topic Re: Amex “Member Since” in Credit Cards

Amex “Member Since”

drewricomakeubu — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 22:52:53 GMT

I was under the impression, probably wrong, that Amex keeps your memberships as old as your original membership date.

I had an Amex I closed years ago but it was opened in 2015. I got approved for BCP yesterday and on the app it says member since '23. I honestly thought it would post date my membership details to 2015?

Am I mistaken or..?

Re: Amex “Member Since”

CaptJOB — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 23:00:55 GMT

I don't know what the rules are but I've noticed they are inconsistenly applied. I was an AU back in 07/08 which they had been know to backdate to but seems like that stopped. Opened my own card in 2018(AU had been closed for a long time) and that was my Member Since date. Sometime in 2021 my new cards started showing up with Member Since 15. Doesn't correlate with any account activity that I know of.

You can ask them if they'll change it but I wouldn't expect it to happen.

Re: Amex “Member Since”

TequilaMockingbird — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 23:07:04 GMT

Amex and I parted ways many years ago. When I was finally accepted back into the fold with my BCP card, it said "Member since 90."

Your actual card will reflect the year you first established your relationship with them.

Re: Amex “Member Since”

fury1995 — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 00:40:45 GMT

@drewricomakeubu wrote:
I was under the impression, probably wrong, that Amex keeps your memberships as old as your original membership date.

I had an Amex I closed years ago but it was opened in 2015. I got approved for BCP yesterday and on the app it says member since '23. I honestly thought it would post date my membership details to 2015?

Am I mistaken or..?

You are partially correct. Your Member Since date should be from your first account, however that's not backdating. Backdating refers to how American Express would report to credit bureaus new accounts issued to current members/card holders. That practice/policy has since been dispatched (I believe around 2016 / the Costco split?) and references to backdating combined with American Express is kinda taboo.

Likely the accounts haven't been linked within their system. You should be able to call and have American Express look for your oldest account and correct your Member Since date on your new card. Previous AU accounts and corporate accounts could also be used to represent your Member Since date. It may take some digging but they tend to be friendly and helpful.

Re: Amex “Member Since”

Hackgiz — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 02:35:44 GMT

I had the Platinum back in 2013 and closed it, Fastfowad 2 moths ago got the Delta Gold it says Member since 2023, One week ago got the Amex Gold and it dated 2013.

Re: Amex “Member Since”

fury1995 — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 02:49:18 GMT

@Hackgiz wrote:
I had the Platinum back in 2013 and closed it, Fastfowad 2 moths ago got the Delta Gold it says Member since 2023, One week ago got the Amex Gold and it dated 2013.

Once your cards are linked in your account, you can request a replacement card with the correct Member Since date.

Re: Amex “Member Since”

Brian_Earl_Spilner — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 03:23:22 GMT

It's not uncommon for the first card to have the application year. As long as they can associate you as a previous member all future cards will have the original member since date.

Re: Amex “Member Since”

Jeffster1 — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 03:34:47 GMT

@drewricomakeubu wrote:
I was under the impression, probably wrong, that Amex keeps your memberships as old as your original membership date.

I had an Amex I closed years ago but it was opened in 2015. I got approved for BCP yesterday and on the app it says member since '23. I honestly thought it would post date my membership details to 2015?

Am I mistaken or..?

I had two Amex cards from 2004-2017. I IIB Amex in my 2017 BK 13 filing.

Amex approved me again 61 months after my filing. My membership shows "Member since 2004."

Re: Amex “Member Since”

SeaProbe — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 04:10:05 GMT

Hmmm.

My card says member since '08 although I had a green card back in the 80s, but also closed it later in the 80s when I went back to grad school.

My guess is that their digital records don't go back that far for inactive memberships…

Re: Amex “Member Since”

DONZI — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 04:11:34 GMT

It can also depend on biz and personal card from what they told me.

I got a corporate card in 1991 for a DBA (sole proprietorship) but never had a personal amex card until 2020.

One of these day's maybe I'll get around to getting something from their business selection to see what turns up.

Re: Amex “Member Since”

drewricomakeubu — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 05:08:55 GMT

Good info. Maybe I'll give them a call tomorrow to see what's up. Will update if someone profound happens.

Re: Amex “Member Since”

Creditwiser — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 05:11:36 GMT

@SeaProbe wrote:
Hmmm.

My card says member since '08 although I had a green card back in the 80s, but also closed it later in the 80s when I went back to grad school.

My guess is that their digital records don't go back that far for inactive memberships…

My situation exactly. Has a personal green card in late 80's early 90's and they're unable to verify that info.

Re: Amex “Member Since”

wasCB14 — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 05:37:40 GMT

What exactly is the appeal?

We want to impress pretty young cashiers by having cards that reveal that we may be older than we look?

Do we hope that dates or business associates will aggressively squint to read fine print on a small, fast-moving object before it's hidden again in a little leather check presenter?

Do we hope to misremember 5 years as a customer and 20 on the blacklist as 25 wonderful years?

Re: Amex “Member Since”

drewricomakeubu — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 06:23:48 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:
What exactly is the appeal?

We want to impress pretty young cashiers by having cards that reveal that we may be older than we look?

Do we hope that dates or business associates will aggressively squint to read fine print on a small, fast-moving object before it's hidden again in a little leather check presenter?

Do we hope to misremember 5 years as a customer and 20 on the blacklist as 25 wonderful years?

Appeal is why not?

Re: Amex “Member Since”

OmarGB9 — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 07:56:37 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:
What exactly is the appeal?

We want to impress pretty young cashiers by having cards that reveal that we may be older than we look?

Do we hope that dates or business associates will aggressively squint to read fine print on a small, fast-moving object before it's hidden again in a little leather check presenter?

Do we hope to misremember 5 years as a customer and 20 on the blacklist as 25 wonderful years?

To some people it's just the nostalgia, or the loyalty, or they simply like seeing how long they've been a customer of Amex for. If it's not your cup of tea, that's fine, but there's no reason to be condescending towards others who deem it important.

Re: Amex “Member Since”

Jeffster1 — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 09:19:42 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:
What exactly is the appeal?

We want to impress pretty young cashiers by having cards that reveal that we may be older than we look?

Do we hope that dates or business associates will aggressively squint to read fine print on a small, fast-moving object before it's hidden again in a little leather check presenter?

Do we hope to misremember 5 years as a customer and 20 on the blacklist as 25 wonderful years?

You do you.

Re: Amex “Member Since”

DONZI — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 09:47:58 GMT

@wasCB14 wrote:
What exactly is the appeal?

If I were able to see my first membership date on cards I use it would help me remember my.... uh...

I forget.

Re: Amex “Member Since”

fury1995 — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 11:28:05 GMT

@SeaProbe wrote:
Hmmm.

My card says member since '08 although I had a green card back in the 80s, but also closed it later in the 80s when I went back to grad school.

My guess is that their digital records don't go back that far for inactive memberships…

They do. If you owed Amex money from the 80's, they'd have a record. There are references to people having Member Since dates prior to birth year.

Re: Amex “Member Since”

fury1995 — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 11:29:49 GMT

@DONZI wrote:
It can also depend on biz and personal card from what they told me.

I got a corporate card in 1991 for a DBA (sole proprietorship) but never had a personal amex card until 2020.

One of these day's maybe I'll get around to getting something from their business selection to see what turns up.

Applies to personal, corporate and authorized user accounts. If you were are cardholder on that corporate account, that works.

Re: Amex “Member Since”

fury1995 — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 11:38:21 GMT

@OmarGB9 wrote:
@wasCB14 wrote:
What exactly is the appeal?

We want to impress pretty young cashiers by having cards that reveal that we may be older than we look?

Do we hope that dates or business associates will aggressively squint to read fine print on a small, fast-moving object before it's hidden again in a little leather check presenter?

Do we hope to misremember 5 years as a customer and 20 on the blacklist as 25 wonderful years?
To some people it's just the nostalgia, or the loyalty, or they simply like seeing how long they've been a customer of Amex for. If it's not your cup of tea, that's fine, but there's no reason to be condescending towards others who deem it important.

Especially at work... if I get challenged to whip out my Amex to see who's got the longest Member Since date.