again. When I was approved for the Zync, I was shocked. Apparently, there is no bad credit from AMEX from the Gold card. I have my Zync backdated to 2005.

With the Zync being closed and receiving a letter saying that they may close the Zync account in the future, I would like to go back to a AMEX gold premier.

I have been laid off from a 60K a year job and will soon be starting a new job at about 25K a year, in a completely different field.

My fico scores are TU 652, Equifax 662

1.) Is there a difference in getting approved for the Gold vs. the Gold premier card?

2.) Will my income and length of time at a new job be determining factors?

3.) If I get approved for another AMEX card, should I close the Zync? (it seems to be inevitable that AMEX will be closing all Zync accounts.)

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Hi and welcome!

There's ALWAYS a reason...

Nope, no difference in UW for Gold  vs PRG. The lower income (length shouldn't matter, not a mortgage) however, may be an issue. I'd close the Zync once I had either Gold.

[chnceit]

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@Butter41 wrote:

I have had an AMEX zync, with no preset limit for about 9 months. Never late, never missed a payment. I was an authorized user on a AMEX gold card from 2005, but AMEX closed the account for no reason. It was a horrible experience then with AMEX, but I decided to try again. When I was approved for the Zync, I was shocked. Apparently, there is no bad credit from AMEX from the Gold card. I have my Zync backdated to 2005.

With the Zync being closed and receiving a letter saying that they may close the Zync account in the future, I would like to go back to a AMEX gold premier.

I have been laid off from a 60K a year job and will soon be starting a new job at about 25K a year, in a completely different field.

My fico scores are TU 652, Equifax 662

1.) Is there a difference in getting approved for the Gold vs. the Gold premier card?

2.) Will my income and length of time at a new job be determining factors?

3.) If I get approved for another AMEX card, should I close the Zync? (it seems to be inevitable that AMEX will be closing all Zync accounts.)

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Do not apply for a card until you are hired because technically you are not employed and dont have an income. Wait til your hired because you dont want to triger an FR and cannot show proof of any sort. 

But Green, Gold & PRG have the same UW. Do you have any baddies? What is causing your scores to be a this range?

[jake619]

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@chnceit wrote:

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@Butter41 wrote:

I have had an AMEX zync, with no preset limit for about 9 months. Never late, never missed a payment. I was an authorized user on a AMEX gold card from 2005, but AMEX closed the account for no reason. It was a horrible experience then with AMEX, but I decided to try again. When I was approved for the Zync, I was shocked. Apparently, there is no bad credit from AMEX from the Gold card. I have my Zync backdated to 2005.

With the Zync being closed and receiving a letter saying that they may close the Zync account in the future, I would like to go back to a AMEX gold premier.

I have been laid off from a 60K a year job and will soon be starting a new job at about 25K a year, in a completely different field.

My fico scores are TU 652, Equifax 662

1.) Is there a difference in getting approved for the Gold vs. the Gold premier card?

2.) Will my income and length of time at a new job be determining factors?

3.) If I get approved for another AMEX card, should I close the Zync? (it seems to be inevitable that AMEX will be closing all Zync accounts.)

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Do not apply for a card until you are hired because technically you are not employed and dont have an income. Wait til your hired because you dont want to triger an FR and cannot show proof of any sort. 

But Green, Gold & PRG have the same UW. Do you have any baddies? What is causing your scores to be a this range?

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But being early 2013, the 4506 would pull 2012, right?  I see the technicality, and I agree with your advice, but wouldn't any FR show the previous (2012) employment income?

[chnceit]

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@jake619 wrote:

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@chnceit wrote:

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@Butter41 wrote:

I have had an AMEX zync, with no preset limit for about 9 months. Never late, never missed a payment. I was an authorized user on a AMEX gold card from 2005, but AMEX closed the account for no reason. It was a horrible experience then with AMEX, but I decided to try again. When I was approved for the Zync, I was shocked. Apparently, there is no bad credit from AMEX from the Gold card. I have my Zync backdated to 2005.

With the Zync being closed and receiving a letter saying that they may close the Zync account in the future, I would like to go back to a AMEX gold premier.

I have been laid off from a 60K a year job and will soon be starting a new job at about 25K a year, in a completely different field.

My fico scores are TU 652, Equifax 662

1.) Is there a difference in getting approved for the Gold vs. the Gold premier card?

2.) Will my income and length of time at a new job be determining factors?

3.) If I get approved for another AMEX card, should I close the Zync? (it seems to be inevitable that AMEX will be closing all Zync accounts.)

---

Do not apply for a card until you are hired because technically you are not employed and dont have an income. Wait til your hired because you dont want to triger an FR and cannot show proof of any sort. 

But Green, Gold & PRG have the same UW. Do you have any baddies? What is causing your scores to be a this range?

---

But being early 2013, the 4506 would pull 2012, right?  I see the technicality, and I agree with your advice, but wouldn't any FR show the previous (2012) employment income?

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Yeah sorry I dont have any experience in FR's and what documents they would require. But I was stating worst case senario. 

[Butter41]

No baddies in the last 4 years. Only 2 inquiries on both reports.

Had lots of 30, 60 and 90 day lates on my student loans over 4 years ago that are still showing. I've done goodwill letters and many disputes, but they won't come off. They were supposed to be in deferment, but it took weeks to get everything put through. I was told that they won't show as bad credit once the deferment was put through. But, it didn't turn out that way.

I was turned down for a Chase Sapphire last year and they said too many negatives on my credit. They must be talking about the student loans, because I haven't been late in 4 years.

[jake619]

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@chnceit wrote:

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@jake619 wrote:

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@chnceit wrote:

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@Butter41 wrote:

I have had an AMEX zync, with no preset limit for about 9 months. Never late, never missed a payment. I was an authorized user on a AMEX gold card from 2005, but AMEX closed the account for no reason. It was a horrible experience then with AMEX, but I decided to try again. When I was approved for the Zync, I was shocked. Apparently, there is no bad credit from AMEX from the Gold card. I have my Zync backdated to 2005.

With the Zync being closed and receiving a letter saying that they may close the Zync account in the future, I would like to go back to a AMEX gold premier.

I have been laid off from a 60K a year job and will soon be starting a new job at about 25K a year, in a completely different field.

My fico scores are TU 652, Equifax 662

1.) Is there a difference in getting approved for the Gold vs. the Gold premier card?

2.) Will my income and length of time at a new job be determining factors?

3.) If I get approved for another AMEX card, should I close the Zync? (it seems to be inevitable that AMEX will be closing all Zync accounts.)

---

Do not apply for a card until you are hired because technically you are not employed and dont have an income. Wait til your hired because you dont want to triger an FR and cannot show proof of any sort. 

But Green, Gold & PRG have the same UW. Do you have any baddies? What is causing your scores to be a this range?

---

But being early 2013, the 4506 would pull 2012, right?  I see the technicality, and I agree with your advice, but wouldn't any FR show the previous (2012) employment income?

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Yeah sorry I dont have any experience in FR's and what documents they would require. But I was stating worst case senario. 

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Me either!  And that's good for both of us  If you read around here enough you'd be lead to think we'd be in the minority.

OP, I don't believe there to be any stricter requirement for PRG than Green, and being that it's been argued here that the FICO floor for Green is 640 it's hard to think an applicant with a 640 wouldn't have some derogs on their report.  IMO, your Zync relationship was the "foot in the door" so depending on how old your Zync was it's possible they've already looked beyong the baddies.  In my case they overlooked some CO's to approve BCE.  YMMV and you won't know unless you app.  I'm just pre-heated enough to drapp myself

[Bobert22]

It's going to be a soft inquiry anyways, so I would just go ahead and give it shot. 

The only thing you might have an issue with is the change of income, if they decide to do a financial review (which has never happened to me or anyone I know. )

[creditnocash]

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@Bobert22 wrote:

It's going to be a soft inquiry anyways, so I would just go ahead and give it shot. 

The only thing you might have an issue with is the change of income, if they decide to do a financial review (which has never happened to me or anyone I know. )

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can anyone confirm this? 

i know if your a current member this rings true, but what about if your a previous member and have no current amex accounts open?

[thom02099]

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@creditnocash wrote:

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@Bobert22 wrote:

It's going to be a soft inquiry anyways, so I would just go ahead and give it shot. 

The only thing you might have an issue with is the change of income, if they decide to do a financial review (which has never happened to me or anyone I know. )

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can anyone confirm this? 

i know if your a current member this rings true, but what about if your a previous member and have no current amex accounts open?

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If the OP's Zync is still open, shouldn't this be a SP if declined?  That has been my understanding from previous posts here.  HP if approved/SP for deciline with an open TL with AMEX. 

Personally, I would not close the Zync at all.  The AF is minimal, it's rare now, and yeah there's no bennies to speak of, but I would still keep it open until such time that AMEX decides the fate of the Zync.