topic Re: Is American Express still using Experian? in Credit Cards

Is American Express still using Experian?

Viper786 — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:19:56 GMT

I am about to apply for an Amex BCE but I am waiting for a payment of $2400 on my Barcalycard to show up on my reports. My statement posted on 1/12 and I just got an alert that my score went up in Scorewatch and I'm pretty sure it's because my new balance hit EQ. I have no way to check my Experian report currently without buying a new one. I updated my CreditKarma and Barclay still has not reported to them.

If they are still exclusively pulling Experian, I think I will go ahead and apply, if they're doing TU then I will have to wait and keep updating my Credit Karma everyday until it posts.

Re: Is American Express still using Experian?

Ron1 — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:23:01 GMT

Yes, they pulled EXP as of earlier this month.

Ron.

Re: Is American Express still using Experian?

CopperHD — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:24:40 GMT

Yup they Pulled Experian for me last week

Re: Is American Express still using Experian?

OhioCPA — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:28:30 GMT

For existing card members Amex does not pull a credit report as part of the approval process. They will rely on a previous soft pull. Therefore, you might want to wait for them to SP your file if you are worried about utilization.

Re: Is American Express still using Experian?

Duncanrr — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:28:53 GMT

1/2/13 pulled EX for my BCP approval.

Re: Is American Express still using Experian?

Viper786 — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:40:05 GMT

@OhioCPA wrote:
For existing card members Amex does not pull a credit report as part of the approval process. They will rely on a previous soft pull. Therefore, you might want to wait for them to SP your file if you are worried about utilization.

Oh really? I was not aware of this. I was really trying to apply for this card in January for maximum backdating. Maybe i'll wait until the 29th or so to apply. Anyone know how often they soft? As of my last EXP report (which I obtained on 1/1/2013), the last time amex soft pulled me was 11/21/2012, 11/01/12, and 8/16/2012. Seems to be random to me.

Re: Is American Express still using Experian?

injustifiiable — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:38:09 GMT

Unfortunately, yes. lol

Re: Is American Express still using Experian?

CopperHD — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:51:47 GMT

I thought that Amex only uses a Soft if declined for current members and a Hard pull if approved. It says that they pulled my score on the 10th when i was approved.

Re: Is American Express still using Experian?

OhioCPA — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:31:14 GMT

@CopperHD wrote:
I thought that Amex only uses a Soft if declined for current members and a Hard pull if approved. It says that they pulled my score on the 10th when i was approved.

Once you are approved they will do the HP. A little bit backward but it saves current members from getting a HP for a declined card. I suppose the approval is somewhat conditional on the HP, but I have never heard of anyone being declined after a HP.

Re: Is American Express still using Experian?

Revelate — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 22:43:28 GMT

@OhioCPA wrote:
@CopperHD wrote:
I thought that Amex only uses a Soft if declined for current members and a Hard pull if approved. It says that they pulled my score on the 10th when i was approved.
Once you are approved they will do the HP. A little bit backward but it saves current members from getting a HP for a declined card. I suppose the approval is somewhat conditional on the HP, but I have never heard of anyone being declined after a HP.

It does happen for marginal applications in some cases, much like the multiple pulls. This is pretty darned rare though, <1% even.

FWIW I still think I have one of the most absurd BCP approvals ever until I see my letter from Amex stating I have a much higher EX FICO or similar than I can rationally expect, and EX was the only report pulled, so the double pull is pretty uncommon, and the HP denial is even less common than that.

Re: Is American Express still using Experian?

Viper786 — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 22:53:18 GMT

Thanks for all the replies!

I have had an Amex Zync since 4/2011 with perfect payment history. Since my last soft pull from Amex was back in November, I am pretty sure my Utilization was relatively high (~40%). My util right now is close to 1%. According to Credit Karma, my TU FAKO is 654 (no idea why so low) and my FICO Scorewatch alert from today says my score is a 715. Credit Sesame (which i believe is EX) showed my FAKO as being 690 but this was earlier in the month before I paid off the $2400 balance on my Barclay so it had a utilization of around 25% across my cards.

I really want to get this card in January but it seems if I apply now, they will use my report details from my soft pull from November and my guess is my score with my util that high was probably around 680ish or so.

Let's say I apply today and they do not approve me. Do I have to wait 60 days before I can re-apply?

Re: Is American Express still using Experian?

Revelate — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 22:57:54 GMT

@Viper786 wrote:
Thanks for all the replies!

I have had an Amex Zync since 4/2011 with perfect payment history. Since my last soft pull from Amex was back in November, I am pretty sure my Utilization was relatively high (~40%). My util right now is close to 1%. According to Credit Karma, my TU FAKO is 654 (no idea why so low) and my FICO Scorewatch alert from today says my score is a 715. Credit Sesame (which i believe is EX) showed my FAKO as being 690 but this was earlier in the month before I paid off the $2400 balance on my Barclay so it had a utilization of around 25% across my cards.

I really want to get this card in January but it seems if I apply now, they will use my report details from my soft pull from November and my guess is my score with my util that high was probably around 680ish or so.

Let's say I apply today and they do not approve me. Do I have to wait 60 days before I can re-apply?

31 days after a denied application; seriously though with Amex's policies of almost always getting a SP for a denial you I'd just take the shot. I did even not expecting to be approved and look what it got me

As long as you don't have a hard limit Zync I don't see where you have anything holding you back, and unlike mine you're actually qualified from the commonly held underwriting perspective. Your report is prettier, your Amex membership is longer established, and your FICO score is significantly higher than mine.

Edit: for established accounts (6+ months I think) Amex traditionally SP's once every two months; wait for a week or two till 1/25ish and make the application would be my recommendation.

Re: Is American Express still using Experian?

Viper786 — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 23:09:50 GMT

@Revelate wrote:

31 days after a denied application; seriously though with Amex's policies of almost always getting a SP for a denial you I'd just take the shot. I did even not expecting to be approved and look what it got me
As long as you don't have a hard limit Zync I don't see where you have anything holding you back, and unlike mine you're actually qualified from the commonly held underwriting perspective. Your report is prettier, your Amex membership is longer established, and your FICO score is significantly higher than mine.
Edit: for established accounts (6+ months I think) Amex traditionally SP's once every two months; wait for a week or two till 1/25ish and make the application would be my recommendation.

Thank you for the recommendations. I find it odd that I have never received a targetted offer from American Express considering I've been with them for almost 2 years now.

You mention that Amex traditionally SP's once every 2 months but on my EX report, I had 2 in November and then one in August so based on that, I find it unlikely that they'll do a soft pull this month. But I may also be biased because the urge to apply for this card is getting harder and harder to resist! I might just end up pulling the trigger tonight or tomorrow.

Worst case scenario: I don't get approved, they'll have a newer report with the soft pull from my application and I appy again in February and get it backdated to 2/11 instead of 1/11!

Re: Is American Express still using Experian?

Viper786 — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 23:28:38 GMT

Well, I could no longer resist and applied. After I applied I got the under review message and that they will let me know by mail and I got disappointed.

I did a status check on their website and it says approved! I'm pretty excited! Is there a way I can find out how much I am approved for?

Re: Is American Express still using Experian?

ceemee2203 — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 23:38:30 GMT

@Viper786 wrote:
Well, I could no longer resist and applied. After I applied I got the under review message and that they will let me know by mail and I got disappointed.

I did a status check on their website and it says approved! I'm pretty excited! Is there a way I can find out how much I am approved for?

Call them?

Re: Is American Express still using Experian?

Revelate — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 01:29:39 GMT

@Viper786 wrote:
Well, I could no longer resist and applied. After I applied I got the under review message and that they will let me know by mail and I got disappointed.

I did a status check on their website and it says approved! I'm pretty excited! Is there a way I can find out how much I am approved for?

This is par for the course for a lot of people these days. Congrats!

Re: Is American Express still using Experian?

Viper786 — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 01:33:33 GMT

Thank you!

I just called to find out my limit and it's $2000. I was hoping to get a little more than that, but oh well, there's always the 61 day 3x CLI to look forward to

Re: Is American Express still using Experian?

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 01:48:04 GMT

@Revelate wrote:
@OhioCPA wrote:
@CopperHD wrote:
I thought that Amex only uses a Soft if declined for current members and a Hard pull if approved. It says that they pulled my score on the 10th when i was approved.
Once you are approved they will do the HP. A little bit backward but it saves current members from getting a HP for a declined card. I suppose the approval is somewhat conditional on the HP, but I have never heard of anyone being declined after a HP.
It does happen for marginal applications in some cases, much like the multiple pulls. This is pretty darned rare though, <1% even.

FWIW I still think I have one of the most absurd BCP approvals ever until I see my letter from Amex stating I have a much higher EX FICO or similar than I can rationally expect, and EX was the only report pulled, so the double pull is pretty uncommon, and the HP denial is even less common than that.

I guess I'm just lucky. This happened to me on a BCE app in November. i have a gold card. Amx HP'd all 3 CR and denied me. Sucked!

viper, congrats on the new card.

Re: Is American Express still using Experian?

chnceit — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 03:55:59 GMT

@Viper786 wrote:
Thank you!

I just called to find out my limit and it's $2000. I was hoping to get a little more than that, but oh well, there's always the 61 day 3x CLI to look forward to

Congrats! 6K after 61 days will be awesome!