topic Re: AMEX Applications - Hard pull or soft pull for current account holders? Which bureau? in Credit Card Applications

AMEX Applications - Hard pull or soft pull for current account holders? Which bureau?

ngerasimatos — Fri, 27 Dec 2019 17:42:49 GMT

I am looking to add a few AMEX cards to my portfolio to get better travel rewards and hotel status. I currently have an AMEX Gold Rewards and a Starwood card, which I think is now the Marriot Bonvoy. If I was to apply for other cards, such as Delta, would they do a soft or hard pull? Also, what credit bureau do they prefer to use? I have all of my credit locked down so I would have to thaw out whatever bureaus they need to access.

Thanks!

Re: AMEX Applications - Hard pull or soft pull for current account holders? Which bureau?

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Dec 2019 17:50:34 GMT

Owned an Amex for 12 yrs and was SP approved for the HH last May.

Re: AMEX Applications - Hard pull or soft pull for current account holders? Which bureau?

ngerasimatos — Fri, 27 Dec 2019 17:51:24 GMT

Which bureau did they pull?

Re: AMEX Applications - Hard pull or soft pull for current account holders? Which bureau?

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Dec 2019 18:17:28 GMT

DPs suggest it can be either. But, it seems they can/will HP if they want. I only have one AMEX, so I’m not sure what happens on the second app. Definitely YMMV with it.

Re: AMEX Applications - Hard pull or soft pull for current account holders? Which bureau?

spiritcraft1 — Fri, 27 Dec 2019 18:36:41 GMT

I wonder what happens if you app with your reports locked if already a card holder?

Re: AMEX Applications - Hard pull or soft pull for current account holders? Which bureau?

FinStar — Fri, 27 Dec 2019 18:40:46 GMT

OP, for best results, thaw your CR. AmEx tends to pull EX. And, while a variety of outcomes can lead to SP approvals, there are reported instances where it can still be HP. So, YEMV.

Re: AMEX Applications - Hard pull or soft pull for current account holders? Which bureau?

Bestman79 — Fri, 27 Dec 2019 23:21:31 GMT

Last month I applied for 2nd Amex, HH. Expecting a SP boy was I wrong. Immediately after approval received HP alert from Experian. Best of wishes to you. F8 score was 717

Re: AMEX Applications - Hard pull or soft pull for current account holders? Which bureau?

coldfusion — Fri, 27 Dec 2019 23:21:48 GMT

@FinStar wrote:
OP, for best results, thaw your CR. AmEx tends to pull EX. And, while a variety of outcomes can lead to SP approvals, there are reported instances where it can still be HP. So, YEMV.

I'm one of the cardholders who has taken multple HP from AMEX - one each for card #1, #4, and #8, none for cards 9-13. There are other regulars on this site with similar stories. No discernable pattern for me to have an idea why those specific applications triggered a HP.

Re: AMEX Applications - Hard pull or soft pull for current account holders? Which bureau?

FinStar — Fri, 27 Dec 2019 23:51:35 GMT

@coldfusion wrote:
@FinStar wrote:
OP, for best results, thaw your CR. AmEx tends to pull EX. And, while a variety of outcomes can lead to SP approvals, there are reported instances where it can still be HP. So, YEMV.
I'm one of the cardholders who has taken multple HP from AMEX - one each for card #1, #4, and #8, none for cards 9-13. There are other regulars on this site with similar stories. No discernable pattern for me to have an idea why those specific applications triggered a HP.

Yep, fairly similar outcomes on many AmEx CCs I've applied for over the years, whether it's a charge card or a revolver. I simply just expect the HP, but if it ends up being an SP approval, then fantastic 😁

Re: AMEX Applications - Hard pull or soft pull for current account holders? Which bureau?

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Dec 2019 23:52:17 GMT

Apped for 2nd Amex card and approved without hp. I was logged into app and it stated my name and I was pre approved.

Re: AMEX Applications - Hard pull or soft pull for current account holders? Which bureau?

Anonymous — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 00:32:47 GMT

@ngerasimatos wrote:
I am looking to add a few AMEX cards to my portfolio to get better travel rewards and hotel status. I currently have an AMEX Gold Rewards and a Starwood card, which I think is now the Marriot Bonvoy. If I was to apply for other cards, such as Delta, would they do a soft or hard pull? Also, what credit bureau do they prefer to use? I have all of my credit locked down so I would have to thaw out whatever bureaus they need to access.

Thanks!

I was approved for 6 Amex cards and 4 denials in the last 19 months. All SP except for the first card application.

Re: AMEX Applications - Hard pull or soft pull for current account holders? Which bureau?

JackBeNimble1 — Sat, 28 Dec 2019 06:32:41 GMT

I have five Amex credit cards and one charge card, which I believe is the limit. The first time I applied for an Amex was in 2016, when it pulled from Experian. Since then, I've had a couple of hard pulls from Amex but all recently acquired cards have been soft pulls. I live in California. Not sure if it is different in other regions, but Amex typically pulls from Experian in California and probably in a lot of or most other states.