topic Re: AMEX Optima sucks in Credit Cards

AMEX Optima sucks

Kinglord — Fri, 29 May 2020 23:56:23 GMT

Does anyone have any experience of being upgraded or CLI on the AMEX Optima? I have had mine since OCT 18 and have never been offered or approved for a CLI. It seems the pre-qualify on AMEX website is not working, makes me wonder if the upgrade feature is also not active.

Any Help?

Re: AMEX Optima sucks

Remedios — Fri, 29 May 2020 23:58:31 GMT

Please edit the title, because if it stays as is, I can tell you right now what kind of responses you're going to get, and then I'll have to work.

Re: AMEX Optima sucks

wasCB14 — Sat, 30 May 2020 00:05:06 GMT

I don't know about upgrades or CLIs, but the more common route seems to be to apply for a regular Amex card after a few years.

Browsing old threads I found a case of someone who had Optima for 4 years before getting a prequal offer for a regular card.

Re: AMEX Optima sucks

AverageJoesCredit — Sat, 30 May 2020 01:14:21 GMT

Optima was and is for people who've had issues with Amex. It only sucks if you dont understand why you received one in the first place.

Re: AMEX Optima sucks

Kinglord — Sat, 30 May 2020 01:34:22 GMT

@AverageJoesCredit wrote:
Optima was and is for people who've had issues with Amex. It only sucks if you dont understand why you received one in the first place.

Very understanding of why I have it, I still see that **bleep** old closed card on my CR. Just dont wanna carry such a crappy AMEX.

Re: AMEX Optima sucks

Remedios — Sat, 30 May 2020 01:35:07 GMT

Close it.

Re: AMEX Optima sucks

Anonymous — Sat, 30 May 2020 01:39:37 GMT

Did you pay them in full to get the Optima or did you agree to settle it? If the former, I can see why you're annoyed but if it's the latter, you should be happy they even let you back in at all. Life happens but there are consequences regardless. If you want to build back up with AMEX, you have to put in the time. If that's too much effort, close it and move on.

Re: AMEX Optima sucks

Anonymous — Sat, 30 May 2020 01:40:26 GMT

In the months to come, millions of people that had never imagined that they would be in such a position will be defaulting on loans.

Many of them will be Amex holders and many of those will happily take an Optima card if offered when they attempt to rebuild.

Re: AMEX Optima sucks

Jnbmom — Sat, 30 May 2020 01:40:51 GMT

@Kinglord wrote:
@AverageJoesCredit wrote:
Optima was and is for people who've had issues with Amex. It only sucks if you dont understand why you received one in the first place.
Very understanding of why I have it, I still see that **bleep** old closed card on my CR. Just dont wanna carry such a crappy AMEX.

Then close it, pretty simple .

Re: AMEX Optima sucks

K-in-Boston — Sat, 30 May 2020 01:43:07 GMT

@Kinglord wrote:
It seems the pre-qualify on AMEX website is not working

It is.

@Kinglord wrote:
makes me wonder if the upgrade feature is also not active.

Upgrades are fine.

@Kinglord wrote:
Does anyone have any experience of being upgraded or CLI on the AMEX Optima? I have had mine since OCT 18 and have never been offered or approved for a CLI.

If you have Optima, there has been a previous unsatisfactory relationship with American Express. Your overall profile and your relationship with American Express needs to warrant the extension of additional credit. A year and a half may not be enough time.

Re: AMEX Optima sucks

soxfaininfl — Sat, 30 May 2020 01:52:30 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
In the months to come, millions of people that had never imagined that they would be in such a position will be defaulting on loans.

Many of them will be Amex holders and many of those will happily take an Optima card if offered when they attempt to rebuild.

I wish they would offer it to Bker's like myself. I burned them for 2,300 (BCE). I would like to get back in their good graces, and make them payments. I'll have to pay them in full to make that happen which I plan on it once my BK is 5 years old.

Re: AMEX Optima sucks

Watchmann — Sat, 30 May 2020 02:37:58 GMT

AMEX Optima's current configuration is NOT the same as the original Optima of 30 years ago. Back in that age the Optima card was the first AMEX revolver and was offered to Green and Gold cardholders, which is when I got mine. Have had the AMEX Platinum Optima since 1990 and just got a new one in the mail a couple of months ago. Very low APR and now a $62,400 CL and Member Since date of 02/80 which is when I got the Gold card. Good card to have if you need to make a big purchase all at once....have been very happy with it over the years. No annual fee.

We need to be precise when we describe products, they are NOT all the same.

Re: AMEX Optima sucks

M_Smart007 — Sat, 30 May 2020 04:12:11 GMT

@Watchmann wrote:
AMEX Optima's current configuration is NOT the same as the original Optima of 30 years ago. Back in that age the Optima card was the first AMEX revolver and was offered to Green and Gold cardholders, which is when I got mine. Have had the AMEX Platinum Optima since 1990 and just got a new one in the mail a couple of months ago. Very low APR and now a $62,400 CL and Member Since date of 02/80 which is when I got the Gold card. Good card to have if you need to make a big purchase all at once....have been very happy with it over the years. No annual fee.

We need to be precise when we describe products, they are NOT all the same.

@Watchmann, "Member Since date of 02/80 which is when I got the Gold card"

I am jealous, you have two years on me

Re: AMEX Optima sucks

Anonymous — Sat, 30 May 2020 05:15:40 GMT

Approved March 2020 for THREE new AmEx (Plat, Bonvoy, ABP) all while having an OPEN Optima card.

The good news is I don't think I've ever heard of someone's Optima credit line being cut

Re: AMEX Optima sucks

wasCB14 — Sat, 30 May 2020 05:24:57 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Approved March 2020 for THREE new AmEx (Plat, Bonvoy, ABP) all while having an OPEN Optima card.

The good news is I don't think I've ever heard of someone's Optima credit line being cut

Glad to hear it. When were you approved for the Optima?

Re: AMEX Optima sucks

CreditCrusader — Sat, 30 May 2020 12:36:36 GMT

@Remedios wrote:
Please edit the title, because if it stays as is, I can tell you right now what kind of responses you're going to get, and then I'll have to work.

That's why you make the BIG BUCKS

Re: AMEX Optima sucks

Remedios — Sat, 30 May 2020 13:53:11 GMT

@CreditCrusader wrote:
@Remedios wrote:
Please edit the title, because if it stays as is, I can tell you right now what kind of responses you're going to get, and then I'll have to work.
That's why you make the BIG BUCKS

Stop giving away all the secrets 😐

Re: AMEX Optima sucks

Anonymous — Sun, 31 May 2020 02:17:07 GMT

Sometime in 2018. They carried my Member Since date back to the opening of my first card, a Green back in 2011. That was a nice touch.

At the time of application, though, the general consensus online was that you had to close it in order for a "chance" at getting approved for another AmEx product.

I was approved for 3 products in the same week, just 18 months later, with a FICO at 670, a STRING of baddies (50+ combined 30's, 60's, 90's, C/O's) just 22 months behind me, LOL/24, and dozens of inquiries.

Pros were that I had strong income, 0% util, and very low DTI.

Re: AMEX Optima sucks

Aim_High — Sun, 31 May 2020 02:45:35 GMT

@Watchmann wrote:
AMEX Optima's current configuration is NOT the same as the original Optima of 30 years ago. Back in that age ... the Optima card was the first AMEX revolver ... and was offered to Green and Gold cardholders, which is when I got mine. Have had the AMEX Platinum Optima since 1990 and just got a new one in the mail a couple of months ago. Very low APR and now a $62,400 CL and Member Since date of 02/80 which is when I got the Gold card. Good card to have if you need to make a big purchase all at once....have been very happy with it over the years. No annual fee.

We need to be precise when we describe products, they are NOT all the same.

+++1 ^ ^ ^ ^

Ditto.

I also had the original Optima when it was a PRIME card, not subprime.

It's been closed for over 15 years though.

Re: AMEX Optima sucks

wasCB14 — Sun, 31 May 2020 06:02:55 GMT

@Aim_High wrote:
@Watchmann wrote:
AMEX Optima's current configuration is NOT the same as the original Optima of 30 years ago. Back in that age ... the Optima card was the first AMEX revolver ... and was offered to Green and Gold cardholders, which is when I got mine. Have had the AMEX Platinum Optima since 1990 and just got a new one in the mail a couple of months ago. Very low APR and now a $62,400 CL and Member Since date of 02/80 which is when I got the Gold card. Good card to have if you need to make a big purchase all at once....have been very happy with it over the years. No annual fee.

We need to be precise when we describe products, they are NOT all the same.
+++1 ^ ^ ^ ^
Ditto.
I also had the original Optima when it was a PRIME card, not subprime.
It's been closed for over 15 years though.

So what does the Platinum Optima offer in terms of rewards vs. AF?