topic Re: Is Amex Optima a Charge Card or Credit Card ? in Credit Cards

Is Amex Optima a Charge Card or Credit Card ?

Red1Blue — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 22:24:27 GMT

For FICO and scoring purposes Is Amex Optima considered as a Charge Card or Credit Card ?

Re: Is Amex Optima a Charge Card or Credit Card ?

Anonymous — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 01:52:34 GMT

Optima is a revolving, credit card and is not a charge card.

Optima was introduced in 1987 as American Express's first credit card. American Express stopped offering Optima around 2008-2009 for new, credit worthy applicants only to be revived years later as a reward for consumers that repaid charged-off debt.

Re: Is Amex Optima a Charge Card or Credit Card ?

wasCB14 — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 01:56:07 GMT

Isn't the CL fixed as 1/3 (or some other fraction) of the repaid amount?

Re: Is Amex Optima a Charge Card or Credit Card ?

Rudy1 — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 14:24:16 GMT

As @Anonymous stated it is a revolving credit card the only charge card AMEX issues are the Green, Gold, Platinum, and Centurion. When I met my husband he had the Optima Platinum from when they offered it as a actual card not for debt repayment he still has it. For him it is a good card to keep around low rate and nice CL.

Re: Is Amex Optima a Charge Card or Credit Card ?

Red1Blue — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 15:24:48 GMT

From FICO standpoint of view, is there a scoring difference between a Charge Card and Credit Card ?

Re: Is Amex Optima a Charge Card or Credit Card ?

Remedios — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 16:34:32 GMT

There is difference

Charge card balances are not "counted" towards utilization on newer scoring models, but they do count towards number of *cards with balances*.

On older scoring models, highest balance on charge card is considered to be a limit.

Re: Is Amex Optima a Charge Card or Credit Card ?

Save-n-Invest — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 17:26:13 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Optima is a revolving, credit card and is not a charge card.

Optima was introduced in 1987 as American Express's first credit card. American Express stopped offering Optima around 2008-2009 for new, credit worthy applicants only to be revived years later as a reward for consumers that repaid charged-off debt.

That's interesting. In 2003 I was at a VZW store. I purchased a mobile phone and signed a two year contract. I gave the manager American Express Blue. The transaction was declined with instructions for the store to call Optima. The place was busy so I just used a diferent card.

At home I phoned Amex to learn why the sale was declined. The rep said it was flagged as a fradulent transaction. Reason provided was that I purchased a mobile phone six weeks prior.

Was Optima in any way ever related to the company's fraud department?

Thanks

Re: Is Amex Optima a Charge Card or Credit Card ?

dacv01 — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 18:53:25 GMT

The Optima is a revolving credit card, and appears on CR as such. Have you been sent an offer to apply?

Re: Is Amex Optima a Charge Card or Credit Card ?

Red1Blue — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 19:21:30 GMT

@Remedios wrote:
There is difference
Charge card balances are not "counted" towards utilization on newer scoring models, but they do count towards number of *cards with balances*.
On older scoring models, highest balance on charge card is considered to be a limit.

Thanks

Re: Is Amex Optima a Charge Card or Credit Card ?

Red1Blue — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 19:22:48 GMT

@dacv01 wrote:
The Optima is a revolving credit card, and appears on CR as such. Have you been sent an offer to apply?

Yes. I have mailed the application on 6/26/2020 by USPS mail. Waiting to hear back from them or receive the card.

Re: Is Amex Optima a Charge Card or Credit Card ?

Anonymous — Sun, 05 Jul 2020 11:40:32 GMT

@Save-n-Invest wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Optima is a revolving, credit card and is not a charge card.

Optima was introduced in 1987 as American Express's first credit card. American Express stopped offering Optima around 2008-2009 for new, credit worthy applicants only to be revived years later as a reward for consumers that repaid charged-off debt.
That's interesting. In 2003 I was at a VZW store. I purchased a mobile phone and signed a two year contract. I gave the manager American Express Blue. The transaction was declined with instructions for the store to call Optima. The place was busy so I just used a diferent card.

At home I phoned Amex to learn why the sale was declined. The rep said it was flagged as a fradulent transaction. Reason provided was that I purchased a mobile phone six weeks prior.

Was Optima in any way ever related to the company's fraud department?

Thanks

After introducting Optima in 1987, American Express eventually added other credit cards, such as the Delta Airlines SkyMiles cards. Even these were called Optima. Essentially, back in the day, Optima was the credit card "division" of American Express (similar to the small business cards at one time being referred to as the Open cards-as in open for business). Blue was introduced in 1999 and eventually American Express began phasing out the Optima name, but I would assume that the VZW merchant account labled Amex credit cards as Optima from back in the day and had not updated it.

Therefore, Optima was not the Amex fraud team, it was just the legacy general term for Amex credit (not charge) cards.

Amex Optima Card - CLI

Red1Blue — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 02:11:13 GMT

I received Optima card last month. I am not sure about the limitations. I think we have to wait for 12 months before we apply for another Amex Card. Do we have to close Optima card at that time before applying for new card ? If we decide to keep Optima Card can we request CLI after having the card for 12 months ? Those of you who have this card please give me your suggestions.

Re: Amex Optima Card - CLI

joltdude — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 16:23:16 GMT

Going by memory.. You need to have Optima for at least 12 months.... before you can apply for anything else... You do not necessarily need to close it... In the past.. there was a time where you needed to close it before apping for the other.. You just got the card.. whats the rush...

Credit is a marathon, not a sprint......

-J

Re: Amex Optima Card - CLI

wasCB14 — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 17:00:49 GMT

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/AMEX-Optima-sucks/m-p/6041334#M1725535

No CLIs on the rebuilder Optima (not to be confused with the old non-rebuilder card Optima Platinum).

That's according to a former Amex employee two months ago.

Re: Amex Optima Card - CLI

Red1Blue — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 17:05:45 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:
https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/AMEX-Optima-sucks/m-p/6041334#M1725535
No CLIs on the rebuilder Optima (not to be confused with the old non-rebuilder card Optima Platinum).
That's according to a former Amex employee two months ago.

Thanks. I was just curious after 12 months it might be eligbile for CLI. If not that is okay too. I have no desire to get into debt. I know it is a rebuilder card with strings attached.

Re: Amex Optima Card - CLI

dacv01 — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 22:40:17 GMT

Per experience having it and my application- you cannot CLI during the 12 month probation period. You can keep Optima card open after, but from what I have seen CLI is unlikely or very minimal. The goal is to graduate to a big boy Amex after 12 months

Re: Amex Optima Card - CLI

sjt — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 01:08:28 GMT

@Red1Blue wrote:
I received Optima card last month. I am not sure about the limitations. I think we have to wait for 12 months before we apply for another Amex Card. Do we have to close Optima card at that time before applying for new card ? If we decide to keep Optima Card can we request CLI after having the card for 12 months ? Those of you who have this card please give me your suggestions.

You have to wait 12 months for a CLI as well. You do not have to close your Optima account to get another Amex card. I have been able to get a few CLI on my Optima account.

Keep in mind that the rules for the Optima account have changed and will probably continue to change. I'm still holding out for the ability to product change the account.

Re: Amex Optima Card - CLI

sjt — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 22:03:14 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:
https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/AMEX-Optima-sucks/m-p/6041334#M1725535

No CLIs on the rebuilder Optima (not to be confused with the old non-rebuilder card Optima Platinum).

That's according to a former Amex employee two months ago.

That is incorrect. You can request and receive a CLI after 12 months. It is not upgradable at this time.

Re: Amex Optima Card - CLI

wasCB14 — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 22:25:00 GMT

@sjt wrote:
@wasCB14 wrote:
https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/AMEX-Optima-sucks/m-p/6041334#M1725535

No CLIs on the rebuilder Optima (not to be confused with the old non-rebuilder card Optima Platinum).

That's according to a former Amex employee two months ago.
That is incorrect. You can request and receive a CLI after 12 months. It is not upgradable at this time.

Could be. Most people move on to greener pastures once eligible.

Can PC Amex Optima after 12 months

Red1Blue — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 17:26:27 GMT

I know Amex does not like any thing done for 12 months when we get Amex Optima Card. Does any one know after 12 months, if we can do Product Change from Amex Optima to a different Amex Product. Also if we can get a CLI on the Amex Optima Card after 12 months ?