topic Re: American Express-Never? in Credit Cards

American Express-Never?

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 01:27:46 GMT

I filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2009 and yes American Express was included in that. Happy to report that I have rebuilt my credit, my credit score ranges between 754-800 (depending on which bureau you check) and that the 7 was wiped off my credit report about 2 years ago.

Despite this, I have been turned down on two separate occasions since my discharge.

I have asked AMEX if because I had a balance with them when I filed my bankruptcy if I would ever be eligible for a card. They would never answer my question, only that I could continue to apply every six months.

So is there any reason to believe that AMEX will ever issue a card to me?

Re: American Express-Never?

OmarGB9 — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 01:57:51 GMT

Pretty much no, they won't issue you a card; you're blacklisted until you pay them back. Otherwise you can wait it out without paying them and you may be able to get back in, but that would take decades.

Re: American Express-Never?

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 02:09:02 GMT

Though I wish the answer was different, I appreciate the candor and honesty. Just grateful that others forgave me.

Ironically I hear of others talking about annual fees and such while for me, an annual fee of virtually any amount would be of no consequence.

Re: American Express-Never?

Brian_Earl_Spilner — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 02:37:28 GMT

I burned them for 11k. I don't know how soon they would have let me back in, but I applied 19 years later and was approved.

Re: American Express-Never?

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 02:40:40 GMT

Congrats! 19 years from my discharge will find me in the home with oatmeal dribbling out of the sides of my mouth ;-)

Re: American Express-Never?

Brian_Earl_Spilner — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 04:00:50 GMT

Well, I didn't think I would ever get back in until I found these forums. Probably would have never applied again.

Re: American Express-Never?

FinStar — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 05:41:06 GMT

@Anonymous - it's fairly possible, but no one knows how long you could remain on the AmEx blacklist. Some folks have reported 10, 12, 15, 20, 30 years, etc.

How large were the AmEx balances?

Re: American Express-Never?

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 13:12:25 GMT

Between my corporate card (former business) and a personal card, approximately $20k.

Re: American Express-Never?

Shooting-For-800 — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 13:38:32 GMT

@OmarGB9 wrote:
Pretty much no, they won't issue you a card; you're blacklisted until you pay them back. Otherwise you can wait it out without paying them and you may be able to get back in, but that would take decades.

I disagree with this.

OP - it will take a while but it is possible to back in.

Time heals all wounds.

Re: American Express-Never?

pizza1 — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 15:28:51 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Between my corporate card (former business) and a personal card, approximately $20k.

@Anonymous , $20K is a big loss to them, so Id imagine you'll be BL for many years. If you paid they back in full, you could get in much quicker, but $20K is a huge amount to pay back just to get a card again. I would just throw out a yearly app until you're approved again. Be prepared it could be years, so Id just move on to another lender for now.

Re: American Express-Never?

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 15:29:03 GMT

Though I disagree with it, I totally get why AMEX is holding my past sin against me but what gets me is-

1. I had a relationship with Wells Fargo Advisors and I always kept at least $100,000 in it. One reason I went with them is that they offered an AMEX card. When they denied me twice, I recently pulled the investment account and moved it to another advisory firm.

2. My Transunion is 780, Equifax is 805 and my Experian is 754.

3. While I understand that something bad happened in my life and I as well as my creditors were hurt, shouldn't we all be given some grace and a second chance, especially a decade+ later.

No response needed, just ranting :-)

Re: American Express-Never?

Red1Blue — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 15:32:35 GMT

Try if you can make a settlement for partial amount and see if they give you Amex Optima card. After having Optima for 12 months you would be eligible for regular card. Ask them and see what they say. You got nothing to loose by asking.

Re: American Express-Never?

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 15:32:55 GMT

Thank you @pizza1 Honestly the only reason I wanted to get back to AMEX is that I travel heavily and access to airline clubs is much easier with the right AMEX card. Fortunately, CapitalOne, Discover, BOA, and some others have given me a second chance.

@pizza1 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Between my corporate card (former business) and a personal card, approximately $20k.
@Anonymous , $20K is a big loss to them, so Id imagine you'll be BL for many years. If you paid they back in full, you could get in much quicker, but $20K is a huge amount to pay back just to get a card again. I would just throw out a yearly app until you're approved again. Be prepared it could be years, so Id just move on to another lender for now.

Re: American Express-Never?

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 15:35:06 GMT

Good tip @Red1Blue, thank you! Dumb question. Who, or what department could I talk to about this? When I called after my prior denials the people were friendly but offered no useful information on how to move on.

Re: American Express-Never?

dragontears — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 15:42:58 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Though I disagree with it, I totally get why AMEX is holding my past sin against me but what gets me is-

1. I had a relationship with Wells Fargo Advisors and I always kept at least $100,000 in it. One reason I went with them is that they offered an AMEX card. When they denied me twice, I recently pulled the investment account and moved it to another advisory firm.
2. My Transunion is 780, Equifax is 805 and my Experian is 754.
3. While I understand that something bad happened in my life and I as well as my creditors were hurt, shouldn't we all be given some grace and a second chance, especially a decade+ later.

No response needed, just ranting :-)

Seriously, if I borrowed 20k from you and didn't pay you back how long would it be before you would loan me money again?

Re: American Express-Never?

pizza1 — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 15:45:36 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Good tip @Red1Blue, thank you! Dumb question. Who, or what department could I talk to about this? When I called after my prior denials the people were friendly but offered no useful information on how to move on.

@Anonymous , the Oasis/Optima program is invitation only, its not a card you can request. Usually when you call the BK department, or their internal collections department, and you want to set up payments to pay back in full, once the past due account has been brought current, they have been known in the past to send snail mail offer of their Optima card (basically a rebuilder card to them). There has been talk though that this program is going away, though we havent seen any real offical data yet from Amex.

YOu dont have to pay them back. This account was IIB, and they cant ever ask you to repay them, though you can volunteer to do so. If this is so important to you, then your only means of getting back in are to PIF the past account, or just keep trying with a yearly app until approved.

Re: American Express-Never?

blindambition — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 15:56:57 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Though I disagree with it, I totally get why AMEX is holding my past sin against me but what gets me is-

1. I had a relationship with Wells Fargo Advisors and I always kept at least $100,000 in it. One reason I went with them is that they offered an AMEX card. When they denied me twice, I recently pulled the investment account and moved it to another advisory firm.
2. My Transunion is 780, Equifax is 805 and my Experian is 754.
3. While I understand that something bad happened in my life and I as well as my creditors were hurt, shouldn't we all be given some grace and a second chance, especially a decade+ later.

No response needed, just ranting :-)

If WF denied the card, and not Amex, that's WF UW at work. Cards like WF Propel only use Amex network. They aren't backed by Amex, or correlate with previous Amex relationship.

Re: American Express-Never?

Red1Blue — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 16:15:47 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Good tip @Red1Blue, thank you! Dumb question. Who, or what department could I talk to about this? When I called after my prior denials the people were friendly but offered no useful information on how to move on.

Call their collections or ask CSR which department handles it. Read on this forum for Amex Optima.. You'll find lot of information. I had some issues in 2018 and I paid it back and got an Opitma card which will turn 12 months next week and hopefully I should be able to get a new amex card. It is not just by invitation. You can always ask for it.

Re: American Express-Never?

Red1Blue — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 16:19:19 GMT

@pizza1 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Good tip @Red1Blue, thank you! Dumb question. Who, or what department could I talk to about this? When I called after my prior denials the people were friendly but offered no useful information on how to move on.
@Anonymous , the Oasis/Optima program is invitation only, its not a card you can request. Usually when you call the BK department, or their internal collections department, and you want to set up payments to pay back in full, once the past due account has been brought current, they have been known in the past to send snail mail offer of their Optima card (basically a rebuilder card to them). There has been talk though that this program is going away, though we havent seen any real offical data yet from Amex.

YOu dont have to pay them back. This account was IIB, and they cant ever ask you to repay them, though you can voluntI have eer to do so. If this is so important to you, then your only means of getting back in are to PIF the past account, or just keep trying with a yearly app until approved.

I read posts some people made settlement with Amex and was able to get an Opitma. I guess it varies by people. In my case I made PIF for both accounts and got one Optima card.Luckily it will be 12 months old next month and I am out of Amex Optima Jail.

Re: American Express-Never?

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 21:58:23 GMT

Wrong person to ask as I am the king of sad stories, sucker at heart, and head cheerleader for second chances. I just loaned an old friend $10k even though he burned me about 4 years ago.