topic Re: What triggers an Amex FR? in Credit Cards

What triggers an Amex FR?

ObeyJohnny12 — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 04:05:38 GMT

Hello everybody.

I just wanted to know what makes Amex FR you. What do they ask from you? Does every Amex card holder go through in or can you prevent it? Since I'm new to Amex i just want a heads up if it happens to me.

Thanks!

Re: What triggers an Amex FR?

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 04:43:03 GMT

They have their own formula for discerning between high risk individuals, just be responsible and honest and you won't have a problem.

Re: What triggers an Amex FR?

sakhalin070 — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 06:15:11 GMT

Also, don't play with the "Check Your Spending Ability" too much (or put an exorbitant amount).

Re: What triggers an Amex FR?

Involus — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 06:24:58 GMT

@sakhalin070 Oops... I played with it one day. Put in $1000 - Approved and increased it buy $1000 until it denied me and said 'you can no longer make this request online - please call ######### to make this request'....on the day I activated my card. ;o

Re: What triggers an Amex FR?

chnceit — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 07:17:07 GMT

IMO debt pyramiding and asking way to much from AMEX

Re: What triggers an Amex FR?

distantarray — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 07:19:04 GMT

requesting a CLI of 25k+

Re: What triggers an Amex FR?

llecs — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 15:38:14 GMT

My one and only FR was triggered by a failed purchase attempt at a law office, or so said the Amex CSR.

Re: What triggers an Amex FR?

distantarray — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 15:42:47 GMT

@llecs wrote:
My one and only FR was triggered by a failed purchase attempt at a law office, or so said the Amex CSR.

did a potential lawsuit scare them? =)

DAMN AMEX ISN"T GIVE ME MY CLI I DESERVE!!! ;p

Re: What triggers an Amex FR?

SwiftTone — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 15:46:14 GMT

@sakhalin070 wrote:
Also, don't play with the "Check Your Spending Ability" too much (or put an exorbitant amount).

I'm not sure how true that is. I have a BCE with $5400 since Oct. I've played with that button for the 5 weeks, once every week. Putting in $10k, $8k, $6k. It's okay me for $6k, a couple times $8k and never $10k.

Haven't been FRed yet. I know that I'm "playing with fire". But honestly, I'm not worried about FR as everything on app was true.

Re: What triggers an Amex FR?

GoldenloveNY — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:10:48 GMT

Usually, FR is trigger due to a huge spending pattern change (i.e., shopping in Macy's, Whole Foods Market, to shopping in cheap clothing stores and regular supermarkets) or charging more than the income you gave them in your app. Just be honest, and charge your daily expenses in accordance with what you put in your app in terms of your annual income. Start a pattern early and stick to it, and if you have any concerns about a charge going through, just call them. I also heard that AMEX don't like using their cards in law firms. That might be another trigger.

Welcome to the Amex family, where the FR bogeyman is always lurking in our wallets. Boooooo........

Re: What triggers an Amex FR?

llecs — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:11:54 GMT

@distantarray wrote:
@llecs wrote:
My one and only FR was triggered by a failed purchase attempt at a law office, or so said the Amex CSR.
did a potential lawsuit scare them? =)

It was for starting a biz. I guess the legal fee triggered a fear in Amex that I was in legal trouble or something like that.

Re: What triggers an Amex FR?

GoldenloveNY — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:15:30 GMT

@sakhalin070 wrote:
Also, don't play with the "Check Your Spending Ability" too much (or put an exorbitant amount).

True. I mean that feature is there for a reason. Any cardholder should use in case they are going out and what to charge something outside their daily charges (don't want to go to a restaurant and be declined..LOL), but I think some people over do it by typing a insane amount. If you type in $10,000, and your annual income is $20,000, I am sure that will raise a eyebrow....

Re: What triggers an Amex FR?

GoldenloveNY — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:17:32 GMT

@llecs wrote:
@distantarray wrote:
@llecs wrote:
My one and only FR was triggered by a failed purchase attempt at a law office, or so said the Amex CSR.
did a potential lawsuit scare them? =)
It was for starting a biz. I guess the legal fee triggered a fear in Amex that I was in legal trouble or something like that.

What's funny is that I was in a law office the other day getting some papers fax, and I was going to pay the guy with my Amex. I took it out, was about to give to the man, but then I remembered I was in a law office....lol.

Re: What triggers an Amex FR?

bluesnowman — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 19:43:10 GMT

There are many things that can cause an FR from what I have read.

1. Unusual amounts of spending (i.e. you make 40k a year but this month you charged 6k, they are worried how you are going to be able to pay them back.)

2. Messing around with the Check your spending ability button more then 2-3 times in a week. Yes they watch how many times you punch in a number and the amount.

3. Your income changes.

4. trying to pyramid debt

As long as you were honest on the app and dont have the desire to spend like crazy and have them watch you like a hawk, you should be okay.