When is the most strategic time to apply for AmEx - a little confused.

[_jb_]

Ok, I am in the garden since 02/19/13, and will remain there until at least 08/19/13 (6 months). I want to pick up my first AmEx, a BCP, but was going to wait until December this year to maximize AAoA, score, etc. Is there a more strategic time for me to apply, for backdating purposes (August)? My understanding is that all other AmEx CCs will be backdated to 01/13 if I pick up one of their cards before the end of the year, but I am not 100% clear on that.

I have no plans for other AmEx cards at this point, but may in the future.

[CEOriginal]

I may be wrong, but AMEX's backdating only takes effect on your second card with them. The start date on that card would match the Member Since date on your first card.

[SSA_2013]

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@_jb_ wrote:

Ok, I am in the garden since 02/19/13, and will remain there until at least 08/19/13 (6 months). I want to pick up my first AmEx, a BCP, but was going to wait until December this year to maximize AAoA, score, etc. Is there a more strategic time for me to apply, for backdating purposes (August)? My understanding is that all other AmEx CCs will be backdated to 01/13 if I pick up one of their cards before the end of the year, but I am not 100% clear on that.

I have no plans for other AmEx cards at this point, but may in the future.

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In order to get the best benefits one would have to apply before January 2014. So December would be a good time. I recommend you don't wait until the last week of December because anything can happen. They can request paperwork, processing times, etc. The last thing you would want is the app to be finalized or denied and reviewed after the New Year. So I would recommend you apply by the middle of December.

[SSA_2013]

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@CEOriginal wrote:

I may be wrong, but AMEX's backdating only takes effect on your second card with them. The start date on that card would match the Member Since date on your first card.

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That is correct. That is why the OP would like to get his first card to show 2013. That way even if he applied for 2-3 Amex cards in 2014, 2016, etc it would be backdated to 2013. 

[CEOriginal]

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@SSA_2013 wrote:

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@CEOriginal wrote:

I may be wrong, but AMEX's backdating only takes effect on your second card with them. The start date on that card would match the Member Since date on your first card.

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That is correct. That is why the OP would like to get his first card to show 2013. That way even if he applied for 2-3 Amex cards in 2014, 2016, etc it would be backdated to 2013. 

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Gotcha.. Completely mis-read that. 

[MeridianRN86]

+1 CEOriginal

Op, you won't be backdated to 01/13. You'll instead be backdated to 12/13 (your member since date).

[_jb_]

Ok so then it would be more advantageous for me to go ahead and apply at the 6 month point (August), all other things considered. Thanks for the quick replies.

[bribro]

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@_jb_ wrote:

Ok so then it would be more advantageous for me to go ahead and apply at the 6 month point (August), all other things considered. Thanks for the quick replies.

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Pretty much. All other things being equal, the sooner your apply for your very first AmEx card, the better. Anytime between that 6 month mark and the end of the year is fine though.