topic Re: Getting brave w/ Amex spending ability in Credit Cards

Getting brave w/ Amex spending ability

ramblin_wreck08 — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 20:10:25 GMT

As much as the Amex charge "check spending ability" button is feared for FR implications, it can also be very useful. Looking at an engagement ring, I put in $5k and was approved. Typical charges have averaged around $1.3k per month.

Just wondering how brave some of you have been, particularly in relation to average monthly spend on the card. At 4x, I sort of feel like I was pushing it a little.

Re: Getting brave w/ Amex spending ability

OhioCPA — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 20:11:57 GMT

I was declined for 1,000,000. Approved for 60,000.

Max on card was 10,000.

Re: Getting brave w/ Amex spending ability

jsickz32 — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 20:19:01 GMT

I was approved for 10k on both Green and GoldPR. They are both canceled now

Re: Getting brave w/ Amex spending ability

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:00:17 GMT

I've been approved for up to 7500-8000 on the Zync even though I barely use the card. Average monthly spend is only about $100 of which most are recurring charges.

Re: Getting brave w/ Amex spending ability

LionLaw — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:22:57 GMT

The "check spending ability" button is always mysterious and fascinating. Given how often amex SPs its members, I'm sure your current util % is a factor; while you might get approved for a 10K purchase if you have plenty of available credit, you might not if you've maxed out $25K in revolvers.

I tested my limits a little the first few months after I got my Zync. I was approved for $8K, and I never went any higher than that. My biggest balance ever was about $3500, and I don't imagine I'll have a balance that high very often. I always pay the same day my statement cuts, if that makes a difference. Now that I've got 7 months of cardmembership under my belt, I might test the waters a little bit, just out of curiosity.

Re: Getting brave w/ Amex spending ability

ramblin_wreck08 — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:27:21 GMT

Seeing all these responses makes me tempted to go back in tonight and try $10k out of curiosity.

Re: Getting brave w/ Amex spending ability

cashnocredit — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:46:25 GMT

Several months after I got my Plat. I used the button. I needed to make a purchase for a bit over 20k and it was nice to know they would (and did) approve it. Previously the max I charged was 4k at any one time and was averaging about 7k/mo but I hadn't had the card very long so it seemed prudent to check first.

Re: Getting brave w/ Amex spending ability

ramblin_wreck08 — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 22:47:41 GMT

@LionLaw wrote:
The "check spending ability" button is always mysterious and fascinating. Given how often amex SPs its members, I'm sure your current util % is a factor; while you might get approved for a 10K purchase if you have plenty of available credit, you might not if you've maxed out $25K in revolvers.

I tested my limits a little the first few months after I got my Zync. I was approved for $8K, and I never went any higher than that. My biggest balance ever was about $3500, and I don't imagine I'll have a balance that high very often. I always pay the same day my statement cuts, if that makes a difference. Now that I've got 7 months of cardmembership under my belt, I might test the waters a little bit, just out of curiosity.

I'm at 5 months of cardmembership and have been using this as my daily. While the ring caused me to test $5k, curiosity caused me to test $10k (approved). Now I really am just curious where my internal limit is, but I'm too afraid of poking the bear to try again right now.

Re: Getting brave w/ Amex spending ability

nickn86 — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 22:57:07 GMT

Are there any confirmed stories of anyone getting an FR as a result of using this feature?

Re: Getting brave w/ Amex spending ability

OhioCPA — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 23:14:09 GMT

No.

Re: Getting brave w/ Amex spending ability

Walt_K — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 23:39:16 GMT

I've put $25K through, but it was for a real charge. I don't think there is any reason to worry about using this for a purchase you are actually contemplating. Using it as a toy is what is generally discouraged. Even if it won't lead to FR, I think it's still pretty silly to play around with it.

Re: Getting brave w/ Amex spending ability

pdog661 — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 03:26:54 GMT

I put 35 K through and it was approved.

I do not think you get the FR unless you hit the button a ton, and then run a huge charge through it.

IE you usually use your charge card for 2-3K a month. Hit the button till it locks you out (obvisouly I have hit the button numerous times!) and then run 25K through on 1 charge.

Re: Getting brave w/ Amex spending ability

Open123 — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 03:30:17 GMT

Somewhere in Amex, there's gotta be a person whose wondering if this "button" was a good idea.

Re: Getting brave w/ Amex spending ability

ramblin_wreck08 — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 03:49:20 GMT

@Open123 wrote:
Somewhere in Amex, there's gotta be a person whose wondering if this "button" was a good idea.

Haha. I just have to wonder how they could put this feature in place and then punish you for using it. Doesn't make sense to me.

Re: Getting brave w/ Amex spending ability

Revelate — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 03:50:21 GMT

@ramblin_wreck08 wrote:
@Open123 wrote:
Somewhere in Amex, there's gotta be a person whose wondering if this "button" was a good idea.
Haha. I just have to wonder how they could put this feature in place and then punish you for using it. Doesn't make sense to me.

Cash advances work similarly in many people's experience. Just because a lender allows you to do something, doesn't always mean you should .

Re: Getting brave w/ Amex spending ability

nicholasyud — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 04:28:29 GMT

First month check $4k approved 5k declined

Run about 1.8k first month

Second month : run 200

thirth month : check approved for 8k go for 10k declined....

Re: Getting brave w/ Amex spending ability

score_building — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 06:13:19 GMT

@ramblin_wreck08 wrote:
@Open123 wrote:
Somewhere in Amex, there's gotta be a person whose wondering if this "button" was a good idea.
Haha. I just have to wonder how they could put this feature in place and then punish you for using it. Doesn't make sense to me.

use vs. misuse

Re: Getting brave w/ Amex spending ability

LionLaw — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 14:30:33 GMT

I thought there was a story on here a while back where someone got a call from amex after using the spending button 4 or 5 times for gradually smaller amounts and getting declined each time... I don't remember if it turned into a full FR, but amex definitely took note.

Re: Getting brave w/ Amex spending ability

webhopper — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 14:35:54 GMT

I don't see a reason to use it unless you actually want to charge the amount that you type in. Otherwise you could call customer service and find out the same information.

Tool vs. Toy

Re: Getting brave w/ Amex spending ability

linux007969 — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 20:24:42 GMT

Out of curiosity I just tried it for $1,000 and it was approved "based on the information available at this time" which is good to know i could at least charge up to $1,000 if needed.