topic Re: Surprise AMEX Gold Approval in Credit Card Approvals

Surprise AMEX Gold Approval

xiuxiuejar — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 07:43:50 GMT

So after 8 years of being in the wilderness, I decided to rebuild my credit this year. A brief history: I used to have a stellar 850 credit score with over 100k in available credit, but then got really sick, lost my job and was in a dark place for a long tme. Got approved for SSDI last year and received a very large backpay check and today am in good shape financially. I plan on living a long time so figured I'd fix my credit because I want to build a house in Colorado and will need to be partially financed.

Started with around a 580 FICO across the board in December. Applied for a Cap One Platinum. Approved for $300 with no annual fee. Since then have done a PC to SavorOne and got an automatic increase to $500 at 3 months. In February I got 3 secured cards: Discover, NFCU nRewards, and US Bank Altitude Go each with $1000 security deposit. Got limit increase to $1400 on nRewards this month. Meanwhile, my credit score improved in all 3- best is Experian with 750 FICO8 and worst is TransUnion with 650 FICO8.

Decided to test AMEX pre-approval. I burned AMEX for around $3000 total on 3 different cards so was expecting automatic rejection due to being blacklisted. But I went through the process knowing it would be a softie unless by some longshot I was approved. Spining circle and then... You aren't eligible for sign up bonus of 60000 points. Okay, I said continue... another spinning circle... any authorized users? Naw, just me, continue... AND...

APPROVED!!!

Well, I have a heart condition so I'm surprised I didn't go into cardiac arrest I was in such shock. I just laughed and I think a few tears streamed down my face. I'm back!!!

I was tempted to try BoA and Chase, but I burned them for a lot more and realy, I don't care if I ever get a card from those two again. But I'm back in the AMEX family and like the prodigal son... I still have the "Member since '91" on their website.

Re: Surprise AMEX Gold Approval

nytokyobred79 — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 08:06:11 GMT

Congratulations on getting back in with AMEX. Must feel great to be back in with them. And also, it appears you've picked up some great secured cards with some other great banks as well. I think you're in good shape on your rebuild. I would garden now for the next 12 months and let your current cards/profile age. Best of luck as you continue your rebuild and I hope that your secured cards unsecure in due course.

Re: Surprise AMEX Gold Approval

Ihatecridetscores — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 21:04:17 GMT

I'm starting to think bankruptcy is better than trying to rebuild your credit. I have been trying to raise my credit scores since 2020 and I've only managed to raise them maybe 50 to 60 points going from a 609 to a 682 on my Eq. And a 600 to 670 on my Tu my ex is the most stingy stuck at 639, a CO from USAA of $750 from 2018 and one late car payment and it holds my credit down horribly. so maybe bankruptcy isn't that bad

Re: Surprise AMEX Gold Approval

xiuxiuejar — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 08:16:20 GMT

@nytokyobred79 wrote:
Congratulations on getting back in with AMEX. Must feel great to be back in with them. And also, it appears you've picked up some great secured cards with some other great banks as well. I think you're in good shape on your rebuild. I would garden now for the next 12 months and let your current cards/profile age. Best of luck as you continue your rebuild and I hope that your secured cards unsecure in due course.

Thanks. I plan on gardening for about a year. There really aren't any cards on my radar right now. Maybe get a savings Secured Loan with NFCU since I don't have any installment loans and it's a soft pull. I'm pretty confident the Discover and Navy Federal cards will unsecure after 6-7 months, but I know US Bank is a different animal.

Re: Surprise AMEX Gold Approval

dacv01 — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 11:21:22 GMT

@xiuxiuejar wrote:
So after 8 years of being in the wilderness, I decided to rebuild my credit this year. A brief history: I used to have a stellar 850 credit score with over 100k in available credit, but then got really sick, lost my job and was in a dark place for a long tme. Got approved for SSDI last year and received a very large backpay check and today am in good shape financially. I plan on living a long time so figured I'd fix my credit because I want to build a house in Colorado and will need to be partially financed.

Started with around a 580 FICO across the board in December. Applied for a Cap One Platinum. Approved for $300 with no annual fee. Since then have done a PC to SavorOne and got an automatic increase to $500 at 3 months. In February I got 3 secured cards: Discover, NFCU nRewards, and US Bank Altitude Go each with $1000 security deposit. Got limit increase to $1400 on nRewards this month. Meanwhile, my credit score improved in all 3- best is Experian with 750 FICO8 and worst is TransUnion with 650 FICO8.

Decided to test AMEX pre-approval. I burned AMEX for around $3000 total on 3 different cards so was expecting automatic rejection due to being blacklisted. But I went through the process knowing it would be a softie unless by some longshot I was approved. Spining circle and then... You aren't eligible for sign up bonus of 60000 points. Okay, I said continue... another spinning circle... any authorized users? Naw, just me, continue... AND...

APPROVED!!!

Well, I have a heart condition so I'm surprised I didn't go into cardiac arrest I was in such shock. I just laughed and I think a few tears streamed down my face. I'm back!!!

I was tempted to try BoA and Chase, but I burned them for a lot more and realy, I don't care if I ever get a card from those two again. But I'm back in the AMEX family and like the prodigal son... I still have the "Member since '91" on their website.

Congrats on the approval and getting back in with Amex! Its a good on ramp to the rebuild freeway

Re: Surprise AMEX Gold Approval

JoeRockhead — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 11:35:00 GMT

Congratulations on your Amex Gold approval!

Re: Surprise AMEX Gold Approval

FlaDude — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 13:35:35 GMT

Congrats! Good to hear that things are improving for you, hopefully you'll have those 850 scores again some day.

Re: Surprise AMEX Gold Approval

CorpCrMgr1 — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 15:17:19 GMT

Congratulations on your approval! Good luck on your continued credit journey!!

Re: Surprise AMEX Gold Approval

CorpCrMgr1 — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 15:19:54 GMT

@Ihatecridetscores hope you re-post this under the credit rebuilding heading.

Re: Surprise AMEX Gold Approval

keekers — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 15:23:20 GMT

Congrats! How long ago did you burn AMEX?

Re: Surprise AMEX Gold Approval

Rdbeetle — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 17:48:53 GMT

Congrats on getting back in with AMEX!

Re: Surprise AMEX Gold Approval

xiuxiuejar — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 18:13:15 GMT

@keekers wrote:
Congrats! How long ago did you burn AMEX?

8 years

Re: Surprise AMEX Gold Approval

cashorcharge — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 18:22:29 GMT

That’s Terrific!! Congratulations on your Approval!!👏🏼🍾🥂

And yes....AMEX is good about using your original start date with them as your "member since" date and even if you call them...they will thank you for your XX years of dedication...despite any time away.

Re: Surprise AMEX Gold Approval

Wu-Credit — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 02:39:02 GMT

This is awesome to read, congratulations!!!

Re: Surprise AMEX Gold Approval

coreyb80 — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 20:54:46 GMT

Congrats on the aproval!

Re: Surprise AMEX Gold Approval

Zoostation1 — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 22:22:52 GMT

Congrats on getting back in with Amex!

Re: Surprise AMEX Gold Approval

Zoostation1 — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 22:25:32 GMT

@IhatecridetscoresCOs and late's stay on for 7 yrs. Chapter 7 BK stays on for 10yrs. You can sometimes start to recover faster with a bankruptcy, but a full recovery happens quicker without it. If the late car payment was around the same time as the CO you're heading into the home stretch, keep at it!

Re: Surprise AMEX Gold Approval

NoMoreDebt — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 23:16:59 GMT

congrats

Re: Surprise AMEX Gold Approval

FicoMike0 — Sat, 27 Apr 2024 01:12:39 GMT

Congratulations!

Re: Surprise AMEX Gold Approval

user979797 — Sat, 27 Apr 2024 16:00:45 GMT

Congrats to you on your successful rebuild and approval