topic Re: Spending ability - Amex in Credit Cards

Spending ability - Amex

Skye12329 — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 08:17:26 GMT

So DH has the PRG and I understand you can check your spending ability to see if a charge will be approved. What I wanna understand is that per transaction or the whole account? Like if I entered to check a $1000 transaction I know it will either say approved or declined. Would that only be the one transaction or is that the hidden limit if it says declined.

Re: Spending ability - Amex

kdm31091 — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 13:34:41 GMT

I think the intent of the feature if for a single, large transaction and what it would be approved for

Re: Spending ability - Amex

OmarGB9 — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 13:36:19 GMT

Re: Spending ability - Amex

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 13:45:26 GMT

Right but I think if you do use that too much it can raise some flags? Or at least I thought I read that here?

I dunno how I feel about thefeature. Seems twofaced. I have entered in amounts as high as 20 grand that were approved we all know based on my credit and only being with them since may/june american express ain't gonna let that fly.

Re: Spending ability - Amex

OmarGB9 — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 13:51:24 GMT

Correct if you abuse that feature apparently Amex comes crashing down on you lol.

As to you being approved for 20 grand, AFAIK a computer makes that "decision" based on your profile, so I guess they think you would be able to pay back 20k in a month? Lol

Re: Spending ability - Amex

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 15:33:56 GMT

I got denied on a gas station swipe. I put in 2300 and it says granted. I have not made first payment on it yet, but running balance is only 400 or so.

For the ones with PRG, is your payment style and frequency different from your revolvers? Our paychecks are staggered so there is income weekly, and I use multiple payments to my advantage when I can

Re: Spending ability - Amex

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 16:14:16 GMT

@OmarGB9 wrote:
Correct if you abuse that feature apparently Amex comes crashing down on you lol.

As to you being approved for 20 grand, AFAIK a computer makes that "decision" based on your profile, so I guess they think you would be able to pay back 20k in a month? Lol

I wouldn't be so sure that's the case. Yes people say that but I seriously doubt that Amex cares if you check something that they provide. If you do it too many times in a row the ability to check ends for awhile but I'd like for someone to show me proof that Amex takes any kind of AA against you for checking.

I tend to think it's more of an urban legend that gets repeated all the time

Re: Spending ability - Amex

CreditCuriosity — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 16:20:55 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@OmarGB9 wrote:
Correct if you abuse that feature apparently Amex comes crashing down on you lol.

As to you being approved for 20 grand, AFAIK a computer makes that "decision" based on your profile, so I guess they think you would be able to pay back 20k in a month? Lol
I wouldn't be so sure that's the case. Yes people say that but I seriously doubt that Amex cares if you check something that they provide. If you do it too many times in a row the ability to check ends for awhile but I'd like for someone to show me proof that Amex takes any kind of AA against you for checking.

I tend to think it's more of an urban legend that gets repeated all the time

I agree it is a urbon myth.. I do it out of pure boredom a few times a month on each of my revolvers. They have yet to come crashing down on me with AA.. Granted I don't spend beyond my income or run really any significant balances on other cards so quite honestly it would be a waste of their money to do a FR on me, although they are welcome if they want to.. Pure myth imo.

Re: Spending ability - Amex

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 17:50:31 GMT

With rumours, the best thing to do is ask.

Would it cause a problem for anyone if an Amex cardholder talks to a few CSRs about this? I know they can be unreliable sometimes, but if many of them consistently say the same thing, there's probably some truth in the pattern. It would really be worth knowing, for the sake of everyone.

Re: Spending ability - Amex

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 18:21:01 GMT

its 50/50 with all my cards. if its something big like a medical bill, i usually pay it right away. or if I had a lot of activity I try to pay it the next day. Ends up being about 50% paid immediately, and 50% end of the month.

in other news, I just asked to be approved for Pay Over Time on my PRG... denied lol. So obviously they dont think TOO highly of me just yet!

Re: Spending ability - Amex

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 19:48:54 GMT

I'm going with urban myth (even though it happened to my wife's cousin's friend's boss). If you repeatedly check with different amounts, the likelihood is that you are playing around. If you were in deep financial trouble you might do a few checks in one session, but even then you are more likely to do one check unless declined.

So the rumor makes little sense, but then so did backdating

Re: Spending ability - Amex

kdm31091 — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 20:05:19 GMT

The CSRs are not going to say "no, dont use that feature or we will take AA on you" so I dont think asking would help.

Like anything else one just needs to exercise some common sense. Using the feature sometimes will not lead you into any problems. Using it 20 times a day signals desperation of some sort and draws attention to your account. Generally you dont want attention drawn as thats where AA can come from. Reasonable use of the feature causing that is definitely a myth

Re: Spending ability - Amex

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 20:35:50 GMT

@kdm31091 wrote:
The CSRs are not going to say "no, dont use that feature or we will take AA on you" so I dont think asking would help.

Like anything else one just needs to exercise some common sense. Using the feature sometimes will not lead you into any problems. Using it 20 times a day signals desperation of some sort and draws attention to your account. Generally you dont want attention drawn as thats where AA can come from. Reasonable use of the feature causing that is definitely a myth

That;s where I disagree. Doing it 20 times a day, to me = playing around more often than not. Signs of financial desparation would be elsewhere on the CR

Re: Spending ability - Amex

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 23:55:39 GMT

I wonder if checking spending ability on an amex credit card, vs a charge, would have different hidden limits

Re: Spending ability - Amex

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Aug 2015 05:37:15 GMT

there are many urban legends with amex. people need to calm down. they think if they do ANYTHING then AA happens. no. pay what you spend and they'll be fine. use their tools as you need. don't enter random crap to see what you can get away with but if you have a big purchase you need to make then do it. i called them to say "hey i am buying a $1,200 bumper over the phone just FYI" and the lady told me i don't need to tell them just to do it lol. they're way more laid back than what is perceived.

Re: Spending ability - Amex

myjourney — Sun, 16 Aug 2015 06:26:41 GMT

One fact of the check spending button is:

After 3 consecutive entry amounts in one logged on session .....

It will lock you out of the system to use the feature for a certain amount of time

Re: Spending ability - Amex

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Aug 2015 06:40:31 GMT

meh just go big or go home lol.