topic Re: AMEX lifetime ban? in Credit Card Applications

AMEX lifetime ban?

fastboat — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 20:37:00 GMT

When I was a freshman in college (early 90s) I got an amex card the day spring break started. Long story short I ended up having an account with a ballance of 5 or 6000 written off.

Since then I have been more serious about my credit. Currently experian has me at 755 right now, but one card I had charged up close to the max last month just got paid off and it will be reported shortly. When that happens I'll be at about a 7% utilization ratio with a collective credit limit of just under $100k. I have two primary cards I use with limits of $30k and $35k, and a few others right around $10k each. My history sees them all charged up to close to the max, then paid off, typically once or twice a year. Own a home, with no mortgage, make decent money.

I have tried to prequalify for an amex more than once, and no luck. Not even when my credit score was hovering at just under 800.

Is it likely that I have a lifetime ban, three decades on? Can I find out without a wasted hardpull? I'm specifically looking to get the platinum card for it's travel benefits. Anythign else wouldnt be useful to me.

TIA

Re: AMEX lifetime ban?

ChargedUp — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 20:57:51 GMT

If Amex is still holding a grudge from the past, you'll get a denial based on their internal data before they do a HP. If they HP and you get denied, it's due to something on your reports and not your past internal history. You could keep your reports locked and do an app if you're worried about a wasted HP and see if the decline letter states "previous unsatisfactory relationship" or "unable to access credit reports".

One thing Amex is known for is forgiving after being made whole again from unpaid debt on past accounts. You would have to decide if paying a $6K debt from the past is worth getting back in with Amex to you should it come down to this.

Re: AMEX lifetime ban?

Zoostation1 — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 21:38:58 GMT

If it's not an internal data denial it should be a soft pull now. Amex just started doing applications with a decision based on a soft pull so no harm in a denial. You don't get to see your CL though until you accept and take the hard pull.

Re: AMEX lifetime ban?

fastboat — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 22:24:59 GMT

CL? on an amex? have things changed that much since Ive been gone?

Re: AMEX lifetime ban?

SouthJamaica — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 23:37:44 GMT

@fastboat wrote:
When I was a freshman in college (early 90s) I got an amex card the day spring break started. Long story short I ended up having an account with a ballance of 5 or 6000 written off.

Since then I have been more serious about my credit. Currently experian has me at 755 right now, but one card I had charged up close to the max last month just got paid off and it will be reported shortly. When that happens I'll be at about a 7% utilization ratio with a collective credit limit of just under $100k. I have two primary cards I use with limits of $30k and $35k, and a few others right around $10k each. My history sees them all charged up to close to the max, then paid off, typically once or twice a year. Own a home, with no mortgage, make decent money.

I have tried to prequalify for an amex more than once, and no luck. Not even when my credit score was hovering at just under 800.

Is it likely that I have a lifetime ban, three decades on? Can I find out without a wasted hardpull? I'm specifically looking to get the platinum card for it's travel benefits. Anythign else wouldnt be useful to me.

TIA

No it's not likely that there's a lifetime ban.

If you want the platinum card, go for it.

Re: AMEX lifetime ban?

learningcredit54 — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 01:02:21 GMT

If you want to have an idea if the past account is an issue with Amex do a soft pull application and see what pops up.There is a link floating around the forum -

EDITED TO LINK THREAD WITH SOFT PULL LINK

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Amex-Clearly-Saying-Soft-Pull-Pre-Qualify-Now/m-p/6590110#M1827980

I did it last week for my father and past account history was the primary reason for denial. You will not waste a hard pull.

I had issues with Amex around 10-12 years ago for more than what they wrote off for you and this year I have been approved for a number of their cards both credit and charge. Although I know they havent completely forgotten the past as I have low SL and low international limits and low POT limit atleast I am back in the door.

Re: AMEX lifetime ban?

OmarGB9 — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 16:36:52 GMT

@fastboat wrote:
CL? on an amex? have things changed that much since Ive been gone?

Amex offers regular credit cards with actual limits, yes (in addition to their well known charge cards).

As a couple of others have alluded to, you can try Amex's new prequalify tool which should only be a SP regardless. If you're still blacklisted, it'll deny you and let you know.

Re: AMEX lifetime ban?

Inspiredman — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 00:56:52 GMT

@fastboat wrote:
CL? on an amex? have things changed that much since Ive been gone?

The Platinum Amex card does not have a preset spending limit but several other Amex cards have credit limit.

Re: AMEX lifetime ban?

C6 — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 01:20:19 GMT

@Inspiredman wrote:
@fastboat wrote:
CL? on an amex? have things changed that much since Ive been gone?

The Platinum Amex card does not have a preset spending limit but several other Amex cards have credit limit.

This is a fallacy. One may find their shiny platinum card with a $695 fee to have a monthly limit of $500 or less if you've been naughty.

Re: AMEX lifetime ban?

fastboat — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 01:55:57 GMT

Thanks much.

if i use this soft pull application, is there any fundamental limit to the number of times I can use it, ie I have seen some talk about applying to amex over and over and over again, and finally getting approved. As I mentioned previously I just paid off a card that was close to it's $30k limit. Is there any reason why I shouldnt just apply right now, or should I wait a while till after that payment gets reported?

TIA

Re: AMEX lifetime ban?

Traveler101 — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 02:12:47 GMT

@fastboat wrote:
Thanks much.
if i use this soft pull application, is there any fundamental limit to the number of times I can use it, ie I have seen some talk about applying to amex over and over and over again, and finally getting approved. As I mentioned previously I just paid off a card that was close to it's $30k limit. Is there any reason why I shouldnt just apply right now, or should I wait a while till after that payment gets reported?

TIA

I used it multiple times via Duck duck go. Using Google I could only see the pre approval one time. I was hesitant about applying and finally gave it a shot after pre approved. I too was blacklisted for a long time. I was stunned at 32600 as a sl when I got back in. As far a cc being close to max, not many lenders want to see that, and i doubt Amex would be any different. Best to wait till it's reported on your EX and TU. Then give it a whirl. Good luck to you.

Re: AMEX lifetime ban?

SDMarik — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 21:32:27 GMT

@fastboat wrote:
When I was a freshman in college (early 90s) I got an amex card the day spring break started. Long story short I ended up having an account with a ballance of 5 or 6000 written off.

Since then I have been more serious about my credit. Currently experian has me at 755 right now, but one card I had charged up close to the max last month just got paid off and it will be reported shortly. When that happens I'll be at about a 7% utilization ratio with a collective credit limit of just under $100k. I have two primary cards I use with limits of $30k and $35k, and a few others right around $10k each. My history sees them all charged up to close to the max, then paid off, typically once or twice a year. Own a home, with no mortgage, make decent money.

I have tried to prequalify for an amex more than once, and no luck. Not even when my credit score was hovering at just under 800.

Is it likely that I have a lifetime ban, three decades on? Can I find out without a wasted hardpull? I'm specifically looking to get the platinum card for it's travel benefits. Anythign else wouldnt be useful to me.

TIA

If one more inquiry isn't a big deal for you, pull the trigger and see what happens. If you are, in fact on the BL than it won't be a hard pull. If you think the rest of your profile can support the card, give it a whirl. Amex is known to hold a grudge for a long time, but they also like getting paid, if the app doesn't work you can always cal re-con and see if settling what you burned them for would make a difference (assuming that is the reason).

Re: AMEX lifetime ban?

fastboat — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 13:46:51 GMT

Well, I waited for my last payments to show up on all three credit reports. Have a nil utilization ratio across the board, and tried the no hard pull application website. got this as a response:

"Thank you for applying for the Platinum Card®. We're writing to let you know we cannot approve your application at this time because American Express cancelled your previous account(s).

If you have any questions, please call 1-800-222-8416 or write to us at the address above. You may qualify for a new Card in the future and are welcome to submit an application at a later date. You can also learn more about managing your credit at...."

Is this the wording used for black listed former members?

TIA

Re: AMEX lifetime ban?

SDMarik — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 13:49:13 GMT

@fastboat wrote:
Well, I waited for my last payments to show up on all three credit reports. Have a nil utilization ratio across the board, and tried the no hard pull application website. got this as a response:

"Thank you for applying for the Platinum Card®. We're writing to let you know we cannot approve your application at this time because American Express cancelled your previous account(s).

If you have any questions, please call 1-800-222-8416 or write to us at the address above. You may qualify for a new Card in the future and are welcome to submit an application at a later date. You can also learn more about managing your credit at...."

Is this the wording used for black listed former members?

TIA

Yup, you're on the blacklist. Depdning on whether or not it's worth it for you to get back in with them, you can call them and make the whole. Amex can have a long memory and hold a grudge, but they can also be pretty forgiving if you settle up. No guarantees, but depending on the ammount you burned them for you can decide if it's worth it for you.

Re: AMEX lifetime ban?

Jeffster1 — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 16:33:04 GMT

@fastboat wrote:
Well, I waited for my last payments to show up on all three credit reports. Have a nil utilization ratio across the board, and tried the no hard pull application website. got this as a response:

"Thank you for applying for the Platinum Card®. We're writing to let you know we cannot approve your application at this time because American Express cancelled your previous account(s).

If you have any questions, please call 1-800-222-8416 or write to us at the address above. You may qualify for a new Card in the future and are welcome to submit an application at a later date. You can also learn more about managing your credit at...."

Is this the wording used for black listed former members?

TIA

You're on the blacklist, and will stay there until you either pay them, or until they decide to take you off which can be a very, very long time.

Re: AMEX lifetime ban?

OmarGB9 — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 16:34:59 GMT

@fastboat wrote:
Well, I waited for my last payments to show up on all three credit reports. Have a nil utilization ratio across the board, and tried the no hard pull application website. got this as a response:

"Thank you for applying for the Platinum Card®. We're writing to let you know we cannot approve your application at this time because American Express cancelled your previous account(s).

If you have any questions, please call 1-800-222-8416 or write to us at the address above. You may qualify for a new Card in the future and are welcome to submit an application at a later date. You can also learn more about managing your credit at...."

Is this the wording used for black listed former members?

TIA

Yes that is exactly what that means. However if you pay them back (in full, not sure if the results are the same when you settle), you'll be let back in almost immediately. It's up to you whether that is worth it or not.

Re: AMEX lifetime ban?

fastboat — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 17:24:59 GMT

My charged off account dates back to 1994. a very, Very, VERY long time.

The amount was about 5-6000

To be honest I think it would be worth while to pay them to get back into the club, but two questions:

-If I pay them, if that going to make zomibe debt come alive and all of a sudden I'll have a black mark on my credit report showing a debt thats 347 months old?

-If I'm paying them off specifically to get back in, is it a neogtiated deal, ie pay us $xxxx and your new card is in the mail, or is it more complicated than that.

Thanks all...

You're on the blacklist, and will stay there until you either pay them, or until they decide to take you off which can be a very, very long time.

Re: AMEX lifetime ban?

OmarGB9 — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 17:37:16 GMT

@fastboat wrote:
My charged off account dates back to 1994. a very, Very, VERY long time.

The amount was about 5-6000
To be honest I think it would be worth while to pay them to get back into the club, but two questions:

-If I pay them, if that going to make zomibe debt come alive and all of a sudden I'll have a black mark on my credit report showing a debt thats 347 months old?
-If I'm paying them off specifically to get back in, is it a neogtiated deal, ie pay us $xxxx and your new card is in the mail, or is it more complicated than that.

Thanks all...
You're on the blacklist, and will stay there until you either pay them, or until they decide to take you off which can be a very, very long time.

1. No, that would be illegal.

2. They may offer you rhe Optima card, which would be a "second chance" card you'd have to hold onto for a year before they'll let you back in with a "normal" card. Although, some people have found success bypassing the Optima card altogether and just applying for a regular card right away after their debt is cleared and approximately 30 days have elapsed. YMMV.

Re: AMEX lifetime ban?

fastboat — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 17:54:36 GMT

1. No, that would be illegal.

I thought making payments on, or even acknowledging the validity of a debt resets the clock on it, even if the statute of limitations has expired. And if it is now an enforcable debt wouldnt that mean it can come back on your credit report?

Dont mean to argue, just want to be 100% sure of the situation, make sure there is no misunderstanding, etc...

Thanks

Re: AMEX lifetime ban?

OmarGB9 — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 18:34:06 GMT

@fastboat wrote:
1. No, that would be illegal.
I thought making payments on, or even acknowledging the validity of a debt resets the clock on it, even if the statute of limitations has expired. And if it is now an enforcable debt wouldnt that mean it can come back on your credit report?

Dont mean to argue, just want to be 100% sure of the situation, make sure there is no misunderstanding, etc...

Thanks

SOL for being sued and credit report exclusion are two separate things.

Once a negative item reaches 7.5 years (although it's usually removed at 7 years, sometimes even earlier), that's it. It must come off and can NOT be re-reported. If a lender/CA did that, it'd be considered "re-aging" the debt, which is illegal. This is credit reporting exclusion.

SOL, or Statute of Limitations, is the legal limit within which a lender may sue to try to recuperate the full amount of monies owed to them. That can be reset, potentially, by engaging in conversation about said debt, making a payment, making a promise to pay, or admitting to the debt. I say "potentially" because it's dependent on state laws. In any case, it's completely separate from your credit reports. Even if you did happen to accidentally reset the SOL, the debt itself wouldn't reappear on your reports (at least not legally).