topic Re: AMEX Blacklist question in Credit Cards

Question about AMEX Blacklist question

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 17:30:38 GMT

How can I find out if I'm on the blacklist? I had a HH Amex in 2016. Life happened and the account was closed. I paid it off and my credit scores are up now (not the best, but ok). I've gone to the pre qual page a few times and get nothing. How much longer should I wait? I really want that particular card back. Or should I take what I can from them and hold out for the HH?

Re: AMEX Blacklist question

Remedios — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 16:41:46 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
How can I find out if I'm on the blacklist? I had a HH Amex in 2016. Life happened and the account was closed. I paid it off and my credit scores are up now (not the best, but ok). I've gone to the pre qual page a few times and get nothing. How much longer should I wait? I really want that particular card back. Or should I take what I can from them and hold out for the HH?

What exactly is "life happened" as it relates to closed account?

Lates, charge off? Did you settle (if it was charge off) or paid full amount?

What else is on your CR in terms of negatives?

You'd have to apply to find out if you are on BL. Typically, there isn't a HP if you are.

If you are not on BL, it doesn't mean it would result in the approval, that's still going to be based on internal records and whatever other negatives are still present on your CR.

As far as HH or "give me whatever", that approach isn't going to work because regardless of which card you apply for, same algorithm will be evaluating your profile, so if you aren't on BL, go for the card you want.

Re: AMEX Blacklist question

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 17:22:45 GMT

@Remedios Ultimately, I started using the card to pay bills because of a change in jobs. The account was closed by AMEX. I paid the full amount via a payment plan AMEX created (that I paid out early, but I'm unsure if that actually matters). I was late twice on payments when the job switch was happening. I have other lates from a few years ago with Cap One and 1st Citizens. I've written good faith adjustment letters to no avail. I'm rebuilding my credit and have landed a few new cards. But I definitely want the HH AMEX back. So basically I have to pull the trigger to find out? I also read on a different question that I should have a 0 balance on all OTHER cards prior to applying. How much stock should I put into that? My FICO scores for CCs are 731 EQ, 728 TU, & 716 EX.

Re: AMEX Blacklist question

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 17:23:52 GMT

@Remedios And thank you for responding. I'm new and feeling my way around. I appreciate you!

Re: AMEX Blacklist question

Remedios — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 17:27:50 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Remedios Ultimately, I started using the card to pay bills because of a change in jobs. The account was closed by AMEX. I paid the full amount via a payment plan AMEX created (that I paid out early, but I'm unsure if that actually matters). I was late twice on payments when the job switch was happening. I have other lates from a few years ago with Cap One and 1st Citizens. I've written good faith adjustment letters to no avail. I'm rebuilding my credit and have landed a few new cards. But I definitely want the HH AMEX back. So basically I have to pull the trigger to find out? I also read on a different question that I should have a 0 balance on all OTHER cards prior to applying. How much stock should I put into that? My FICO scores for CCs are 731 EQ, 728 TU, & 716 EX.

You should allow one card to report a balance before applying, there is a penalty when all revolving accounts report $0.00, maybe 15-20 points.

So, don't apply with all cards at $0.00, your score will drop.

Late payments on payment plan matter, but you paid it off without causing them a loss, that counts, too.

My opinion, pull the trigger when ready and see what happens. HPs aren't the end of the world, neither are denials, and youd know where you stand with them.

Congrats on successful rebuild!

Re: AMEX Blacklist question

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 17:31:54 GMT

@Remedios Thanks. I'm feeling good today. I'm pulling the trigger. I'll let you know. Thanks for the HP are the end of the world. People make it seem like they are and I guess I've internalized that. NOT TODAY. I'M GOING FOR IT!

Re: AMEX Blacklist question

Remedios — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 17:32:01 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Remedios And thank you for responding. I'm new and feeling my way around. I appreciate you!

@Anonymous you're welcome. I've created a separate thread for you, that way we can remain focused on issues specific to your questions and your profile.

Welcome to the boards.

Re: AMEX Blacklist question

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 17:36:43 GMT

@Remedios Declined. I tried. Maybe again at the end of the year? IDK. Thanks again.

Re: AMEX Blacklist question

coldfusion — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 17:39:52 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Remedios Declined. I tried. Maybe again at the end of the year? IDK. Thanks again.

Check whether or not they hard pulled from Experian. That will add a bit more clarity as to how they currently view you.

Re: AMEX Blacklist question

Remedios — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 17:40:27 GMT

Sorry 😔

Re: AMEX Blacklist question

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 17:43:48 GMT

@coldfusion Thanks. I'm trying to view the full decision, but their website is trash and won't let me due to "system error".

Re: AMEX Blacklist question

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 17:45:33 GMT

@Remedios Thanks. It's ok. I noticed via my history, I tried previously in 2019 and was declined then also. Maybe the credit gods are telling me to move on. Deep sigh.

Re: AMEX Blacklist question

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 18:21:23 GMT

@coldfusion @Remedios So I called customer service for more insight to my denial. The CSR said the only reason I was denied is b/c it hasn't been 12 months since being done with my payment plan. NOW I KNOW! I definitely feel better about it and now I know NOT to apply until after November 3rd! Thanks for the encouragement family! Even in this "no" I got clarity on clear path to my November 4th "YES!"

Re: AMEX Blacklist question

coldfusion — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 18:27:47 GMT

And there you go! The denial stinks, but at least it led to you learning the path to success and congratulations for that!

Re: AMEX Blacklist question

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 19:05:19 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@coldfusion @Remedios So I called customer service for more insight to my denial. The CSR said the only reason I was denied is b/c it hasn't been 12 months since being done with my payment plan. NOW I KNOW! I definitely feel better about it and now I know NOT to apply until after November 3rd! Thanks for the encouragement family! Even in this "no" I got clarity on clear path to my November 4th "YES!"

Others more familiar can correct me if this is wrong, but..... I think you always need to be a little careful with what CSRs say in this type of thing. The 12 months is almost certainly a factor but it's just possible that you are also still on the list. So as others have said, check for an HP on EX (get your report from the official free site if you haven't already), but give it a day or so just to make sure any HP will be reflected.

Re: AMEX Blacklist question

bigseegar — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 19:58:38 GMT

I agree careful and don't put too much hope into what a CSR says. They don't really know and are only looking a computer screen and sometimes guessing. As others said check your Experian report. If theres a HP thats a good sign. if there isn't that means you're for sure still on the BL.

Don't want to be a Debbie Downer here for you at all. But I also have to be real with my AmEx Blacklist experience. I was a member since 1984 started with the Green card. In 1986 Gold card. In 1992 after using my Gold card a lot I got an invitation (back then you couldn't apply for it like you can now) the Platinum card. I literally spent hundreds of thousands on the Platinum card over the next few years. Then my business failed and my credit tanked. AmEx monitors your credit monthly. They saw what was happening and even though I didn't owe a dime at the time they closed all of my accounts. Key thing here is remember I didn't owe them a dime. Even though I rebounded both credit and income wise, they Blacklisted me and it took me until last year, which was 19 years almost to the day to get off the Blacklist and back in with AmEx and like I said they didn't even lose money on me. I now have 6 AmEx cards including the Green, Gold and Platinum again and 3 chargers including the HH and BCP.

Now YRMV and it may or may not take as long as it did me. But in all likely hood it will probably take years to get off the list.

Re: AMEX Blacklist question

W261w261 — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 04:57:23 GMT

@bigseegar, thinking back to those awful days when Amex banished you, do you think that in the now-vanished and maybe half-imaginary world of kindly bankers behind oak desks, who took the time to know you - would they have kept your accounts open?

Re: Question about AMEX Blacklist question

dre90 — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 14:15:26 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
How can I find out if I'm on the blacklist? I had a HH Amex in 2016. Life happened and the account was closed. I paid it off and my credit scores are up now (not the best, but ok). I've gone to the pre qual page a few times and get nothing. How much longer should I wait? I really want that particular card back. Or should I take what I can from them and hold out for the HH?

Hey, there!

Hoping this finds you well, but it's true when they say YMMV. My experience was similar to yours back in 2016 - 2017, when I experienced a loss of income and maxed out their card and ended up defaulting in 2017, which resulted in charge offs and settled for less than the total balance. Long story short, they blacklisted me after applying and receiving instant denial without a hard pull.

My strategy: My girlfriend was an AMEX member, and I had her add me as an AU to her account around Jan 2019. After about 3 - 6 months, I finally received a preapproval on the AMEX website, applied for the Delta Gold Skymiles Amex card (supposedly the most accessible card to get approved for); I got the 14-day message, then a day later, I got the approval email.

Today: About a year ago, I canceled that Delta AMEX card because it was stuck at $1000 and would not budge. Then, I applied and got instantly approved for the AMEX Gold card, which has been my daily driver ever since getting approved. Here's another tip: Make sure to check their preapproval website in Incognito or Private mode. Supposedly that works when you are trying to get a preapproval or a good sign-up bonus.

Best of luck to you!!!

Re: AMEX Blacklist question

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 13:09:12 GMT

My blacklist lasted 30 years to a tee. I was very young at the time when I was banished. I remember a rep saying I wouldn't ever be able to have a AMEX card again. Basically that was true. Their memory is long. Have 4 now. Yah I'm old.

Re: AMEX Blacklist question

bigseegar — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 14:02:11 GMT

@W261w261 wrote:
@bigseegar, thinking back to those awful days when Amex banished you, do you think that in the now-vanished and maybe half-imaginary world of kindly bankers behind oak desks, who took the time to know you - would they have kept your accounts open?

@W261w261 Probably had a better shot back then than now. Computers and their programed perfect financial models decide everything for bankers now. All todays "bankers" are really, at least at the average persons level are data entry people. I actually think my chances were better back then. But sdaly my financial position and business turned so bad that it wasn't survivible. So I don't really blame AmEx for shutting me down. They saw the writing on the wall that even though I didn't owe them and had not burned them that I probably would, and that was probably true. While disappointed that it took me 19 years to get back in. I also can't truly say I blame them for that either. They were always my go to card and will are again now. But I'm much more stable financially and hopefully I'm also much smarter 19 years later.