topic Re: Prequalification for AMEX in Credit Card Applications

Prequalification for AMEX

donkort — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 20:26:48 GMT

Just did a prequalification.

Was offered:

1. American Express Green Card

2. Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card

3. Blue Cash Everyday Card

4. Delta Sky Miles American Express Gold Card.

What do you folks feel is the advantage that AMEX cards have over Visa cards?

Thanks, in advance.

Re: Prequalification for AMEX

Anonymous — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 20:34:57 GMT

The fact that it's an Amex and not a Visa!

Re: Prequalification for AMEX

Brian_Earl_Spilner — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 20:53:37 GMT

Has nothing to do with it being amex. It's about the rewards system for travel.

Re: Prequalification for AMEX

Anonymous — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 20:56:30 GMT

@Brian_Earl_Spilner wrote:
Has nothing to do with it being amex. It's about the rewards system for travel.

I was being silly by stating the obvious. I know what OP was asking.

Re: Prequalification for AMEX

Brian_Earl_Spilner — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 20:59:20 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Brian_Earl_Spilner wrote:
Has nothing to do with it being amex. It's about the rewards system for travel.
I was being silly by stating the obvious. I know what OP was asking.

I know. I was responding to them.

Re: Prequalification for AMEX

Anonymous — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 21:41:12 GMT

Its all about getting the most bang for your buck....and Ego. I always wanted an AMEX.....grew up where AMEX was the top gun credit card to have so it was on my bucket list so I got the Blue everyday preferred, gold and green charge card. Bucket list completed.

Also got the Blue Everday because of what I get back from using it at stores, etc plus the sign up bonus. So its all about what do you get back in return for using the card is how you should look at it.

Re: Prequalification for AMEX

donkort — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 23:47:43 GMT

I know.....it's hard to advise somebody about this sort of thing.

I sort of feel like pulling the trigger....mostly for the Green Card--but this 790 is so new to me! I was a 724 EQ, 711 EX, and 677 TU in 2009--the first two my highest previous scores. Never thought I'd get to 790.

Re: Prequalification for AMEX

Anonymous — Sun, 23 Feb 2020 00:11:04 GMT

To be honest with you the best choice from all of them it depends only on your needs and spending. I would reccomend the Green Amex. First of all it is multipurpose card and the rewards are awesome. At some point later you will be able to upgrade to the gold where you will access some extra features. I am happily using my Gold Amex on daily base and getting a great discounts for airfare and hotel stays. Congrats on the pre-approval!

Re: Prequalification for AMEX

Anonymous — Sun, 23 Feb 2020 00:28:37 GMT

Pick the one with the best signing bonuses based on the min amount of spend that you think you can accomplish in the first 90days. AMEX only allows you to get signing points once. So if you pick green then 6 months from now you see the Gold with some good points for opening you will not be allowed to collect those signing points.

Re: Prequalification for AMEX

Brian_Earl_Spilner — Sun, 23 Feb 2020 01:22:03 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Pick the one with the best signing bonuses based on the min amount of spend that you think you can accomplish in the first 90days. AMEX only allows you to get signing points once. So if you pick green then 6 months from now you see the Gold with some good points for opening you will not be allowed to collect those signing points.

Each card has its own SUB and you can get each SUB once. If he gets the green now, he can get the gold SUB later. As long as he never got a SUB for it before.

Re: Prequalification for AMEX

Meanmchine — Sun, 23 Feb 2020 02:35:45 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
The fact that it's an Amex and not a Visa!

Enuf said

Re: Prequalification for AMEX

donkort — Sun, 23 Feb 2020 03:22:34 GMT

Thanks very much.

Re: Prequalification for AMEX

M_Smart007 — Sun, 23 Feb 2020 04:48:34 GMT

your welcome!

Re: Prequalification for AMEX

AverageJoesCredit — Sun, 23 Feb 2020 12:58:27 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Brian_Earl_Spilner wrote:
Has nothing to do with it being amex. It's about the rewards system for travel.
I was being silly by stating the obvious. I know what OP was asking.

Silly or not its true. Aside from benfits that may not be available with a Visa, its good to have versatility , just like Lender diversity. Also, by even having an Amex you open yourself up to the possibility of getting Amex personal Loans , which if you had no Amex, you would have no access . Amex also may offer offers with their cards that may be beneficial to a card holder.

Re: Prequalification for AMEX

donkort — Sun, 23 Feb 2020 19:46:54 GMT

Thanks for your input, folks😊

Re: Prequalification for AMEX

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 00:10:30 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Its all about getting the most bang for your buck....and Ego. I always wanted an AMEX.....grew up where AMEX was the top gun credit card to have so it was on my bucket list so I got the Blue everyday preferred, gold and green charge card. Bucket list completed.

Growing up my parents never had Amex cards. They would never pay an annual fee for a card, although they had an Costco Amex back in the day.

My first Amex was back in 2015, a Canadian credit card that was offering 6% back on restaurants for 6 months or something like that, paid after a year. I used it strictly for the cashback and cancelled afterwards.

Second Amex was an Aeroplan Reserve in 2017, similar to a Delta Reserve but for Air Canada. Got it for lounge access. Since then I've had 9 more Amexes, all obtained for features and the fact that they seem to like me as a customer.

But all in all, if I could get Visas or MasterCards with equally good SUBs, spending limits, perqs and no-interest, I'd jump at them.

I'd love Amex a lot more if their great interest-free SUBs came on cards with no FTFs! they'd get a lot more of my spend that way.

Re: Prequalification for AMEX

donkort — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 13:40:50 GMT

If I can get an Amex, I would be very happy. It's a weird feeling being able to, possibly, get an Amex Green Card. Never thought I'd get to this point. 13 years of almost maxed-out credit cards! It's very stressful being in credit-card debt. Somehow, I managed to only get one 30-day late (through negligence on my part) in those 13 years

Re: Prequalification for AMEX

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 04:27:51 GMT

Did you say you are at 790? (Experian FICO 8 is what would matter).

You can prob get an Amex Gold (not Delta, the actual one) for that score. It's got a fee but also comes with the perks to match that you can offset.

I have the Delta Amex Gold now. The perks are on the "eh" side if you want it for travel. But you can turn your everyday spend into miles.

The Hilton would matter if you are a Hilton member to earn points there.

But it seems like you just want an Amex for an Amex (nothing wrong with that). So, might as well go for a pure charge card that has the weight of Amex behind it... (Literally and figuratively).

Let us know what you end up applying for.

Cheers.

Re: Prequalification for AMEX

donkort — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 04:49:18 GMT

My FICO 8 scores are: EQ 792; EX 790; TU 783.

My concern is that I haven't "caught up" to the new scores according to the credit card companies. I was in the high 600s with high utilization 1 month ago. It's a sense I have.

So I'm thinking of waiting 6 months (but who knows---maybe I'll change my mind tomorrow 😉)

Re: Prequalification for AMEX

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 04:54:18 GMT

What exactly do you mean by you have not caught up? And I guess another follow up ... How did your scores jump that crazy amount in a month?

@donkort wrote:
My FICO 8 scores are: EQ 792; EX 790; TU 783.

My concern is that I haven't "caught up" to the new scores according to the credit card companies. I was in the high 600s with high utilization 1 month ago. It's a sense I have.

So I'm thinking of waiting 6 months (but who knows---maybe I'll change my mind tomorrow 😉)