It is never just about the product or creditor. It's about one's credit profile as well. It's very easy to get any card with a profile that qualifies. It is very difficult to get a card witha profile that does not. Don't rely solely on what you perceive as the difficulty or ease for a given product or creditor. Consider your credit profile. Assess it. Idenitifiy issues and work on addressing them. Then apply once your credit is in shape.
AmEx's revolvers are generally easier to qualify for than thie revolvers but that doesn't mean that everyone will qualify. An easy to qualify for product isn't going to blindly accept everyone. Those with thin enough profiles and profiles with enough issues are going to end up getting denied even for products that are relatively easy to qualify for.
@Anonymous wrote:
Without given much detail into their credit profile. I do know both of them had a score of 650-680 range with a couple of years of established credit, no baddies whatsoever and already a couple of okay limit cards. Sounds fair and okay right? Well....I was hyping them up on how they will likely for sure be approved as "Amex charge cards are easier than their revolvers" and how a lot of people get approved for Amex charge cards easily etc etc
Results were they both got denied and I looked stupid predicting it was an easy approval for both lol.
Then there are sufficent issues with their credit profile as far as AmEx is concerned. It's not just about score for one thing. Also, a lot of people seem to overlook the impact of new accounts. The profiles you describe sound to me like they wouldn't support much in the way of new accounts, depending on the specific creditor's underwriting criteria.
You cannot rely on "ease" or "a lot of people get approved for". It's the individual's specific credit profile and whether or not it qualifies that matters. If you're going to rely on anecdotal evidence from others then you need to carefully compare the credit profiles in question instead of just assuming that results will be similar. Same applies for any product -- not just AmEx charge cards.
@Anonymous wrote:
I always thought their requirements weren't that tough from the general consensus and from what I've read etc.
Consensus doesn't matter. AmEx (or any creditor, for that matter) doesn't approve based on consensus. It considers the specific person's credit profile, income and possibly other factors to some degree. Do not rely on consensus and spend more time learning to assess a given credit profile. That said, even with more knowledge and experience you're not always going to accurately predict approvals for every creditor out there.
@Anonymous wrote:
I know every person credit profile varies, but has anyone else been denied an Amex charge card before?
If you know the former how do you not know the latter? There are many that have been denied. Ease of approval is relative, not guaranteed. Relatively lower requirements doesn't mean that anyone will be approved. Consider that there are those who get denied for secured cards.
@NattyPButter wrote:
I still don't understand why ppl want to get in with Amex so bad. IMO there's so many cards out there that offer better rewards. Amex needs to step their game up.
Better is always highly subjecitve, regardless of topic. Plenty find AmEx cards to suit their needs very well even if you do not. Never assume better to be a universal matter of any topic. Never assume that everyone finds what you find to be better, worse, etc.
There are also a number of other reasons. Plenty want an AmEx for image, prestige, etc. It really doesn't matter though. What matters is what works for you. Others will sort out what is best for them for whatever reasons.
