topic Re: Starting - I LUV AMEX CLUB. in Credit Cards

Starting - I LUV AMEX CLUB.

Red1Blue — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:03:06 GMT

After the recent changes and meding fences with Amex, I have decided to start "I LUV AMEX CLUB".

I was left with my company debt in 1995 with Amex, I paid off all the debt in full to Amex. They issued Optima Oasis Card and Amex Platinum Charge ( which later I converted to Gold ). Now after a year they converted my Optima Oasis card to Clear Card. Now approved the PLUM Card for my Business. I guess, I have proved my credibility with Amex and earned their respect.

I have been paying off balances on my Optima / Gold cards once every week some times as soon as I see balance online on my account, I have been paying off right away. I learned on this forum the best credit practises, keep the debt low, increase savings, invest in retirement funds. What a turn around in my personal life. My scores are still high 600's though. Hopefully I'll make it to 700 clubs soon.

Re: Starting - I LUV AMEX CLUB.

MidnightVoice — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:15:02 GMT

I called up Amex to warn them I would be using the card in Begium and Britain. He insisted on giving me a whole bunch of emergency numbers to call if I had a problem

Re: Starting - I LUV AMEX CLUB.

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:18:01 GMT

I'll bite the bullet with you, AMEX was the first card that I was approved for that wasn't sub-prime. They gave me a chance when BoA and Citi and Chase would not! I have the Clear from AMEX my line of credit is only 2500 but it was my first trade line over 1,000. I have been trying to establish my credit since 2004 and I feel that if it wasn't for AMEX I would still be stuck with Orchard, Cap1 and Merrick.

lil_bo

Re: Starting - I LUV AMEX CLUB.

Red1Blue — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:19:44 GMT

@MidnightVoice wrote:
I called up Amex to warn them I would be using the card in Begium and Britain. He insisted on giving me a whole bunch of emergency numbers to call if I had a problem

That is what I like about Amex. Last month when my DW and Kids travelling to England /India, I called Amex and let them know. CSR went out of the way to help and said to have my family call the international number on the back of the card in case of emergency / loose the passport / cash advance or any kind of assistance to call them. That is what I love about Amex especially for international travel no one else can match their service. Keep in mind, Amex charges a currecy conversion charge for each overseas transaction. CapitalOne is the only card I am aware of which does not charge this fees. Citi charges almost 3% for each transaction. I think Amex is about 1.5%. Not sure check the numbers. Good Luck with your trip to Europe.

Re: Starting - I LUV AMEX CLUB.

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:33:56 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I'll bite the bullet with you, AMEX was the first card that I was approved for that wasn't sub-prime. They gave me a chance when BoA and Citi and Chase would not!

I feel the same way. That's why I still use my Amex charge card as my primary card. That, and they are more than happy to give me my money back with few questions asked when I am dissatisfied.

Re: Starting - I LUV AMEX CLUB.

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:39:18 GMT

so far i have been happy with amex. i have been a member for over 12 years. I only have a charge card with them. I have been using it for all my expenses and pay in full every month. I have not had any problems.

Re: Starting - I LUV AMEX CLUB.

haulingthescoreup — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 22:55:45 GMT

They were great when I had fraudulent activity on my charge card. They took the initiative and led me through several 3-way phone calls with PayPal and E-Bay, making sure that everything got untangled. And when we finally decided that it wasn't going to get any better, they overnighted my new card.

Fingers crossed that the kindness will continue with my Blue. There's the great AmEx, and then, ummm....

Re: Starting - I LUV AMEX CLUB.

cabarkeep — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 01:49:09 GMT

I agree AMEX did give me one of my first 5 digit Credit Limits ... however they were also the first to chase a balance also ... so my Luv is a little mixed ... kind of like getting back with a wife that cheated on you lol ....

Hopefully they will learn a little more subtle way of doing a credit limit decrease ... other than that for the most part their customer service has been great except when going over the issue of CLD's lol then its like a stick hit em and they forget what to say ...

Sorry for the rant .... great customer service .... so far my card has not been declined at any store ..but i definitely would not use my AMEX for any large purchases right now ... my confidence has taken a slight hit after the CLD .....

I hope to join your club as a FULLY DEVOTED member but at this time I guess I am in the "I kinda Luv AMEX Club" lol

Re: Starting - I LUV AMEX CLUB.

CHARGE_IT — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 01:53:23 GMT

Amex was and still is the ultimate purveyor of credit cards. I have five accounts , the first beginning in 1982. I have had many situations over the years that needed to be untangled and I have always called them and placed it in their laps. They have never let me down in handling my credit needs and they provide a fantastic vacation each year thanks to my rewards points.

I can't want more than I have with them.

Re: Starting - I LUV AMEX CLUB.

notmyname — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 02:00:48 GMT

I have had thirty years of great service and it seems no matter what I read from day to day they are still there for me. I have the largest limits , the lowest aprs, and the quickest and nicest cs in any of my favorite accents.

It's not broken so I am not going to try to fix it.

NMN

Re: Starting - I LUV AMEX CLUB.

manyquestions — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 03:39:27 GMT

They haven't screwed me over lately. So I will like them till they do. I wish all credit card companies handled charge offs the way amex does. You can screw them over, and ten years later, if you pay in full, you can get a card with your original open date. That's a heck of a rebuilder card. Not only that, but you can get five or six of them. Sweet.

Re: Starting - I LUV AMEX CLUB.

wmarat — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 05:39:25 GMT

10/2007 = CL is $2400

12/2007 - CL is $5000

05/2008 = CL is $15000

12/2008 = cl is $25000.

If Amex stays calm after my morgage reports, I think to get Amex HHonors. I thought to get charge card, but I am allergic to AF.

Re: Starting - I LUV AMEX CLUB.

Mark_in_Pasadena — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 05:48:55 GMT

It's my primary card, and I PIF every month. I love them because they PAY ME to choose their card over others, not the other way around:

Re: Starting - I LUV AMEX CLUB.

Watchmann — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 16:50:04 GMT

This thread must be bogus as we all know that AMEX is the worst credit company on the planet, at least that is what the typical AMEX bashing post says. I've had AMEX accounts since 1980 and have lived all over the world (Middle East, Asia, Australia). It is the only card where you can rely on getting help if you need it. Try getting help on a Visa card in Saudi Arabia on a weekend. Zip. But I used to regularly cash $5,000 personal checks when I lived there in the late '80's with my Gold Card. For day to day stuff you don't need an AMEX card, but for serious travelling it can't be beat. (edited)AMEX is a true T&L (Travel and Leisure) card for people who use it a lot and PIF each month. And they still own the business travel field hands down. Sure, some good people got pinched in the recent AMEX downdraft, but the overwhelming majority of those that have had the CL's slashed or accounts cancelled were done so for good economic reasons when viewed in the cold light of day.

Message Edited by Watchmann on 03-07-2009 11:19 AM

Message Edited by haulingthescoreup on 03-08-2009 09:50 AM

Re: Starting - I LUV AMEX CLUB.

haulingthescoreup — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 16:51:04 GMT

Watchmann, I am assuming that the "deadwood" to which you are referring is the collection of the redundant revolving credit card lines, and not the people who have joined during this period?

Because if you're calling people deadwood, this post is about to go bye-bye.

eta: I've left the majority of Watchmann's post.

Message Edited by haulingthescoreup on 03-08-2009 09:51 AM

Re: Starting - I LUV AMEX CLUB.

Watchmann — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 14:38:26 GMT

@haulingthescoreup wrote:
Watchmann, I am assuming that the "deadwood" to which you are referring is the collection of the redundant revolving credit card lines, and not the people who have joined during this period?

Because if you're calling people deadwood, this post is about to go bye-bye.

It is both. AMEX made a lot of boneheaded decisions with cards and programs that were not well thought out, like offering a card for 'pre-affluent' people (that's their terminology, not mine), or engaged couples, or cards for people in particular cities. But they also extended credit to customers who really shouldn't have been given credit to begin with, or at least the amount of credit they were offered. They are not alone, the whole credit industry extended a lot of credit to people that should not have gotten it. That is an undisputed fact, and a large reason why we are in the situation we are in. AMEX, and the whole credit industry, are reducing their exposure to this toxic stuff. They are cutting people loose. Yes, they are cutting the deadwood accounts from their portfolio. I'm not sure why that is considered an offensive statement.

Funny how a thread that started as a positive for AMEX now has turned to more AMEX bashing.

Message Edited by Watchmann on 03-08-2009 09:38 AM

Re: Starting - I LUV AMEX CLUB.

haulingthescoreup — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 16:56:22 GMT

Watchmann wrote:

@haulingthescoreup wrote:

Watchmann, I am assuming that the "deadwood" to which you are referring is the collection of the redundant revolving credit card lines, and not the people who have joined during this period?

Because if you're calling people deadwood, this post is about to go bye-bye.
It is both. AMEX made a lot of boneheaded decisions with cards and programs that were not well thought out, like offering a card for 'pre-affluent' people (that's their terminology, not mine), or engaged couples, or cards for people in particular cities. But they also extended credit to customers who really shouldn't have been given credit to begin with, or at least the amount of credit they were offered. They are not alone, the whole credit industry extended a lot of credit to people that should not have gotten it. That is an undisputed fact, and a large reason why we are in the situation we are in. AMEX, and the whole credit industry, are reducing their exposure to this toxic stuff. They are cutting people loose. Yes, they are cutting the deadwood accounts from their portfolio. I'm not sure why that is considered an offensive statement

There is a difference in terming accounts, aka, things as deadwood and terming people as such. I'm quite certain that you understand this.

It's called good manners. Period. It is possible to state opposing viewpoints and yet not insult the people involved. You've gotten enough messages about this by now, both from moderators and from the members of the forums in general, so it's not like you can possibly be unaware of this concept.

Re: Starting - I LUV AMEX CLUB.

haulingthescoreup — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 16:58:33 GMT

And to other members, I would like to echo a good point made by Watchmann: a post started to provide positive feedback about American Express is now filling up with posts about problems with American Express.

Please respect the intent of the OP when posting.

The other posts are now being removed as being off-topic.

Re: Starting - I LUV AMEX CLUB.

MidnightVoice — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 19:25:26 GMT

I like Amex

Re: Starting - I LUV AMEX CLUB.

Anonymous — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 21:09:05 GMT

@MidnightVoice wrote:
I like Amex

Yes, they raised the APR on my blue card, but the balance is PIF. My CLs with my blue and clear are intact. Still love my green card.

And, I will be on vacation in Europe next week. If I run into trouble, Amex will be the first CC company I call.