topic Re: AMEX hates me. Partial CLI. And I'm pretty ticked. in Credit Cards

AMEX hates me. Partial CLI. And I'm pretty ticked.

ohjoy — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 15:58:48 GMT

Granted, my credit file is young. My oldest account is nearing 2 years. I'm establishing myself after a divorce (married 20 years. 'mind you, I took care of my husband's credit the entire time and he was always over 820, thanks to my anal tendencies over finances. Obviously my AU statuses were revoked after the divorce so, I'm starting over. Whatever).

I decided to do a mini app spree in November after buying my car because I knew my scores would drop for a period. I apped and received AMEX PRG, Plat and BCP as part of my haul. With the gold and plat cards, I also received the POT option ($25K/$35K respectively. At first it said no but then I received the approvals in the mail). BCP was only a measley $1K. But I was happy to even get in so, I waited for my first 3x CLI attempt, which was today. I put in $3K (tiny by comparison to my other cards but, whatever). AMEX only approved a $1K increase to $2K.

I'm a tempermental customer. I'm completely loyal to companies that treat me well and storm away from those that don't. Hindsight, I should've waited until the dust cleared and my scores started rebounding across the board. But, my score with AMEX is the same as when they approved me and I'd been using the card and PIF religiously (groceries and gas, mostly. What else can you do on $1k? *eyeroll*) so, I didn't think I had anything to worry about with a mere $2K increase. D'oh!!!

Anyway, I'll continue to do gas and groceries on this $2k card but, I'm doing so reluctantly and only because of the cash back rewards. I'm even thinking of not renewing PRC and Plat over this. #hmph. I really don't think AMEX is doing me any favors with such a low CL, especially since my income supports more. But whatever. I'm just ranting at this point. Sorry. I'm bit of a spoiled brat and have a hard time taking "No" graciously and I hate losing.

Anywho. Maybe someone can glean something from this. Or maybe it's just me that they hate. Either way, I'm definitely changing my plans to open business accounts with them and I'm going to grab the benefits off the the cards and be done with it. So now, I wait 6 months to try to get to $6k? *sux teef* F'getaboutit. I don't even need it. #whatever (still bratting. Sorry)

*heads over to look at my NFCU accounts to make myself feel better*

Re: AMEX hates me. Partial CLI. And I'm pretty ticked.

Anonymous — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 16:07:18 GMT

They only have 61 days of knowledge about your payment history and nothing before that if your AUs dropped off or were closed. AUs don't tell Amex much.

Most prime banks ignore credit union credit cards, too. This is why most prime banks don't match CU limits.

Give Amex whatever usage earns you the most cashback or rewards and keep it at that. If the other cards don't earn enough, cut them. Banks don't love or hate anyone, they just make financial decisions best for them. You should treat them the same.

Getting emotional over financial decisions only costs you money, not the banks.

Re: AMEX hates me. Partial CLI. And I'm pretty ticked.

Anonymous — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 18:03:37 GMT

Interesting tidbit...I too just recently apped' for the 3X cli for my Amex BCE. I was denied and just received my letter in the mail yesterday. I was denied due to my sp EX score (659). I have recently opened a NFCU Cash Rewards card (10/17), Discover It (10/17) and the Amex BCE (11/17). Due to the new lines of credit, drop in age, inquiries and cancelling a cc, my scores briefly dropped when Amex did their sp. Of course by the time I did my request, my EX scores rebounded (690). But at the time of the sp, my EX score had dropped below a level Amex was comfortable with. I guess my point is...to also check your sp score from Amex. It factors in more than I thought.

Re: AMEX hates me. Partial CLI. And I'm pretty ticked.

jlitnns — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 18:12:19 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
They only have 61 days of knowledge about your payment history and nothing before that if your AUs dropped off or were closed. AUs don't tell Amex much.

Most prime banks ignore credit union credit cards, too. This is why most prime banks don't match CU limits.

Give Amex whatever usage earns you the most cashback or rewards and keep it at that. If the other cards don't earn enough, cut them. Banks don't love or hate anyone, they just make financial decisions best for them. You should treat them the same.

Getting emotional over financial decisions only costs you money, not the banks.

This^^^

I look at credit every day and I've approved returning customers with 560's because they pay us before anyone else and I never have to worry about them. At the end of the day, our decisions are made based on what will be best for our business and is this person going to pay us. I don't care who the credit card issuer is or how big the limits are. I care about what the balances are and how recent of late pays they have but we are trying to cover our assets when we make credit decisions. That is #1 and big banks are the same.

Don't take it personally, it looks like you are doing a great job OP! Keep up the good work, and venting is okay, we're here to listen as well.

Re: AMEX hates me. Partial CLI. And I'm pretty ticked.

K-in-Boston — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 18:30:22 GMT

@ohjoy I know it's frustrating, but give the relationship a little time. Unfortunately with American Express, AU status means absolutely nothing for a relationship with them. I'll share an anecdote about my wife. She has been an AU on 3 of my Amex cards since 2003 and we easily put 500k+ through the cards (primarily Gold, pre-PRG) over the years. In 2016 we decided she should apply for the ED for a balance transfer offer. With 13 years of a well-established AU history with them, credit history of 27 years, an AAoA of about 13 years, a single inquiry in 2 years on EX (mortgage refi), ~~1 single new account (the mortgage refi)~~ (edit: 3 accounts, forgot about the two auto loans) in about 6 years, nothing negative whatsoever, and an EX score of about 780, they approved her with the lowest APR and a massive two thousand dollar limit!!! Wait, what? Yeah, DW with the average CL of around $25k at the time got a $2,000 starting line. First 3X opportunity came around, we can do this - $6k here we come! No, only a 2X to $4,000. Six months later, she got the 3X to $12,000 and six months after that they counter-offered her 3X request to $36,000 with $32,000. Fast forward three weeks or so, and after I got my Delta Platinum SkyMiles card, we decided that she may as well try for the Gold card (as an aside, in hindsight as a family of four we should have gone for a 2nd Platinum SkyMiles card for the companion certificate - oops!) so that we could get the points for an upcoming European Vacation (oink oink, we'll be pigs). Her application was immediately approved with a $23,700 starting line giving someone that they only trusted with $2,000 a mere 15 months earlier a total of $55,700 between two cards. Be patient, build the relationship, and they will be the best creditor (or at least one of the best).

Re: AMEX hates me. Partial CLI. And I'm pretty ticked.

AllCredit — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 19:02:03 GMT

I feel like its the SL...just speculation, but I app'd for 2 Amex CC same day. Approved for both BCE $1K and Delta Gold $2K, so I opt'd during my CLI marks to request the CLI on the $2K card, was able to get 3x CLI at days 62 and 3x CLI at 181, between days 62 and 181 I got an auto CLI on BCE of...you guessed it $1K.

So now that it is $2K, I think I will try the 3x CLI at 181 to get the CL up a bit.

Re: AMEX hates me. Partial CLI. And I'm pretty ticked.

Anonymous — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 19:41:22 GMT

I have Amex Platinum, Amex PRG, SPG, and BCE. Both initial limits from SPG and BCE were 1k. Compared to limits from CITI 12k and Chase 24k and Barclay 4.5k they don't seem to lend a lot of money. However they have let me got 500 over the limit on the SPG. And the Charge Cards show 20k charges as being approved.

They get their money mostly from transaction fees. Along with Chase they have the best sign up bonuses. If the cards don't meet what you are looking for use another card. But I don't see the need to get angry at them because they started you low. With the SPG card I was paying the card 4 times a week so I could get all the points I need for a hotel stay. It was annoying for sure but I got my free vacation and that is what is important to me.

Re: AMEX hates me. Partial CLI. And I'm pretty ticked.

Dave4fun — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 20:07:24 GMT

I just wanted to say to OP (OhJoy) I enjoyed reading your post. You were venting your frustration but you expressed yourself in a charming way. I couldn't help but smile and enjoyed your anecdotes. I was entertained but also felt your frustration. Years ago I too was frustrated with the amount of credit Amex would extend, even though scores were mid 750 or above. But, time heals, as well as the long relationship I have with Amex. Now, looking back I realize they have been good to me. But, oh yes I do remember my own frustration with them. I must say I do look forward to reading another one of your posts in the future.

Re: AMEX hates me. Partial CLI. And I'm pretty ticked.

Shadowfactor — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 20:24:07 GMT

Surprised no one has mentioned this yet.

It could also have something to do with being approved for POT. That’s basically revolving credit. Even if your not using it. I’m sure Amex takes that into consideration with internal scoring and Amex is huge on that once you are a customer.

Plus look at it on the bright side. Most 1K starting lines don’t get any kind of 61day CLI.

I recently got denied for 6K from 2K at 61 days for low FICO score. Use your charge cards for big purchases if you plan on PIF.

Amex is a great company, extremely happy with them. They just need some time to know you and you will see huge CLI’s.

Re: AMEX hates me. Partial CLI. And I'm pretty ticked.

yfan — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 21:12:08 GMT

So to summarize, Amex has given you $62,000 in revolving credit with a 2-year-old credit file.

Sounds pretty darn impressive to me.

Re: AMEX hates me. Partial CLI. And I'm pretty ticked.

DeeBee78 — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 21:53:41 GMT

Sorry about your frustrations with Amex. They mirror mine a fair bit. I have a $30K POT limit too.

It's well-known that the $500 - $2K starting limits on the Amex revolvers usually do not see a 61 day CLI. Be happy you got one, because I'm here almost a year later, with the same $500 and $1K limits they started me at.

Re: AMEX hates me. Partial CLI. And I'm pretty ticked.

MrDisco99 — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 22:15:08 GMT

It’s $1000 more credit than you had yesterday.

Re: AMEX hates me. Partial CLI. And I'm pretty ticked.

AverageJoesCredit — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 01:09:19 GMT

Hate implies zero increase, getting 1k is still pretty good. I had my ED at 3k tried for 9k , they gave me 4.7, a 1.7 increase. Time to get my Darth on

Re: AMEX hates me. Partial CLI. And I'm pretty ticked.

ohjoy — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 02:57:54 GMT

Thanks, everyone. *big group hug*

I appreciate every response shared and am so grateful for your kindness and patience with me. (Lord knows it could've gone a whole 'nother way). I got a few kicks in the buns as well as some comforting rubs across my back. So, yeah. I'm done complaining. Back to the garden I go. I'll need to pick up a new watering can tho. I'm pretty sure the last one didn't survive me running it over with my car (and all of its trailing HP's). Ah well.

Re: AMEX hates me. Partial CLI. And I'm pretty ticked.

Meanmchine — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 03:30:50 GMT

This time next year, your CL could easily be $18k.

Without your guidence, Id be interested to see what your ex-hubbys FICO is at now.

Re: AMEX hates me. Partial CLI. And I'm pretty ticked.

FinStar — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 04:31:28 GMT

@yfan wrote:
So to summarize, Amex has given you $62,000 in revolving credit with a 2-year-old credit file.

Sounds pretty darn impressive to me.

Agree. I don't see how AMEX is really "hating" given this specific scenario OP.

Re: AMEX hates me. Partial CLI. And I'm pretty ticked.

ohjoy — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 06:24:37 GMT

@Meanmchine wrote:
This time next year, your CL could easily be $18k.
Without your guidence, Id be interested to see what your ex-hubbys FICO is at now.

Well, not that it's any of my business anymore but, last I heard, he's at least 60 days past due on his mortgage. I knew that this would be a problem for him. It's not like he doesn't make enough money. He's just not good with keeping up with things like appointments, birthdays and paying bills on time. That was my job. The crazy part is, he's in the high tech industry and, apparently, too busy to find the time to set reminders or autopay. Ah well. Not my monkeys, not my circus.

Oh, and thanks for the encouragement about next year. I'll hope for the best.

Signed,

Petty Crocker

Re: AMEX hates me. Partial CLI. And I'm pretty ticked.

ohjoy — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 06:27:34 GMT

@FinStar wrote:
@yfan wrote:
So to summarize, Amex has given you $62,000 in revolving credit with a 2-year-old credit file.

Sounds pretty darn impressive to me.
Agree. I don't see how AMEX is really "hating" given this specific scenario OP.

Yeah, but some said that the POT doesn't really count. Buuuuuut, you guys are right. I guess I didn't really consider that.

Re: AMEX hates me. Partial CLI. And I'm pretty ticked.

AverageJoesCredit — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 12:15:37 GMT

Ive never smoked a day in my life, lol, but for an average guy , my 10,000 POT limit , should suffice to buy alot of POT...luck dinners

Re: AMEX hates me. Partial CLI. And I'm pretty ticked.

UncleB — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 12:28:02 GMT

@ohjoy wrote:
@FinStar wrote:
@yfan wrote:
So to summarize, Amex has given you $62,000 in revolving credit with a 2-year-old credit file.

Sounds pretty darn impressive to me.
Agree. I don't see how AMEX is really "hating" given this specific scenario OP.
Yeah, but some said that the POT doesn't really count. Buuuuuut, you guys are right. I guess I didn't really consider that.

POT is a strange creature... my own POT limit is $35k, but I have no doubts that I would be cut off before I got even close to that amount. IMO it's different from a traditional 'revolving' credit line.

My own speculation is that having a POT feature on a charge card is not factored into CLIs on other revolving credit lines, but I've never seen conclusive evidence either way. This is actually a good question for @Anonymous when he's around.