topic Re: Does AMEX remember past history in Credit Cards

Does AMEX remember past history

WJL — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 19:17:28 GMT

Hi all - I used to hold AMEX Gold 10 years ago, but AMEX shut it down because I couldn't make the payments and it went into collection. I've paid the balance in settlement about 5 years ago. I do not see AMEX in my credit repot anymore and I'm interested in opening an AMEX account again, but wondering if I apply again, will AMEX see what happened before and just deny me? Looking forward to your many insights. Thanks!

Re: Does AMEX remember past history

Anonymous — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 19:27:47 GMT

Although many have gotten to open an account after a charge off or include in banko, its the exception, not the rule. The rule is, with Amex, they never forget. I have read about people re-apping after a c/o in the 80's, and being declined to previous negative history with Amex.

Re: Does AMEX remember past history

Anonymous — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 19:30:09 GMT

It's true, AMEX has a very long memory but there are exceptions to any rule. Permanent blacklisting does exist for some, but for others, they are allowed back in the fray. The WORST that can happen should you decide to apply, they flat out deny you for having a negative history with them. No inquiry, no worries.

Re: Does AMEX remember past history

Anonymous — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 19:37:29 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
It's true, AMEX has a very long memory but there are exceptions to any rule. Permanent blacklisting does exist for some, but for others, they are allowed back in the fray. The WORST that can happen should you decide to apply, they flat out deny you for having a negative history with them. No inquiry, no worries.

If you apply and are on their blacklist, they won't even pull a CB report.

Re: Does AMEX remember past history

KIPPIE12 — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 21:50:31 GMT

I thought if you burned Amex in the past by NOT paying them in full, that you are blacklisted? It you paid them in full, they would be more inclined to welcome you back in the future.. I always assumed, for some, that if you applied after burning them in the past, that they would opt to put you on the Oasis program to pay them off, then after sometime you could graduate to a mainstream card product with them?

Maybe one of our Fico veterans could chime in, as i thought there was a topic sometime ago regarding this?

Re: Does AMEX remember past history

Anonymous — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 21:54:50 GMT

@KIPPIE12 wrote:
I thought if you burned Amex in the past by NOT paying them in full, that you are blacklisted? It you paid them in full, they would be more inclined to welcome you back in the future.. I always assumed, for some, that if you applied after burning them in the past, that they would opt to put you on the Oasis program to pay them off, then after sometime you could graduate to a mainstream card product with them?

Maybe one of our Fico veterans could chime in, as i thought there was a topic sometime ago regarding this?

Not always true

There doesn't seem to be any logic to the length of the blacklist nor will there be any definitive conclusion. It could be random, it could be luck. It could be THEY want you as a customer so they are willing to forego any previous wrongdoing.

The Oasis program didn't guarantee card membership either and not many CSRs would acknowledge that. It's a mystery.

Re: Does AMEX remember past history

Anonymous — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 22:13:35 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

@KIPPIE12 wrote:
I thought if you burned Amex in the past by NOT paying them in full, that you are blacklisted? It you paid them in full, they would be more inclined to welcome you back in the future.. I always assumed, for some, that if you applied after burning them in the past, that they would opt to put you on the Oasis program to pay them off, then after sometime you could graduate to a mainstream card product with them?

Maybe one of our Fico veterans could chime in, as i thought there was a topic sometime ago regarding this?
Not always true

There doesn't seem to be any logic to the length of the blacklist nor will there be any definitive conclusion. It could be random, it could be luck. It could be THEY want you as a customer so they are willing to forego any previous wrongdoing.

The Oasis program didn't guarantee card membership either and not many CSRs would acknowledge that. It's a mystery.

+1. I've lit up the boards lately about having been approved for a Green card even though I have an upaid CO from 20 years ago. And I know for a fact that they are aware that my old account exists. I have no idea why they approved me, but I'm happy that they did. Everything that I've heard, though, indicates that this is the exception rather than the rule.

Re: Does AMEX remember past history

dude11 — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 22:36:04 GMT

Maybe I can give you some hope. I used to have the Blue card from 07 till 09 when it got cancelled and suspended. It went into collections but I paid in full to a CA till the end of 09. I applied for the Zync card in Feb of this year and got approved. However, a 500 hard limit with AutoPay was imposed but at least I got my foot back in the door.

Re: Does AMEX remember past history

trumpet-205 — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 22:57:11 GMT

AMEX does blacklist those who abused their cards, but who they balcklist is somthing we never know. It could be random, or a pattern we average consumers are not seeing.

Re: Does AMEX remember past history

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:48:33 GMT

@WJL wrote:
Hi all - I used to hold AMEX Gold 10 years ago, but AMEX shut it down because I couldn't make the payments and it went into collection. I've paid the balance in settlement about 5 years ago. I do not see AMEX in my credit repot anymore and I'm interested in opening an AMEX account again, but wondering if I apply again, will AMEX see what happened before and just deny me? Looking forward to your many insights. Thanks!

If you've caused AmEx a financial loss, the odds are stacked against you until you pay 100% of the debt.

AmEx most certainly does blacklist. Though some make it back in, that is the exception rather than the rule.

Re: Does AMEX remember past history

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 02:31:04 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

@KIPPIE12 wrote:
I thought if you burned Amex in the past by NOT paying them in full, that you are blacklisted? It you paid them in full, they would be more inclined to welcome you back in the future.. I always assumed, for some, that if you applied after burning them in the past, that they would opt to put you on the Oasis program to pay them off, then after sometime you could graduate to a mainstream card product with them?

Maybe one of our Fico veterans could chime in, as i thought there was a topic sometime ago regarding this?
Not always true

There doesn't seem to be any logic to the length of the blacklist nor will there be any definitive conclusion. It could be random, it could be luck. It could be THEY want you as a customer so they are willing to forego any previous wrongdoing.

The Oasis program didn't guarantee card membership either and not many CSRs would acknowledge that. It's a mystery.

+++ 1

Words of wisdom.

After all, it's business...not personal.

Re: Does AMEX remember past history

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 04:00:21 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:

@KIPPIE12 wrote:
I thought if you burned Amex in the past by NOT paying them in full, that you are blacklisted? It you paid them in full, they would be more inclined to welcome you back in the future.. I always assumed, for some, that if you applied after burning them in the past, that they would opt to put you on the Oasis program to pay them off, then after sometime you could graduate to a mainstream card product with them?

Maybe one of our Fico veterans could chime in, as i thought there was a topic sometime ago regarding this?
Not always true

There doesn't seem to be any logic to the length of the blacklist nor will there be any definitive conclusion. It could be random, it could be luck. It could be THEY want you as a customer so they are willing to forego any previous wrongdoing.

The Oasis program didn't guarantee card membership either and not many CSRs would acknowledge that. It's a mystery.
+++ 1

Words of wisdom.

After all, it's business...not personal.

Exactly. For instance, I know that they've been softing me for months on Experian, sometimes multiple times per month. I caught their attention, most likely because my scores started to go up. My reports showed steady, continuous improvement over the course of a year. The only thing that I can think of that makes any sense about my approval was that they decided that, whatever past problems I've had, I finally managed to get my act together and had become an acceptable risk. The loss that I caused them with the CO was only a few hundred dollars (not including 20 years worth of accrued interest). With all of the costs associated with gaining a new customer -- advertising, incentives, promotions -- they must have decided that it was worth their while to forgive the old debt and send me out an invitation to apply.

I know for a fact that they did not forget the old debt because they sent me a settlement offer a few months ago, when my credit first started to show signs of improvement. But, since my debt with them was well past the SOL for collections, I decided that it was in my own best interests to exercise my legal right to ignore the settlement offer and instead continue throwing all of my available resources at paying down more recent debt. So, the pre-approval offer really took me by surprise, and the resulting approval floored me.

In the end, it must have come down to a business decision for them. There's no emotion involved in this sort of thing, no "she stiffed us and we're mad!" It's all about what is going to be good for their bottom line from this point forward. The "bean counters" must have decided that I was worth the risk. And I have every intention of not giving them cause to regret that decision.

Re: Does AMEX remember past history

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 04:11:44 GMT

CO on a Gold Biz I had with them. Back in 2002 I suppose. BK due to fall off in 2/12.

Everything else clean with a CreditSecure FAKO EX of 732.

Approved for green this past May. Rejected back in 11/2009. Both were online apps.

Even got my account backdated to 2000 since that is what the website showed me when I activated the card lol.

Still trying to backdate to my first green, from 1991. That was perfectly clean and I closed it for some silly reason back in the mid 90's.

Re: Does AMEX remember past history

WJL — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 04:46:49 GMT

Thank you all so much for your responses. I feel much more aware of the situation now! Is the main benefit of being able to backdate your AMEX card that your length of credit history will be that much longer?

Re: Does AMEX remember past history

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 04:53:47 GMT

Yes.

Good luck with everything, WJL! Please let us know how you make out.

Re: Does AMEX remember past history

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:45:44 GMT

I agree. Amex has a good memory. I closed Amex green but still me online banking acount is active and it shows Amex green in it as closed.

Re: Does AMEX remember past history

tntexans72 — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 22:06:24 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
CO on a Gold Biz I had with them. Back in 2002 I suppose. BK due to fall off in 2/12.

Everything else clean with a CreditSecure FAKO EX of 732.

Approved for green this past May. Rejected back in 11/2009. Both were online apps.

Even got my account backdated to 2000 since that is what the website showed me when I activated the card lol.

Still trying to backdate to my first green, from 1991. That was perfectly clean and I closed it for some silly reason back in the mid 90's.

How were you able to successfully get it backdated? Did Amex give you a hard time?

I am trying to figure out if I can get Amex to backdate my new Amex CC. However, I was only a AU on the card about 15yrs ago.

Anyone confirm this or have success in trying to get Amex to backdate when they were just an AU?

Thanks in advance........

Re: Does AMEX remember past history

bichonmom — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 22:14:59 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
It's true, AMEX has a very long memory but there are exceptions to any rule. Permanent blacklisting does exist for some, but for others, they are allowed back in the fray. The WORST that can happen should you decide to apply, they flat out deny you for having a negative history with them. No inquiry, no worries.

Last year, I app'd for Costco Amex and was denied. They did a hard inq on my EX and sent me a letter w/reasons for denial. So, from this, can I assume that I am NOT blacklisted from my cards I had w/them in the 80s that were CO? And, I could potentially therefore be approved in the future?

Re: Does AMEX remember past history

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 22:20:05 GMT

@bichonmom wrote:

@Anonymous wrote:
It's true, AMEX has a very long memory but there are exceptions to any rule. Permanent blacklisting does exist for some, but for others, they are allowed back in the fray. The WORST that can happen should you decide to apply, they flat out deny you for having a negative history with them. No inquiry, no worries.
Last year, I app'd for Costco Amex and was denied. They did a hard inq on my EX and sent me a letter w/reasons for denial. So, from this, can I assume that I am NOT blacklisted from my cards I had w/them in the 80s that were CO? And, I could potentially therefore be approved in the future?

Assuming current knowledge and experience with the Blacklist are accurate, yes, you are free to apply.

Re: Does AMEX remember past history

bichonmom — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 22:28:01 GMT

Thank you. That gives me some hope that I'll have a Costco Amex one day.