topic Re: Amex Oasis Program in Credit Cards

Amex Oasis Program

BBYGRL — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 18:03:11 GMT

Hello! Does Amex still offer the Oasis program or do they have a new one in its place?

Re: Amex Oasis Program

darwin_wins — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 22:39:42 GMT

Oasis program is invite only. If AmEx or one of its CA contacts you, you can ask for it in exchange of paying off the debt you owe. They may or may not offer you.

Did you burn AmEx? If so, for how much. How old is it?

Re: Amex Oasis Program

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 01:39:31 GMT

@BBYGRL wrote:
Hello! Does Amex still offer the Oasis program or do they have a new one in its place?

@Agreed with @Anonymous. It is invite only.

Re: Amex Oasis Program

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 19:25:14 GMT

What's Amex Oasis?

Re: Amex Oasis Program

BBYGRL — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 20:19:15 GMT

@darwin_wins wrote:
Oasis program is invite only. If AmEx or one of its CA contacts you, you can ask for it in exchange of paying off the debt you owe. They may or may not offer you.

Did you burn AmEx? If so, for how much. How old is it?

Ahhh that's right. I had a charge off about 15 years ago. I get pre-qual offers but haven't applied because I may be blacklisted. Just trying to figure out how to pay the debt and to get a corporate card.

Re: Amex Oasis Program

UncleB — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 22:02:15 GMT

@BBYGRL wrote:
@darwin_wins wrote:
Oasis program is invite only. If AmEx or one of its CA contacts you, you can ask for it in exchange of paying off the debt you owe. They may or may not offer you.

Did you burn AmEx? If so, for how much. How old is it?
Ahhh that's right. I had a charge off about 15 years ago. I get pre-qual offers but haven't applied because I may be blacklisted. Just trying to figure out how to pay the debt and to get a corporate card.

I just left a post on your other thread, but if you're interested in a corporate card it's likely your own situation won't matter, anyway (depending on your company).

I was able to get a new corporate card account with Amex just a few months (like, five) out of a chapter 7 bankruptcy in which Amex was included for a significant amount. Especially if your company is large, the credit is deemed to be with the company, not with the cardholder.

Good luck whatever you decide!

Re: Amex Oasis Program

BBYGRL — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 23:21:55 GMT

Thanks! That's good to know.

Re: Amex Oasis Program

darwin_wins — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 23:57:28 GMT

More than likely you can get your AmEx too at this point. Don't bother paying back anything at this point.

As for Corp AmEx, you should be good but as a datapoint right after my CO (and AmEx still had till I paid it off), my company wanted to issue me Corp AmEx and I was denied because of past CO. I wish I had paid off that and gotten in sooner, would have retained a card date from 2004. But after 15 years AmEx will let you in, apply for one if you want to if you are getting pre-approvals from them

Re: Amex Oasis Program

BBYGRL — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 03:24:52 GMT

@darwin_wins wrote:
More than likely you can get your AmEx too at this point. Don't bother paying back anything at this point.

As for Corp AmEx, you should be good but as a datapoint right after my CO (and AmEx still had till I paid it off), my company wanted to issue me Corp AmEx and I was denied because of past CO. I wish I had paid off that and gotten in sooner, would have retained a card date from 2004. But after 15 years AmEx will let you in, apply for one if you want to if you are getting pre-approvals from them

I was denied a corporate card about 7 years ago - likely because of the CO. My scores were over 800 at the time. I was clearly blacklisted then. I was lucky enough to avoid needing it until now. I will apply next week. The last barnacle off my credit boat.

Re: Amex Oasis Program

BBYGRL — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 03:26:16 GMT

@BBYGRL wrote:
@darwin_wins wrote:
More than likely you can get your AmEx too at this point. Don't bother paying back anything at this point.

As for Corp AmEx, you should be good but as a datapoint right after my CO (and AmEx still had till I paid it off), my company wanted to issue me Corp AmEx and I was denied because of past CO. I wish I had paid off that and gotten in sooner, would have retained a card date from 2004. But after 15 years AmEx will let you in, apply for one if you want to if you are getting pre-approvals from them
I was denied a corporate card about 7 years ago - likely because of the CO. My scores were over 800 at the time. I was clearly blacklisted then. I was lucky enough to avoid needing it until now. I will apply next week. The last barnacle off my credit boat.

Forgot to add...they set be free from the blacklist! I was approved for an Everyday card today! Woot!

Re: Amex Oasis Program

UncleB — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 03:35:30 GMT

@BBYGRL wrote:
@darwin_wins wrote:
More than likely you can get your AmEx too at this point. Don't bother paying back anything at this point.

As for Corp AmEx, you should be good but as a datapoint right after my CO (and AmEx still had till I paid it off), my company wanted to issue me Corp AmEx and I was denied because of past CO. I wish I had paid off that and gotten in sooner, would have retained a card date from 2004. But after 15 years AmEx will let you in, apply for one if you want to if you are getting pre-approvals from them
I was denied a corporate card about 7 years ago - likely because of the CO. My scores were over 800 at the time. I was clearly blacklisted then. I was lucky enough to avoid needing it until now. I will apply next week. The last barnacle off my credit boat.

I have heard of this, but it's usually with smaller companies... in my case the company I was working for was really big (Fortune 100) so that probably made a significant difference. They were also super-strict about the card's usage... using it for personal charges was one of the few things that would get you fired with no recourse.

I remember being super-nervous about my application, and being super-relieved (and surprised) when the card came in the mail.

In any case, you would have no problem now! Congrats again!

Re: Amex Oasis Program

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 22:28:50 GMT

- AMEX Oasis Program is in fact invitation only.

- it is for you to rebuild relationship with American Express.

- You will get the invitation if and only if you pay back what you owe in FULL, not settlement offer or discounted/reduced amount.

- It is NOT TRUE that you must close the Optima Blue card before applying for other product, provided you have had the Blue card for over a year (Described below)

Today:

I still have my Optima Blue card from the Oasis program, and I also hold a Blue Cash Preferred Card currently.

I've also gotten invited to apply for Amex Platinum (the $450 annual fee one), while still having the Optima Blue active (although invite doesn't mean pre-approved).

Personal Story:

(may help answer some questions for those who researches on AMEX Oasis Program)

I had 3 Amex cards

1. AMEX Rewards Gold

2. Optima Platinum (no longer available)

3. AMEX Blue

I got into financial crisis and burned the bridge with AMEX.

AMEX sold the debt of the Gold Rewards and the Blue card to collection, but kept the Optima Platinum debt to AMEX themselves (Total debt is about $10,000 across 3 accounts)

The collection agencies offered settlement for lower than what I owed, I declined the offer.

At that time I didn't know there is such thing called "AMEX Oasis", I declined settlement and went ahead to arrange installments with the collection solely because I figured American Express is the sole bank issuing their branded credit card (although many other institutions offer Amex card in their bank's name), but they are not issued by AMEX.

I didn't care about CitiBank, Chase, etc. because there are tons of other issuers that issue Visa / Master Card; and hence I wanted to pay off AMEX in full to keep a relationship (although the bridge was burned at that time)

It is only about a year into the installment, I had to call the collection company to change the paying checking account; I was told by the agent I spoke with that I will be receiving an invitation (the AMEX Optima Blue of the Oasis Program) after N payments later.

Eventually I paid off all installments of both card that sold to collection, and receive an Amex Optima Blue card application sent by American Express.

Terms:

- Guaranteed issuance.

- $500 Credit limit.

- Cannot apply for another product within 12 months.

- No credit line increase will ever be granted to this card ($500 for life)

Then I got the Blue Card, Yay !

I in fact paid off the 2 accounts with collection before finishing the account still with Amex.

About 2 weeks after I paid off the Opima card that was still AMEX, I got another invitation from Amex for the optima blue card (same terms as listed above); but I already have the Blue card in my wallet at that time.

-------------------------------

For the first year, I used the Blue card consistently and paid off in full each month.

At 13th month (May of 2016), it's past the "cannot apply for another product for 12 months" term, I wanted to get an AMEX card.

But I didn't apply using the website, I actually called customer service and asked them "Must I close AMEX Optima Blue before applying?", then a lady transferred me to card apply-over-the-phone department, and the gentleman from there told me "NO, you don't have to close it, I've helped many who hold the Optima Blue to apply for other products".

I told him what card I wanted to apply for, went through the process of asking for my income, length at current address, etc. etc. (The same set of questions you'd have to answer regardless if you apply on the phone, by mail or on the website)

A couple of minutes later, approved; and the gentleman immediately told me the credit limit I got approved for.

(Note: with Amex credit card products, you can get 3 times the credit limt at Day 61 since account opening, which you can find many articles/forums talk about that, search for: AMEX 3X CLI)

-----------------------------

I keep the AMEX Optima Blue (although it has $49 annual fee) is because AMEX backdated this account to the first year I had my first American Express card (year 2000)

It is the oldest active account (16 years) and it helps my credit (account length is calculated based on account-open-dates of active open accounts, not closed accounts)

I hope this story helps

Re: Amex Oasis Program

AverageJoesCredit — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 23:08:57 GMT

Very informative. Thanks for taking the time to share. Best wishes for continued success

Re: Amex Oasis Program

sjt — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 23:15:50 GMT

Thanks for the informative post Eric!

I want to add that you can apply for a CLI with your Optima Oasis Card after 12 months.

Re: Amex Oasis Program

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 23:50:18 GMT

I want to add that you can apply for a CLI with your Optima Oasis Card after 12 months.

Thanks for the info.

Re: Amex Oasis Program

BBYGRL — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 00:24:45 GMT

I hope this story helps

Great information! Thanks!

Re: Amex Oasis Program

darwin_wins — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 00:27:12 GMT

Don't do what I did, I applied for CLI thinking it will rejected and no harm done. So I did a CLI request in 11th month of course denied. Then I did the same request in 12th month and now the CSR says can't help you were already denied so wait 61 days.

Re: Amex Oasis Program

pifhluk — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 22:14:34 GMT

So what if you were willing to pay off the charged off amount in full but you haven't received the "invite only" offer? Can you just call them up and say hey can you put me in the Oasis program I will pay off the debt in full? I did recieve the offer but it was years ago.

Re: Amex Oasis Program

sjt — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 22:47:07 GMT

I would call their Global Collection Department and tell them you were invited to receive the Optima Card. They would most likely refer you to their contracted collection company.

Also, depending on your credit, you might qualify outright for a card once the payment was made.

Re: Amex Oasis Program

darwin_wins — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 00:43:25 GMT

@pifhluk wrote:
So what if you were willing to pay off the charged off amount in full but you haven't received the "invite only" offer? Can you just call them up and say hey can you put me in the Oasis program I will pay off the debt in full? I did recieve the offer but it was years ago.

How old is the CO and how much do you owe them? You could try but some times they don't offer it. So good luck and hopefully you get it.