topic Re: Amex Upgrade Question in Credit Cards

Amex Upgrade Question

furthur — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 03:37:15 GMT

Hey all, last year I was approved for the Hilton Honors Ascend card with a 1k SL. It hasn't gotten any credit limit increase, however today I did get it upgraded to the Aspire card since I am traveling a lot more and can make use of the additional benefits it provides, even with a low limit.

My question is, I've read that the minimum SL for the Aspire card is $3,100. Since my Ascend card that is being upgraded only has a $1,000 limit, is there going to be a CLI along with it or will it be an Aspire with a 1k limit? I did confirm with Amex that the upgrade went through fine, and there is no issues at all with my account standing. Just wondering since the annual fee would be almost half the card's limit...

Re: Amex Upgrade Question

FinStar — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 03:44:38 GMT

When it comes to [AmEx] revolver upgrades, the CL technically remains the same. When did you last submit or request for a CLI? If you had submitted any in the past, what was the reason for the decline? Is this your only AmEx revolver?

Re: Amex Upgrade Question

furthur — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 03:47:46 GMT

I've tried a few times over the past year. I had a serious delinquincy a couple years ago that they do not like.

I have a Gold Delta Skymiles card that was approved the same day last year, also at 1k limit.

@FinStar wrote:
When it comes to [AmEx] revolver upgrades, the CL technically remains the same. When did you last submit or request for a CLI? If you had submitted any in the past, what was the reason for the decline? Is this your only AmEx revolver?

Re: Amex Upgrade Question

NRB525 — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 10:41:18 GMT

How can one have a Hilton Aspire card, with a $450 annual fee, on a $1k credit line?

I guess this may test the offering of AMEX that revolver cards can exceed the stated CL as long as you pay it below the CL by the statement payment due date.

Alternatively, you use the Hilton card at a swanky resort, and take the card down to the registration desk daily to "close out the night". Then when the charge posts in two days, pay that with an instant transfer of funds? Or ask the desk if they can take a check to pay the AMEX card?

Here's hoping you get a nice CLI.

Re: Amex Upgrade Question

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 11:15:56 GMT

@NRB525, I agree with your theory but the counterpoint is, Amex May simply decide on the limit based on profile as always, and if they deem a $1000 SL to be all that’s appropriate, it can be explained as “OP knew the AF going into the app, and if they have no issue paying an AF of $450, then actually doing so shouldn’t be a problem. AF hits, OP pays it, and has full use of the SL”.

I would like to think though that Amex would have a higher SL for its big-fee cards than for the free/$95 ones. OP, please share your results when you have them. This may make a difference for future applicants in deciding which way to go.

Re: Amex Upgrade Question

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 14:12:26 GMT

@NRB525 wrote:
How can one have a Hilton Aspire card, with a $450 annual fee, on a $1k credit line?

I guess this may test the offering of AMEX that revolver cards can exceed the stated CL as long as you pay it below the CL by the statement payment due date.

Alternatively, you use the Hilton card at a swanky resort, and take the card down to the registration desk daily to "close out the night". Then when the charge posts in two days, pay that with an instant transfer of funds? Or ask the desk if they can take a check to pay the AMEX card?

Here's hoping you get a nice CLI.

Is the fee waived the first year? Because the CARD Act requires that the first year fee in no more than 25% of the initial CL.......

Re: Amex Upgrade Question

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 15:02:08 GMT

^^^ interesting, I was not aware of that. And no, Aspire does not waive the fee that I know of.

That would mean that it would have a minimum $1800 CL.

How then do those vulture cards get away with it? There are some that offer a $300 SL but have a $175 AF and other BS fees, and they’ll even tell you when you get the card it’ll have like $37 available. It arrives at almost 90% UTI...

Re: Amex Upgrade Question

FinStar — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 15:36:10 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
^^^ interesting, I was not aware of that. And no, Aspire does not waive the fee that I know of.

That would mean that it would have a minimum $1800 CL.

How then do those vulture cards get away with it? There are some that offer a $300 SL but have a $175 AF and other BS fees, and they’ll even tell you when you get the card it’ll have like $37 available. It arrives at almost 90% UTI...

@Anonymous - I'm not sure how this quantifies as a "vulture card". This was an upgrade from an existing product which already had an AF. So this isn't an issue that's more prevalent with "fee harvester" lenders or CCs like First Premier, for instance. Plus, the OP seems to have been fully aware of the AF upfront, so this was strictly a voluntary action. In upgrading the product, AmEx is compliant by providing the OP notification of the new T&Cs prior to making the change and with regard to the AF. Consequently, the upgrade in it of itself doesn't necessarily translate into a CLI, unfortunately.

So, technically, by the CARD Act provisions, this isn't the first year of cardmembership as the OP had the existing product albeit a different version.

Also, AFAIK, a portion of the AF can be offset by the resort statement credits.

Re: Amex Upgrade Question

MrDisco99 — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 15:48:46 GMT

@FinStar wrote:
@Anonymous - I'm not sure how this quantifies as a "vulture card". This was an upgrade from an existing product which already had an AF. So this isn't an issue that's more prevalent with "fee harvester" lenders or CCs like First Premier, for instance. Plus, the OP seems to have been fully aware of the AF upfront, so this was strictly a voluntary action. In upgrading the product, AmEx is compliant by providing the OP notification of the new T&Cs prior to making the change and with regard to the AF. Consequently, the upgrade in it of itself doesn't necessarily translate into a CLI, unfortunately.

So, technically, by the CARD Act provisions, this isn't the first year of cardmembership as the OP had the existing product albeit a different version.
Also, AFAIK, a portion of the AF can be offset by the resort statement credits.

I don't think he was saying the OP's Aspire was a vulture card, so much as he was pondering how the 25% rule applies to actual vulture cards.

Re: Amex Upgrade Question

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 16:05:31 GMT

MrDisco99 is right - I don’t think the Aspire is a vulture at all. I was referring to those unsolicited mailers that try and sucker you in at 36% and kill you in fees. Can’t even remember the names but they make the Fortiva card look like a prime lender lol.

Re: Amex Upgrade Question

FinStar — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 16:09:55 GMT

Ok, my bad. Thanks for clarifying @Anonymous. I just didn't see the HH Aspire card as that type of product, but the others are more in line with regard to the CARD Act.

Re: Amex Upgrade Question

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 16:12:04 GMT

I applied for the hilton ascend 3 days ago & got a 45k SL. So , something might b wrong with your report that Amex does not like ?

Re: Amex Upgrade Question

SouthJamaica — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 16:27:57 GMT

@furthur wrote:
I've tried a few times over the past year. I had a serious delinquincy a couple years ago that they do not like.

I have a Gold Delta Skymiles card that was approved the same day last year, also at 1k limit.

@FinStar wrote:
When it comes to [AmEx] revolver upgrades, the CL technically remains the same. When did you last submit or request for a CLI? If you had submitted any in the past, what was the reason for the decline? Is this your only AmEx revolver?

Are you aware of the 90-day-from-decline rule? Amex has all these rules about CLI requests. One is that you can't get a CLI until 91 days after you've been declined for a CLI.

Re: Amex Upgrade Question

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 16:30:48 GMT

@FinStar, agreed completely and I should’ve differentiated more clearly up above. No I’m definitely a fan of Amex and don’t view them that way at all

Re: Amex Upgrade Question

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 18:04:14 GMT

@furthur wrote:
I've tried a few times over the past year. I had a serious delinquincy a couple years ago that they do not like.

If possible, i would try to get those taken off with some Goodwill letters.

Re: Amex Upgrade Question

kudosalert — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 18:33:35 GMT

Yes please let us know your update. I'm thinking about getting the Ascend and then upgrading to the Aspire after 1 year. Hopefully an upgrade offer will be in the system by the time i'm ready.

Also concerned that my thin profile will not get me the Ascend. My stats are below. No negatives on profile.

Re: Amex Upgrade Question

Anonymous — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 18:39:24 GMT

@kudosalert wrote:
Yes please let us know your update. I'm thinking about getting the Ascend and then upgrading to the Aspire after 1 year. Hopefully an upgrade offer will be in the system by the time i'm ready.

Also concerned that my thin profile will not get me the Ascend. My stats are below. No negatives on profile.

Only way to find out is go check Amex Pre qualify for offers.

https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/check-for-offers

Re: Amex Upgrade Question

Anonymous — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 22:02:18 GMT

Is this one of the cards where Amex will give you the Card Number and a temporary CVV to use online and on devices? If so you can sign in to your account and determine if they gave you an increased credit limit.