topic Re: AMEX question in Credit Cards

AMEX question

Anonymous — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 18:53:25 GMT

I couldn't find a definite answer in other backdating threads I searched through; so here it is:

If I already have an existing account with AMEX that was opened this year and I had my aunt add me onto her AMEX account that was opened like 14 years ago, do you think they would backdate my individual account if I asked? I've read that it would work if it was done the opposite way (sequentially), but I couldn't find anything with this exact scenario. Anyone have experience with this or something similar?

Re: AMEX question

DI — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 23:10:04 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I couldn't find a definite answer in other backdating threads I searched through; so here it is:

If I already have an existing account with AMEX that was opened this year and I had my aunt add me onto her AMEX account that was opened like 14 years ago, do you think they would backdate my individual account if I asked? I've read that it would work if it was done the opposite way (sequentially), but I couldn't find anything with this exact scenario. Anyone have experience with this or something similar?

Your personal AMEX account shares no history with your Aunt's AMEX card. Your account won't be backdated.

Re: AMEX question

vanillabean — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 23:56:02 GMT

@DI wrote:

Your personal AMEX account shares no history with your Aunt's AMEX card. Your account won't be backdated.

I'm not sure, but that would depend on what you mean by "shares no history".

Re: AMEX question

Anonymous — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 23:59:39 GMT

it would backdated, same year as your au card, call them

Re: AMEX question

DI — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 00:17:44 GMT

It cannot be backdated per a friend who works for AMEX. Those are two different accounts belonging to two different people. Maybe if you get a Customer Care Professional who hasn't been at AMEX long... they probably can attempt to to backdate the acccount and it may go through.

Re: AMEX question

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 04:29:55 GMT

My wife's only prior relationship to Amex before applying for Zync this summer was that she was an AU of two of my Amex CCs.

When she got the card I was disappointed because it said "Member Since 10" on the card face, but I activated it for her online and it said "member since 2001."

We called up Amex and they sent out a new card with "Member Since 01".

So, they do backdate for AUs, but I have no clue what their criteria are.

Re: AMEX question

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 04:36:19 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
My wife's only prior relationship to Amex before applying for Zync this summer was that she was an AU of two of my Amex CCs.

When she got the card I was disappointed because it said "Member Since 10" on the card face, but I activated it for her online and it said "member since 2001."

We called up Amex and they sent out a new card with "Member Since 01".

So, they do backdate for AUs, but I have no clue what their criteria are.

Out of curiousity, does her Zync report as if it was opened in 01?

Re: AMEX question

vanillabean — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 04:41:48 GMT

A question occured to me. If an Amex card is dated member since some given year, is it then safe to say the CRA reported opened date for the card is the same year?

Re: AMEX question

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 04:42:49 GMT

I'm trying to check on that. I don't know if I have a copy of her reports recent enough to confirm.

Re: AMEX question

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 10:02:00 GMT

When I received my Zync in August it came with a member since date of 10, when I registered online it said I was a member since since 89. I was an AU back in 89. I called AMEX and within 2 days I had a new card with a member since date of 89. My TU score went up 16 points due to the 21 year credit history.

Hope this helps.

Re: AMEX question

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 12:39:02 GMT

As long as AMEX reports the opening date on your credit report as some previous mature date, who cares what the card says! Unless all you're into is bragging rights that says your account is really established, the credit reporting history is the most valuable benefit.

Re: AMEX question

haulingthescoreup — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 17:34:06 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
As long as AMEX reports the opening date on your credit report as some previous mature date, who cares what the card says! Unless all you're into is bragging rights that says your account is really established, the credit reporting history is the most valuable benefit.

I think the question was asking the reverse: if you can get them to change the date on the card, does that mean that they will automatically change the date reported to the CRA's?

I got a bit tangled up there, lol.

Re: AMEX question

Anonymous — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 04:03:47 GMT

My wife's Zync card finally reported to one of the bureaus (EX), and it was backdated to 8/2001:

AMERICAN EXPRESS
Address:
PO BOX 981537
EL PASO, TX 79998
(800) 874-2717

Account Number: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Address Identification Number:XXXXXXXXXX
Status: Open/Never late.
Date Opened: 08/2001
Reported Since: 09/2010
Date of Status: 09/2010
Type: Revolving
Terms: 1 Months
Monthly Payment: $0
Credit Limit/Original Amount: NA
High Balance: $156
Recent Balance: $156 as of 09/2010
Last Reported: 09/2010
Responsibility: Individual
Recent Payment: $0

Re: AMEX question

vanillabean — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 04:22:23 GMT

That's very interesting!

Re: AMEX question

ShootingStar — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 19:02:52 GMT

I wonder if she gained any points.....

Re: AMEX question

Anonymous — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 19:08:36 GMT

It hasn't appeared on EQ yet, so no Scorewatch new account notification or score change alert yet.

I'm hoping it helps.

Re: AMEX question

vanillabean — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 20:08:01 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
My wife's only prior relationship to Amex before applying for Zync this summer was that she was an AU of two of my Amex CCs.

When she got the card I was disappointed because it said "Member Since 10" on the card face, but I activated it for her online and it said "member since 2001."

We called up Amex and they sent out a new card with "Member Since 01".

So, they do backdate for AUs, but I have no clue what their criteria are.

It occured to me that the whole thing may depend on that your wife became an AU in 2001, not just that you have been a member since 2001. I take it that's the case?

Re: AMEX question

Anonymous — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 20:29:37 GMT

I added her as an AU to my Blue card sometime between 6/30/2010 to 7/15/2010. That was the beginning of her Amex history.

Since then, I added her as an AU to my rarely used Amex Cash Rebate card and my new Amex HHonors card (this one hasn't reported yet at all since I got it this month).

I've probably taken this AU thing to the extreme, but she's now an AU on five of my cards with pristine history. Altogether they:

Adds 1 year 1 month to the length of her credit history and 6 months to her AAoA

Give her four oldest trade lines

Drops her utilization significantly

Allowed Amex to backdate her new Amex

I'm still waiting for everything to report, but -- so far -- the net effect of credit grooming has been:

11/11/2009 - 680 TU Fico
4/19/2010 - 697 TU Fico
7/15/2010 - 714 TU Fico | 695 EQ Fico

Re: AMEX question

vanillabean — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 20:52:18 GMT

So every time your wife is later added as AU on one of your accounts, her card is listed on her credit reports with the opening date that you see for your card on your credit reports?

Re: AMEX question

Anonymous — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 20:53:11 GMT

Yes!