topic Re: AmEx still back dating in Credit Cards

AmEx still back dating

pipeguy — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 17:21:40 GMT

Last month the DW got a pre-approved offer from AmEx for the Blue Cash Everyday card with $200 back after $1000 spend (might have been $500 spend) anyway, neither she nor I are a fan of AmEx based on a history of when we ran a business and had a ton of AmEx cards/Merchant accounts, etc. That's a long story and I'm not going there, but she canceled all her cards way back when I've kept a single small limit card open for the 1978 back dating (use it maybe twice a year).

DW was approved for the BCE card and has been working on the spend part (like thats hard to do). I just signed on her online account to check on the status and across the top it says in big print "Member Since 1995" - looks like AmEx still "back dates" sometimes.....

Re: AmEx still back dating

NRB525 — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 17:24:21 GMT

no, sorry, that's only for the "Member Since" date that prints on the card, which will have a nice little "95" on the card.

When DW checks the credit report, it will still say whatever year the card was apped, 2015? not 1995.

Re: AmEx still back dating

sjt — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 17:24:38 GMT

Unfortunately they dont back date on credit reports. They will reflect the date you obtained your first Amex card on your card and when you login and you will see "Member Since" date that reflects the year you obtained your first Amex Card.

Re: AmEx still back dating

bz386 — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 17:25:09 GMT

pipeguy wrote:
DW was approved for the BCE card and has been working on the spend part (like thats hard to do). I just signed on her online account to check on the status and across the top it says in big print "Member Since 1995" - looks like AmEx still "back dates" sometimes.....

No, they don't. The card and the online account will give the 1995 date, but the credit report will say the account was opened in 2015.

Re: AmEx still back dating

OmarGB9 — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 17:35:19 GMT

+1. The member since date is NOT backdating.

Re: AmEx still back dating

lokobo — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 17:35:54 GMT

Damnit OP. I got hopes up when I saw this thread title lol

Re: AmEx still back dating

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 17:37:29 GMT

@OmarGB9 wrote:
+1. The member since date is NOT backdating.

Yes it is. The opening date is not.

Re: AmEx still back dating

OmarGB9 — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 18:06:16 GMT

For credit reporting purposes, no it's not.

Re: AmEx still back dating

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 18:20:30 GMT

@OmarGB9 wrote:
For credit reporting purposes, no it's not.

Credit reporting doesn't have MSD. It has Account Opened date.

So yes, MSD is back dated. Account opened is not.

Bye Felicia.

Re: AmEx still back dating

OmarGB9 — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 18:39:53 GMT

Lol okay let's get all technical. Because people really use the term "account opened date" around here. I think we know what OP meant with their post.

Re: AmEx still back dating

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 18:49:47 GMT

@OmarGB9 wrote:
Lol okay let's get all technical. Because people really use the term "account opened date" around here. I think we know what OP meant with their post.

Agree. Ridiculous to argue over semantics.

Re: AmEx still back dating

bdhu2001 — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 19:14:13 GMT

@sjt wrote:
Unfortunately they dont back date on credit reports. They will reflect the date you obtained your first Amex card on your card and when you login and you will see "Member Since" date that reflects the year you obtained your first Amex Card.

Live and learn. I didn't realize AmEx had stopped backdating. I guess I got in right under the wire.

Re: AmEx still back dating

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 19:25:51 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@OmarGB9 wrote:
Lol okay let's get all technical. Because people really use the term "account opened date" around here. I think we know what OP meant with their post.
Agree. Ridiculous to argue over semantics.

I disagree. They are 2 different things. People come here for answers. I am sure most people found this site by googling a question at some point. While those of us who are active contributors know the difference, the majority who come here aren't active contributors and I think it is important to point out that they aren't the same thing.. They are similar, sure, but the difference is important. American Express will backdate your Member Since date. That is true. Previously, they would backdate your Account Opening date to match your member since date. But, as we all know, that is no longer the case.

So instead of assuming everything is an argument, just take a deep breath and relax. No reason to get offended by my attempt for clarity. Anyway, I look forward to the FCR email from the mods and my "christmas vacation" because inevitably, I make one comment that is construed as an argument and I get a vacation. Merry Christmas.

Re: AmEx still back dating

NRB525 — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 19:29:39 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@OmarGB9 wrote:
Lol okay let's get all technical. Because people really use the term "account opened date" around here. I think we know what OP meant with their post.
Agree. Ridiculous to argue over semantics.

It's not arguing if we are setting the expectation for what certain language terms mean.

FICO implies one thing, FAKO another.

"AMEX Backdating" implies a benefit to the card applicant with a new long-dated credit entry on their credit file, which from past AMEX actions may have been providing a sudden 20-year additional account.

Member Since Date is a useless piece of marketing by AMEX which has no implications for anyone other than it makes the cardholder feel good when they look at their card and on-line statement. FWIW, my Citi Diamond Preferred has a "Member Since" date, as does my BofA plain old AMEX, "06" but that's 'cause the account was opened in 2012 and 2006, respectively.

Re: AmEx still back dating

UncleB — Thu, 24 Dec 2015 23:59:44 GMT

@NRB525 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@OmarGB9 wrote:
Lol okay let's get all technical. Because people really use the term "account opened date" around here. I think we know what OP meant with their post.
Agree. Ridiculous to argue over semantics.
It's not arguing if we are setting the expectation for what certain language terms mean.

FICO implies one thing, FAKO another.

"AMEX Backdating" implies a benefit to the card applicant with a new long-dated credit entry on their credit file, which from past AMEX actions may have been providing a sudden 20-year additional account.

Member Since Date is a useless piece of marketing by AMEX which has no implications for anyone other than it makes the cardholder feel good when they look at their card and on-line statement. FWIW, my Citi Diamond Preferred has a "Member Since" date, as does my BofA plain old AMEX, "06" but that's 'cause the account was opened in 2012 and 2006, respectively.

I'm in the same situation... my "Member Since Date" is 1995, but both my accounts report the actual opening date of April 2015 on my credit reports.

If you want to get really technical, the "Member Since Date" isn't even "backdated"... it's simply reported (displayed) accurately from Amex's point of view, since (again, technically speaking) your MSD reflects the first year you were an Amex member.

Re: AmEx still back dating

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 00:09:20 GMT

I appreciate OP attempting to bring good cheer to the forums. However, the active community here knows that backdating refers to the account open date on the credit report, not the Member Since date. We get this kind of statement about once every month or so, and the reaction is the same every time.

Re: AmEx still back dating

taxi818 — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 00:58:56 GMT

@NRB525 wrote:
no, sorry, that's only for the "Member Since" date that prints on the card, which will have a nice little "95" on the card.

When DW checks the credit report, it will still say whatever year the card was apped, 2015? not 1995
+1

Re: AmEx still back dating

pipeguy — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 04:49:32 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I appreciate OP attempting to bring good cheer to the forums. However, the active community here knows that backdating refers to the account open date on the credit report, not the Member Since date. We get this kind of statement about once every month or so, and the reaction is the same every time.

I obviously was NOT trying to start a "fight" just reporting what I observed on the DW's newly opened account. My single account was established several years ago as per an agreement with AmEx to maintain a single account - MY member page says "Since 1978" my CARD says member since 1978, my credit report says since 1978. The Wife's just established account is too new to be listed on her credit reports yet, but her member since is 1995.

I just noted what I observed - as far as folks getting their panties in a wad - I have no idea why that happened in reaction to simple observations.

Re: AmEx still back dating

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Dec 2015 04:55:18 GMT

@pipeguy wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I appreciate OP attempting to bring good cheer to the forums. However, the active community here knows that backdating refers to the account open date on the credit report, not the Member Since date. We get this kind of statement about once every month or so, and the reaction is the same every time.
I obviously was NOT trying to start a "fight" just reporting what I observed on the DW's newly opened account. My single account was established several years ago as per an agreement with AmEx to maintain a single account - MY member page says "Since 1978" my CARD says member since 1978, my credit report says since 1978. The Wife's just established account is too new to be listed on her credit reports yet, but her member since is 1995.

I just noted what I observed - as far as folks getting their panties in a wad - I have no idea why that happened in reaction to simple observations.

Well, it took a strange turn, but as someone observed, we see this once a month or so. If it really still backdated it would be a huge deal to many, and the first such post did generate some interest. But it's clear that while the "real" MSD date is reported on new accounts, the all important CR isn't backdated.

Re: AmEx still back dating

SOGGIE — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 08:07:58 GMT

@lokobo wrote:
Damnit OP. I got hopes up when I saw this thread title lol

LOL