topic Re: Interesting phone call and emails with Amex FR department in Credit Cards

Interesting phone call and emails with Amex FR department

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 22:14:13 GMT

I just tried to make a tax payment to the IRS for roughly $1000 using my Amex Platinum card. The card is only 2 months old and my statement balance the first month (paid in full last week) was around $1400. The charge was declined and a notification popped up on my iPhone to call Amex at 1-800-230-1284. After waiting a few minutes on hold, they asked me my current annual income, employer, phone number and email address, then said "okay, there's nothing more we need from you at this time... we are the Financial Review department, let me transfer you to Account Services to see if they'll approve this charge."

Account Services said I had reached my charging limit ($3000) and would have to make another payment before they'd approve this charge. I told them no thanks (as by this point I was worried I'd be getting an actual FR) and just used my USAA card to make the tax payment.

Here's the freaky thing: after the call with FR to "update my email address" (it's the same email address they had when I applied for the card in July) I got 3 emails from Amex with "Confirmation of email address update." One was for my current Platinum card, but the other two were for a Blue card and Green card that were charged off over a decade ago and included in my 2006 bankruptcy...complete with images of the cards and the last 5 digits of the old account numbers! Amex sure does have the memory of an elephant, although they can't legally collect on the old accounts as they were IIB.

I'm going to lay low with Amex and not put any more >$1000 charges on my card the next few months. I want to be in their good graces again after burning them so long ago. What are the chances I'm going to be selected for a "real" FR? I have nothing to hide and am okay with providing a 4506T but would hate to have my account suspended for 2 weeks as others have reported.

Re: Interesting phone call and emails with Amex FR department

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 22:39:13 GMT

Looks like it was an "account review" and not FR. As long as you are abiding by the terms stated in the disclosure, you should be fine. Just keep using the card as you have been doing.

Re: Interesting phone call and emails with Amex FR department

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 23:05:41 GMT

It wasn't an official FR. Kudos for rebuilding your credit. That's awesome! I made up a term for my platinum card check-ins with Amex (not FRs in that you submit your tax return) but the mini random things they ask me to do. I posted about my odd/wonderful Amex issue before and you may find it helpful.
Some of the random things I'm referring to that Amex has asked include, asking for $50 on a $20k balance in the middle of a month at a random time, usually late on Sunday or holiday weekend, putting a 12k hard limit on my hard for a month and then encouraging I appeal (I did with my current bank account statement, that's all and they lifted it), telling me I'm spending more than usual when the card is at 16, a month after approving 30 without issue. I could list so many weird little things. It sound like what you had here was a combo of elements that alerted random Amex depts to use more scrutiny, but it's nothing major and certainly shouldn't put you off using the card.
Actually, the best way to avoid this stuff is to use the card as much as possible so long as you can pay by the pay by date and early if you need to keep using it past the 3.

Re: Interesting phone call and emails with Amex FR department

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 23:09:12 GMT

You kind of need to reverse lay low, but in a good way. I know you don't want to get on the radar, but it's not like it doesn't already know you had a prior chargeofff and it took you back. An experienced account services/credit services rep will be happy to tell you some random things you can do to make your account look stellar. some of the tips are obvious but others weren't intuitive at all.

Re: Interesting phone call and emails with Amex FR department

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 00:28:18 GMT

Thanks everyone. Even 2 months in, part of me is still in disbelief that I have a real, live Amex card in my hands once again, after being stuck in subprime hell for years! I'll continue to use my Plat as normal and I'm sure the spending limit will rise to a more practical level in time.

Re: Interesting phone call and emails with Amex FR department

RaiseMyScoreASAP — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 00:42:17 GMT

Lay low. Very low. They don't ahve to do business with you. You are nothing to them. Don't raise red flags. Stop doing that

I say this after being blackballed by AMEX for 20 years. I was scared to death to apply. They did take me back. I am grateful. I know that they are choosing to do business with me as much as I am choosing to do business with them. I am very thankful. That said, their customer service is not very good now. BRING IT HOME!!!

Re: Interesting phone call and emails with Amex FR department

CreditCuriosity — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 01:46:42 GMT

Suprised others havent mentioned this.. How Amex Charge Cards work as your show useage and the ability to PIF each month your internal limit goes up and you will be able to charge more and more each month obviously within your income range. Charge cards can grow and shrink based on your useage and income and other factors, but heavily rely on useage. A brand new card along with a IIB Amex from 10ish years ago is most likely currently impacting your spending limit even though it is NPSL. That will grow in a few months of proving to pay it off each month and that will grow in time. This is how charge cards work with them. Hope this helps

Re: Interesting phone call and emails with Amex FR department

Anonymous — Sat, 24 Sep 2016 10:40:49 GMT

That's the right plan. In 6 months you won't even worry about them taking it away anymore. It will be business as usual.