topic Re: Time between Amex apps in Credit Card Applications

Time between Amex apps

FicoGuy2019 — Mon, 20 May 2019 17:43:14 GMT

I have seen several topics showing that you can get more than 1 card, even within the same day. I have had an Amex Zync since 2011 and I have had the Amex CM since 4/4. I applied for the BCP and the application was immediately cancelled. How long do I need to wait for an additonal card or can I only have 2?

"Thank you for applying for the Blue Cash® from American Express. We value your Membership and appreciate your interest in another American Express Card. We regret we are unable to approve this request.

The reason for our decision is that you have reached the maximum number and type of Cards that we will approve within the period of a few months. Please know that your prior application(s) has been approved and your Card has been sent to you. If you have not already done so, you can confirm you have received your Card at americanexpress.com/confirmcard or by calling the phone number on the back of your Card. You may then use your Card immediately and start enjoying the benefits of Card Membership."

If you have any questions, please call 1-866-929-5162 or write to us at the address above. You can also learn more about managing your credit at americanexpress.com/us/content/financial-education.

Thank you for your Card Membership. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

American Express Customer Care

Re: Time between Amex apps

Anonymous — Mon, 20 May 2019 17:55:02 GMT

Did you use the prequalify first?

Re: Time between Amex apps

Anonymous — Mon, 20 May 2019 17:59:13 GMT

Its unlikely anyone can get two Amex credit cards in one day...perhaps a credit and a charge card but not two credit cards. The rule is one credit card per 5 days and no more than 2 credit cards in a 90-day period.

Assuming the scores in your signature are correct most likely you were denied because of your EX score. What was your score when you were approved on 4/4? Also, did the adverse action letter state the date of the EX pull that was used for the decision?

Re: Time between Amex apps

Anonymous — Mon, 20 May 2019 18:25:09 GMT

https://awardwallet.com/blog/understanding-rewards-credit-card-application-rules-restrictions/

Re: Time between Amex apps

FicoGuy2019 — Mon, 20 May 2019 19:06:39 GMT

It didn't pull my score. The app was just cancelled. What I posted above is the adverse letter that I received. My score was actually lower at 672 when I got the CM because AZEO was AZ. It updated back to 686 but the CM was a sp anyway.

Re: Time between Amex apps

FicoGuy2019 — Mon, 20 May 2019 19:08:18 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
https://awardwallet.com/blog/understanding-rewards-credit-card-application-rules-restrictions/

Thanks. So technically I should have been fine. I'll call them at some point and just ask since the app didn't even go through.

Re: Time between Amex apps

FicoGuy2019 — Mon, 20 May 2019 19:08:52 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Did you use the prequalify first?

Yes, I prequalify for all of the cards, same as I did when I got the CM.

Re: Time between Amex apps

hawkins — Mon, 20 May 2019 19:14:28 GMT

Yep I got one of those 2 a few months ago. You can only get 2 cards every 90 days minimum. So if you look at the date of your last app approval you must wait till 90 + 1 days to apply for another card. Otherwie as you can see if will simply cancel your app. This however does not apply to charge cards only revolvers. Hope this helps.

Re: Time between Amex apps

FicoGuy2019 — Mon, 20 May 2019 19:21:00 GMT

I am on the phone with 2 reps 1 on phone, the other consulting in the background (supervisor?) because they can't figure it out. They are saying I should be able to apply for another card. They said My Zync from 2011 and the CM was 4/4/19 so I am definitely elegible for the BCP...I'm assuming they don't know I can only get 1 revolver every 90 days...waiting to see what they come back and say.

Re: Time between Amex apps

Anonymous — Mon, 20 May 2019 19:30:18 GMT

@FicoGuy2019 wrote:
It didn't pull my score. The app was just cancelled. What I posted above is the adverse letter that I received. My score was actually lower at 672 when I got the CM because AZEO was AZ. It updated back to 686 but the CM was a sp anyway.

Sure they soft pulled your score; Amex always does...which is why I asked if the adverse action notice had a date for the score they used. If not, they used an old score for the decision...its well known that the scores used by Amex underwriting lag behind the scores displayed in your online account by about 3 weeks to a month. So its always a good idea to wait a few weeks after your score is updated in your online account to ensure underwriting is using the same scores. Your rejection is probably not based on the 686 but on the 672.

But the fact that the Cash Magnet was approved with a 672 score answers your question....672 is a marginal score just 3 points above sub-prime aka a "fair" rating on the FICO scale. Because of that, Amex wants to see improvement in your score before issuing another card. It might not necessarily mean waiting 90 days, but at least until your scores cycle again and you're certain that underwriting has soft pulled the latest scores.

Amex soft pulls your score on the same date your account reports to the credit bureaus. That score is displayed in your online account but underwriting doesn't get that score until about a month later.

Re: Time between Amex apps

FicoGuy2019 — Mon, 20 May 2019 19:36:17 GMT

...but my question is why did it just cancel the app and not decline or it or go to pending and give that specific reason about cards within a few months? I honestly don't think it even did a SP. I'll check EX later and see if it did.

The rep is now checking with a 2nd supervisor because the 1st doesn't understand why it was cancelled. They said my account from 2011 is very established and perfect history and CM is fine and I can get a maximum of 5 cards. She said I should be able to get multiple cards even within 30 days and she sees that all of the time so there is no issue there.

...on hold.

Re: Time between Amex apps

FicoGuy2019 — Mon, 20 May 2019 19:41:34 GMT

Ok, now she just came back online with the answer from the 2nd supervisor.

I must wait 90 days from approval of the CM only because the BCP is in the same family of cards. I am eligible to apply for a different card in another family of Amex cards and I will be fine. She told me to apply anytime after July 4th if I still want the BCP.

I also asked if there was a pull done from my internal amex score shown in my account or via my credit and she asked the supervisor. He stated no, the application was instantly cancelled based on my ssn and new card date of 4/4.

So, that answers that. Thanks for all of the replies.

Re: Time between Amex apps

FicoGuy2019 — Mon, 20 May 2019 19:48:24 GMT

@hawkins wrote:
Yep I got one of those 2 a few months ago. You can only get 2 cards every 90 days minimum. So if you look at the date of your last app approval you must wait till 90 + 1 days to apply for another card. Otherwie as you can see if will simply cancel your app. This however does not apply to charge cards only revolvers. Hope this helps.

Thanks, you were correct.

Re: Time between Amex apps

Anonymous — Mon, 20 May 2019 20:13:12 GMT

The explanation sounds plausible but I'm not sure I buy it because it isn't supported by my experience. I've been an Amex member since 1992 but I allowed my cards to lapse when I didn't use them for a few years. When I resumed and reapplied, I was approved for a BCE with a 642 EX score because of my previous history with Amex. But when I applied for a charge card - an entirely different family - a few days I was declined because I didn't have the score to support approval for a charge card.

I studied the AA notices I got and realized that the score they were using for their decisions were not the same score displayed in my online account and actually lagged behind the online score by about a month (I was able to figure this out by looking at the dates they soft pulled my score). I started waiting for a while after my scores updated before applying and was successful. Notice how a card was declined, the approx. one month later the same card was approved.

I understand your issue is somewhat different because the app wasn't even processed but I still think it has something to do with scores and the time between applications.

Re: Time between Amex apps

Anonymous — Mon, 20 May 2019 20:14:56 GMT

@FicoGuy2019 wrote:
Ok, now she just came back online with the answer from the 2nd supervisor.

I must wait 90 days from approval of the CM only because the BCP is in the same family of cards. I am eligible to apply for a different card in another family of Amex cards and I will be fine. She told me to apply anytime after July 4th if I still want the BCP.

That makes more sense..

Because I was approved for the Bonvoy Biz 3/18/19, and then approved for the BBP on 5/15/19. Wich is obviously not 90 days apart, but not in the same Family of cards.

They're currently only offering me $250 to upgrade my BCE, but if it were the $300 I might take the leap.

Re: Time between Amex apps

Anonymous — Mon, 20 May 2019 21:02:31 GMT

MaizeandBlue, how were you able to pull up that historical application information?

Re: Time between Amex apps

FicoGuy2019 — Mon, 20 May 2019 21:03:56 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
MaizeandBlue, how were you able to pull up that historical application information?

You can view it here: https://www262.americanexpress.com/eaol/welcome.do

Re: Time between Amex apps

Ricky_D — Tue, 21 May 2019 00:51:25 GMT

@FicoGuy2019 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
MaizeandBlue, how were you able to pull up that historical application information?

You can view it here: https://www262.americanexpress.com/eaol/welcome.do

Thanks for sharing!!

Did not know this existed. Very cool. This is why I love this forum. Very helpful.

So, after looking at my Status Check Results, I see something I know nothing about. It says:

In Progress

We will notify you once your application has been processed, or if we need additional information. If you wish to view an electronic communication of your decision details once we have made a decision.

I did not apply for anything on the date it shows (5/10/2019). Everything else is spot on by dates, but this one is baffling.

Re: Time between Amex apps

Anonymous — Tue, 21 May 2019 16:07:24 GMT

@FicoGuy2019 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
MaizeandBlue, how were you able to pull up that historical application information?

You can view it here: https://www262.americanexpress.com/eaol/welcome.do

In addition to the link to check your application status you can also use this link to see the status of your CLI and/or line of credit requests: https://www262.americanexpress.com/eaol/welcome_loc.do

The PCN Number is the same as the reference number on the email from Amex acknowledging your request.

Re: Time between Amex apps

FicoGuy2019 — Tue, 21 May 2019 16:39:43 GMT

This was sort of bugging me so I app'd for the Gold 5 minutes ago. It went to "In progress" So I called and he said they couldn't confirm if I was a member of active duty military or had a direct family member serving in active duty because it's not listed on my account history with my other cards. He said as a standing amex customer, we go by your prior history.

No credit check was done because my reports are frozen, which is why I thought it went to In progress and they would tell me to unlock. I was instantly approved once he checked the box on my app that said I am not Active Duty military.

I was preapproved but went incognito so I could get the 50k MR points after $2000 spend and he said I can do "Plan It" with a max amount of $45k if I need to use that for anything.