topic Re: Amex approval for more than credit limit! in Credit Cards

Amex approval for more than credit limit!

SoCalGardener — Sat, 01 May 2021 19:02:50 GMT

I was logged in and just browsing around Amex the other day, and on one of my cards, the Everyday, I clicked on the 'check spending power' link. Keep in mind I'm not actually planning on buying anything, I was just playing with it for entertainment. I meant to put one figure, but accidentally added an extra zero. But my finger was already pressing the submit button when I noticed it.

To my surprise, even though this amount would put me several thousand dollars OVER my limit, it was approved! I was shocked. I had no idea they would do that on that particular card. Then I read their info explaining how it works; at their discretion, based on your credit profile and spending habits, they may approve a purchase that puts you over your limit. When they do that, they do not charge any kind of over-limit fee or in any other way penalize you. Who knew?! Not me!

Re: Amex approval for more than credit limit!

dragontears — Sat, 01 May 2021 19:14:41 GMT

Be careful "playing" with the check spending feature. It has been stated by a former Amex employee that each time you check it is tracked and can actually limit your current spending power as Amex puts an internal hold expecting you to actually make a purchase of that size....

Re: Amex approval for more than credit limit!

SoCalGardener — Sat, 01 May 2021 19:52:58 GMT

@dragontears wrote:
Be careful "playing" with the check spending feature. It has been stated by a former Amex employee that each time you check it is tracked and can actually limit your current spending power as Amex puts an internal hold expecting you to actually make a purchase of that size....

Thanks for the heads-up! That's really good to know. I definitely would not want anything negative to happen as a result of 'playing' with that feature, like a limit or hold.

I'm pretty sure that was the first time I'd used that feature, for any of my cards, because it's easy enough to do the math, i.e., if my limit is X and I have a zero balance, I can spend X. Well, as it turns out, I can spend X + something!

Re: Amex approval for more than credit limit!

Brian_Earl_Spilner — Sat, 01 May 2021 20:22:43 GMT

Almost all amex cards have flexible spending limits. When statement cuts you'll owe the minimum payment + overage.

As an added note, you shouldn't play with that feature as amex keeps track and you could receive some blowback. They're assuming if you use it, you're planning to make that charge.

Re: Amex approval for more than credit limit!

DONZI — Sun, 02 May 2021 02:31:14 GMT

Does anyone know if these repercussions may also occur with a charge card?

..and any known side effect on non-approved spending power checks?

EG: I got the Platinum and tossed the calculator a figure for a new RV, something like $150k and was denied..

Re: Amex approval for more than credit limit!

Loquat — Sun, 02 May 2021 12:52:49 GMT

@DONZI wrote:
Does anyone know if these repercussions may also occur with a charge card?

..and any known side effect on non-approved spending power checks?

EG: I got the Platinum and tossed the calculator a figure for a new RV, something like $150k and was denied..

It's all fun and games until you play with that button so much that it draws some unwanted attention and they start requesting documents that most aren't prepared to hand over.

Re: Amex approval for more than credit limit!

Anonymous — Mon, 03 May 2021 00:18:44 GMT

I've seen people on here get whacked for financial review after playing with that button

Re: Amex approval for more than credit limit!

DONZI — Mon, 03 May 2021 03:30:50 GMT

Ah! Thanks!

I hadn't thought of them wanting to audit me. Now would be a good time I guess if they wanted to review my situation.. would rather not have to fuss with it though so I'll probably just dial in and talk about any sort of spending power curiosities I have.

Re: Amex approval for more than credit limit!

Anonymous — Mon, 03 May 2021 05:40:54 GMT

Using the button is fine if you're checking for an amount you plan to spend in, say, the next week or so. But follow through by making that purchase. Don't you with it frivolously and you'll be fine. I've used it on Platinum and Gold to verify a purchase, and then made that purchase, with zero issues. That's what it's for. Trying numbers to attempt to figure out your spend ceiling is what gets you unfriendly attention.

Re: Amex approval for more than credit limit!

Anonymous — Mon, 03 May 2021 16:02:25 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
That's what it's for. Trying numbers to attempt to figure out your spend ceiling is what gets you unfriendly attention.

It seems obvious to us that "Of course that's (almost) the first thing I will do with such a feature!" but maybe for those not on credit card love sites, it would only be used properly, to see if the next real purchase would likely be approved!

Re: Amex approval for more than credit limit!

Anonymous — Mon, 03 May 2021 16:07:01 GMT

Agreed @Anonymous , but then again, had I not found this forum and I had that feature in my account (particularly on an NPSL charge card), I'd probably be tempted to play to see what Amex might allow me. I'm a natural "wonder what this does?" kinda person (that's how I got into customizing cars and an engineering career honestly, the natural curiosity of how things work), so I would probably end up getting my hand spanked by Amex.

Re: Amex approval for more than credit limit!

jcooks — Mon, 03 May 2021 18:11:35 GMT

They really need to add a disclaimer on there. I'm sure tons of people used that to actually see their spending limit on their charge cards. I know I did, until I started noticing everyday that it was getting lower and lower. Then I found these forums, and haven't touched it since. Now I'm actually scared of that button lol.

Re: Amex approval for more than credit limit!

Anonymous — Mon, 03 May 2021 20:12:44 GMT

@jcooks wrote:
They really need to add a disclaimer on there. I'm sure tons of people used that to actually see their spending limit on their charge cards. I know I did, until I started noticing everyday that it was getting lower and lower. Then I found these forums, and haven't touched it since. Now I'm actually scared of that button lol.

And/or change the wording, to something like "Will a charge be approved?" They could even display the maximum charge they would approve (at the current time) without the need to enter anything, but I guess that could encourage spending.

Re: Amex approval for more than credit limit!

GApeachy — Tue, 04 May 2021 01:00:43 GMT

I've played with that button. 🤭....a few times. They shouldn't put it there. I hit it, hit it again.....oh boy! Hulk smash! Then I cowardly hit the "x"- you know, up there in the right hand corner...don't even bother to log out. You know, look like it's all a mistake or a dream 🥸

So not good? 😁