topic Re: Is it normal for Amex to reset my account age after adjusting my APR????? in Credit Cards

Is it normal for Amex to reset my account age after adjusting my APR?????

ghost-cell — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 06:59:08 GMT

Is this normal????

I recently got a letter from American Express. They offered to turn my Blue Cash Everyday into 0% interest for the next 13 months. I thought about it for a while. After all, I don't need the 0% apr in my life right now, and I certainly wouldn't use 0% apr on the types of benefits it offers (3% groceries, 2% gas, 1% other), plus my limit is kinda low on it anyway (3k). But at the last minute I accepted their offer cuz why the heck not, maybe I'll need it someday

At the most, I was expecting this to reset my 3X rule. I thought it was gonna reset how soon I could ask for a CLI

To my surprise and dismay, they HP'd my Experian. Which, fine fine is understandable but I was still disappointed

But even worse, and what I question, is they reset my account age. Now instead of having a ~2 year and 1 month old account, it's now a 0 month account on my Experian, Transunion, and Equifax reports. Is this normal???? Or should I contact American Express and ask them to give me my old account age back?

Re: Is it normal for Amex to reset my account age after adjusting my APR?????

DONZI — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 10:28:58 GMT

I'd call. I don't recall ever reading about such a thing happening. My understanding is even card upgrades don't reset the creation date..

Not really related, but amex is the only card I know of offhand that bothers to put "Member Since <xx>" on the card. They have a thing with dates..

I'd consider it an error unless you've mistakenly accepted a new card.

Re: Is it normal for Amex to reset my account age after adjusting my APR?????

bigseegar — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 12:06:24 GMT

Yeah, for sure call AX. It sound like they either consider it or reported it as a new card/account.

Re: Is it normal for Amex to reset my account age after adjusting my APR?????

jcooks — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 12:44:38 GMT

@DONZI wrote:
I'd call. I don't recall ever reading about such a thing happening. My understanding is even card upgrades don't reset the creation date..

Not really related, but amex is the only card I know of offhand that bothers to put "Member Since <xx>" on the card. They have a thing with dates..

I'd consider it an error unless you've mistakenly accepted a new card.

My Chase Freedom Flex shows "Cardmemeber since XXXX". Which is strange because my Chase Sapphire Preferred doesn't have that.

Re: Is it normal for Amex to reset my account age after adjusting my APR?????

bigseegar — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 12:56:49 GMT

@DONZI

Not really related, but amex is the only card I know of offhand that bothers to put "Member Since <xx>" on the card. They have a thing with dates..

Yeah even while he's talking about the AAoA reporting to the CRA's of this card, the Member Since thing on cards, Discover does it as well

Re: Is it normal for Amex to reset my account age after adjusting my APR?????

K-in-Boston — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 14:32:18 GMT

@ghost-cell wrote:
Is this normal????

I recently got a letter from American Express. They offered to turn my Blue Cash Everyday into 0% interest for the next 13 months. I thought about it for a while. After all, I don't need the 0% apr in my life right now, and I certainly wouldn't use 0% apr on the types of benefits it offers (3% groceries, 2% gas, 1% other), plus my limit is kinda low on it anyway (3k). But at the last minute I accepted their offer cuz why the heck not, maybe I'll need it someday

At the most, I was expecting this to reset my 3X rule. I thought it was gonna reset how soon I could ask for a CLI

To my surprise and dismay, they HP'd my Experian. Which, fine fine is understandable but I was still disappointed

But even worse, and what I question, is they reset my account age. Now instead of having a ~2 year and 1 month old account, it's now a 0 month account on my Experian, Transunion, and Equifax reports. Is this normal???? Or should I contact American Express and ask them to give me my old account age back?

This completely sounds like a new account was opened. Accepting a promotional APR from Amex simply changes the terms on an existing account. Upgrades and promotional offers never change opening dates, do not result in credit report pulls, nor do they affect CLI eligibility.

Did you do this online or via phone? If by phone, it sounds like they mistakenly opened a new account. If online, did this appear in the Amex Offers section? Many times, there are offers there for opening new accounts and it's possible the link may have sent you to a new application screen.

To be clear, this new account is the sole one reporting on your credit reports? Does the card in your Amex online account still show previous statements?

Re: Is it normal for Amex to reset my account age after adjusting my APR?????

SouthJamaica — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 17:34:23 GMT

@ghost-cell wrote:
Is this normal????

I recently got a letter from American Express. They offered to turn my Blue Cash Everyday into 0% interest for the next 13 months. I thought about it for a while. After all, I don't need the 0% apr in my life right now, and I certainly wouldn't use 0% apr on the types of benefits it offers (3% groceries, 2% gas, 1% other), plus my limit is kinda low on it anyway (3k). But at the last minute I accepted their offer cuz why the heck not, maybe I'll need it someday

At the most, I was expecting this to reset my 3X rule. I thought it was gonna reset how soon I could ask for a CLI

To my surprise and dismay, they HP'd my Experian. Which, fine fine is understandable but I was still disappointed

But even worse, and what I question, is they reset my account age. Now instead of having a ~2 year and 1 month old account, it's now a 0 month account on my Experian, Transunion, and Equifax reports. Is this normal???? Or should I contact American Express and ask them to give me my old account age back?

That should not have happened. I would call and I would not let it rest until it was corrected.

Re: Is it normal for Amex to reset my account age after adjusting my APR?????

SoCalGardener — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 18:05:34 GMT

@DONZI wrote:

Not really related, but amex is the only card I know of offhand that bothers to put "Member Since <xx>" on the card. They have a thing with dates..

Discover does, too. At least it did the last time I actually looked at my card!

Re: Is it normal for Amex to reset my account age after adjusting my APR?????

SoCalGardener — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 18:08:34 GMT

This is definitely a screw-up. It shouldn't have happened. As others have said, accepting a 0% offer *on an existing card* should not do any of the stuff you mentioned. Only opening a *new* account would. I've upgraded cards with Amex and did not get the results you did, e.g., I changed my BCE to BCP at their invitation, and everything remained the same: account number, member date, no hard pull, etc. Call Amex. ASAP!

Re: Is it normal for Amex to reset my account age after adjusting my APR?????

FinStar — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 18:13:14 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
@ghost-cell wrote:
Is this normal????

I recently got a letter from American Express. They offered to turn my Blue Cash Everyday into 0% interest for the next 13 months. I thought about it for a while. After all, I don't need the 0% apr in my life right now, and I certainly wouldn't use 0% apr on the types of benefits it offers (3% groceries, 2% gas, 1% other), plus my limit is kinda low on it anyway (3k). But at the last minute I accepted their offer cuz why the heck not, maybe I'll need it someday

At the most, I was expecting this to reset my 3X rule. I thought it was gonna reset how soon I could ask for a CLI

To my surprise and dismay, they HP'd my Experian. Which, fine fine is understandable but I was still disappointed

But even worse, and what I question, is they reset my account age. Now instead of having a ~2 year and 1 month old account, it's now a 0 month account on my Experian, Transunion, and Equifax reports. Is this normal???? Or should I contact American Express and ask them to give me my old account age back?
This completely sounds like a new account was opened. Accepting a promotional APR from Amex simply changes the terms on an existing account. Upgrades and promotional offers never change opening dates, do not result in credit report pulls, nor do they affect CLI eligibility.

Did you do this online or via phone? If by phone, it sounds like they mistakenly opened a new account. If online, did this appear in the Amex Offers section? Many times, there are offers there for opening new accounts and it's possible the link may have sent you to a new application screen.

To be clear, this new account is the sole one reporting on your credit reports? Does the card in your Amex online account still show previous statements?

This would be my guess as well.

I've upgraded several cards over the years and none have resulted in new tradelines, especially when the upgrades are accepted via online, an email invitation or even snail mail. I don't recall if any of them offered any 0% intros, but all of them had either a SUB incentive associated with the upgrade + waiving the AF (BCE and ED, for example).

@ghost-cell-- as mentioned upthread by K-i-B, do you recall what steps you took with the letter you received from AmEx?

Re: Is it normal for Amex to reset my account age after adjusting my APR?????

OmarGB9 — Sat, 19 Mar 2022 16:51:47 GMT

Are you sure the letter you got in the mail wasn't an offer for a *NEW* Amex BCE with a 0% intro APR? What did your letter say, exactly?

Re: Is it normal for Amex to reset my account age after adjusting my APR?????

805orbust — Sat, 19 Mar 2022 14:06:33 GMT

Good catch @OmarGB9 . I would definitely make the call. I've done 2 upgrades in the last 3 years with Amex and it didn't change a thing except annual fees and benefits... well I got shiny new cards as well.

Re: Is it normal for Amex to reset my account age after adjusting my APR?????

ghost-cell — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 01:09:43 GMT

@K-in-Boston I did it online which is weird. You'd think if it were automated it'd get it right

Re: Is it normal for Amex to reset my account age after adjusting my APR?????

ghost-cell — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 01:11:20 GMT

@FinStar I entered the exact link and RSVP code it requested. Ironically today I got that same offer again, with now an extended date (since the old one would have expired)

Re: Is it normal for Amex to reset my account age after adjusting my APR?????

ghost-cell — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 01:12:18 GMT

@OmarGB9 It said in honor of my account anniversary date they were extending a limited time 0% apr offer, to give that account a "birthday" sort present

Re: Is it normal for Amex to reset my account age after adjusting my APR?????

OmarGB9 — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 01:13:46 GMT

Can you post a picture of it with your personal info redacted?

I would definitely be calling if they were just offering a promo/upgrade.

Re: Is it normal for Amex to reset my account age after adjusting my APR?????

ghost-cell — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 01:15:06 GMT

Update: I called Amex account services and they weren't very helpful tbh. They said there's nothing they can do. They said the only thing I can do is file a dispute with all three credit bureaus (for age and HPs). They gave me this number to call between 9:00am-5:30 pm eastern: 800-874-2717 and can update again after escalating it to that number

Re: Is it normal for Amex to reset my account age after adjusting my APR?????

ghost-cell — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 01:24:05 GMT

Language used on letter (select quotes):

0.00% promo APR for 12 months, in recognition of your Membership

0.00% Promotional Purchase APR on Eligible, New Purchases for 12 Billing Cycles

Afterwards, your rate returns to your standard APR, currently 20.74%*

Click Enroll Now to go to
americanexpress.com/
and use this RSVP code:

Call 1-866-248-4438
and use offer code:

Re: Is it normal for Amex to reset my account age after adjusting my APR?????

OmarGB9 — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 15:51:49 GMT

@ghost-cell wrote:
Update: I called Amex account services and they weren't very helpful tbh. They said there's nothing they can do. They said the only thing I can do is file a dispute with all three credit bureaus (for age and HPs). They gave me this number to call between 9:00am-5:30 pm eastern: 800-874-2717 and can update again after escalating it to that number

I'd keep on them because this isn't right. Perhaps file a CFPB complaint.

Re: Is it normal for Amex to reset my account age after adjusting my APR?????

SoCalGardener — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 16:47:07 GMT

@ghost-cell wrote:
Language used on letter (select quotes):

0.00% promo APR for 12 months, in recognition of your Membership

0.00% Promotional Purchase APR on Eligible, New Purchases for 12 Billing Cycles

Afterwards, your rate returns to your standard APR, currently 20.74%*

Click Enroll Now to go to
americanexpress.com/
and use this RSVP code:

Call 1-866-248-4438
and use offer code:

But we're missing context! What did the letter start out with? It should have had some kind of title and/or initial blurb about this offer. Mine always do. It couldn't have just plunged in with the first line you posted.

If you can post a pic of the letter (removing your personal info first)--the ENTIRE letter--that would really help.