topic Re: Too Soon for AMEX BCE? in Credit Cards

Too Soon for AMEX BCE?

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 01:01:36 GMT

Hey Guys,

I am looking to apply for a new credit card to use for gas and groceries. I would love to get the AMEX BCE but I am not sure what my chances are. I currently have the Citi Forward that I got back in March with a CL of $3000, but that is my only credit card. I have a few student loans and an auto loan, all in good standing with no baddies.

Credit Score: 733 last time it was pulled from Equifax

Oldest Account: 4 years 3 months (student loan)

AAOA: 2 years 7 months

Inquires: 5 on Equifax, 0 on Experian and Transunion (2 of the inquires are auto loan related and 2 are rental related)

Utility: 12% at last statement cut

Income: 55K

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Let me know if I missed any information that can help predict my chances

Thanks in advance!

Re: Too Soon for AMEX BCE?

Repo-ed — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 01:14:14 GMT

www.whogavemecredit.com

Re: Too Soon for AMEX BCE?

Jake0215 — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 01:24:07 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Hey Guys,

I am looking to apply for a new credit card to use for gas and groceries. I would love to get the AMEX BCE but I am not sure what my chances are. I currently have the Citi Forward that I got back in March with a CL of $3000, but that is my only credit card. I have a few student loans and an auto loan, all in good standing with no baddies.

Credit Score: 733 last time it was pulled from Equifax
Oldest Account: 4 years 3 months (student loan)
AAOA: 2 years 7 months
Inquires: 5 on Equifax, 0 on Experian and Transunion (2 of the inquires are auto loan related and 2 are rental related)
Utility: 12% at last statement cut
Income: 55K

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Let me know if I missed any information that can help predict my chances

Thanks in advance!

Everything looks good except your lack of revolving experience, my hunch is yes for a charge no for a revolver.

Re: Too Soon for AMEX BCE?

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 01:39:54 GMT

Ok, thanks for the reply.

Would taking my utility down to 0% help at all?

Any suggestion on charge card? I had been looking at the Zync until it went away. Would I be better off finding another card to get?

I am wondering if it is worth the inquiry for the chance to get a backdate year of 2012. Since there is only a month and a half left in the year, my revolver won't age that much before 2012 is gone.

Re: Too Soon for AMEX BCE?

Jake0215 — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 01:43:02 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Ok, thanks for the reply.

Would taking my utility down to 0% help at all?

Any suggestion on charge card? I had been looking at the Zync until it went away. Would I be better off finding another card to get?

I am wondering if it is worth the inquiry for the chance to get a backdate year of 2012. Since there is only a month and a half left in the year, my revolver won't age that much before 2012 is gone.

Under 10% will be best, beyond that the results are negligible. That being said your current util prob won't prevent you from being approved... If you don't mind the inquiry go for it, I think the PRG has a promo for a waived annual fee for the first year.

Re: Too Soon for AMEX BCE?

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 01:54:51 GMT

I got the Amex green,BCP and Delta Gold Skymies all within 3 days of one another...bk reporting at 7.5 yrs old....give it a shot......if not approved they will let you knowwhat you need to better your reports in shape...

good luck

Re: Too Soon for AMEX BCE?

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 02:00:59 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Hey Guys,

I am looking to apply for a new credit card to use for gas and groceries. I would love to get the AMEX BCE but I am not sure what my chances are. I currently have the Citi Forward that I got back in March with a CL of $3000, but that is my only credit card. I have a few student loans and an auto loan, all in good standing with no baddies.

Credit Score: 733 last time it was pulled from Equifax
Oldest Account: 4 years 3 months (student loan)
AAOA: 2 years 7 months
Inquires: 5 on Equifax, 0 on Experian and Transunion (2 of the inquires are auto loan related and 2 are rental related)
Utility: 12% at last statement cut
Income: 55K

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Let me know if I missed any information that can help predict my chances

Thanks in advance!

I don't have any Amex experince, but i would think you would get approved. Maybe bring down your util to <9% would help. But i still think you got a good shot.

Re: Too Soon for AMEX BCE?

SnackTrader — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 01:40:02 GMT

OP, your profile looks nearly IDENTICAL to mine. I would love to hear back if you make the decision to apply and what your results are. Good luck!

Re: Too Soon for AMEX BCE?

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 01:42:52 GMT

I would recommend going for it.

Re: Too Soon for AMEX BCE?

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 01:46:43 GMT

Re: Too Soon for AMEX BCE?

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 01:48:40 GMT

I was approved for the regular blue cash and then upgraded to the BCE an hour after activating it. So if you think the BCE will be harder to get, go for the blue.

Re: Too Soon for AMEX BCE?

koalablue — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 01:56:49 GMT

I would apply for the PRG and the BCP at the same time. I think you're a shoe-in for the PRG, and it will most likely be one HP for both. It was for me when I first applied. The BCP has 6% back on groceries, so I'd recommend that over the BCE. You'll easily make the 75 dollar fee back and probably quite a bit more. Good luck!

Re: Too Soon for AMEX BCE?

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 02:20:28 GMT

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I am going to definitely go for either the BCE or BCP. Is the likelihood of getting approved the same on both cards? My next statement cuts on the 18th but I am not sure I can wait that long just to drop me utility if the effect will be negligible.

As far as the PRG, I am not sure I would use it since the rewards seem to overlap quite a bit and the AF is not something I think I could recoup. Is the reason that people apply for both at the same time so that at least they come out of it with one card and it isn't another HP? Is there any other benefit to me getting both cards at the same time that I may be overlooking?

Re: Too Soon for AMEX BCE?

beb86 — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 02:22:04 GMT

Seems like you have a great chance at approval

Re: Too Soon for AMEX BCE?

Yankeefan — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 02:47:01 GMT

Your stats seem to be similar to others that have been approved. Don't be surprised if they start you with a low limit.

Re: Too Soon for AMEX BCE?

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 03:47:05 GMT

I decided to go ahead and apply for the BCP. I figure I don't have anything to lose. Unfortunately the fact that I moved in the last 30 days complicates things. I am in the process of figuring out address verification. I will update again with the decision.

Re: Too Soon for AMEX BCE?

Anonymous — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 00:46:52 GMT

So I still haven't gotten my address verification settled. The CSR told me the quickest way to get my address verified was to give him the name of my bank and my debit card number. I wasn't really comfortable with that so he said the only other way to go about it is to fax proof of address. Anyone know how long this takes after I send the fax?

Is it a good sign that they are asking for this information or has the decision still not been made? In hindsight, I should have just applied under my old address and then, if approved, gotten the card over Thanksgiving.

Re: Too Soon for AMEX BCE?

Jake0215 — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 02:09:24 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
So I still haven't gotten my address verification settled. The CSR told me the quickest way to get my address verified was to give him the name of my bank and my debit card number. I wasn't really comfortable with that so he said the only other way to go about it is to fax proof of address. Anyone know how long this takes after I send the fax?

Is it a good sign that they are asking for this information or has the decision still not been made? In hindsight, I should have just applied under my old address and then, if approved, gotten the card over Thanksgiving.

Why not give them the bank info? You're going to be doing that if approved another way anyway...

Re: Too Soon for AMEX BCE?

Anonymous — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 02:11:56 GMT

@Jake0215 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
So I still haven't gotten my address verification settled. The CSR told me the quickest way to get my address verified was to give him the name of my bank and my debit card number. I wasn't really comfortable with that so he said the only other way to go about it is to fax proof of address. Anyone know how long this takes after I send the fax?

Is it a good sign that they are asking for this information or has the decision still not been made? In hindsight, I should have just applied under my old address and then, if approved, gotten the card over Thanksgiving.
Why not give them the bank info? You're going to be doing that if approved another way anyway...

Well the CSR told him the Debit Card Number. Not the Bank Account Number. I'd be worried too if someone asked me for my debit card number.

Re: Too Soon for AMEX BCE?

Jake0215 — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 02:18:39 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Jake0215 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
So I still haven't gotten my address verification settled. The CSR told me the quickest way to get my address verified was to give him the name of my bank and my debit card number. I wasn't really comfortable with that so he said the only other way to go about it is to fax proof of address. Anyone know how long this takes after I send the fax?

Is it a good sign that they are asking for this information or has the decision still not been made? In hindsight, I should have just applied under my old address and then, if approved, gotten the card over Thanksgiving.
Why not give them the bank info? You're going to be doing that if approved another way anyway...
Well the CSR told him the Debit Card Number. Not the Bank Account Number. I'd be worried too if someone asked me for my debit card number.

I guess you're right, but I still don't think I'd be that worried.