topic Re: Amex won't backdate? in Credit Cards

Amex won't backdate?

manzanita — Thu, 30 May 2013 18:58:27 GMT

Hi everyone - I did some work to clean up my report in the beginning of the year - with lots of help from this forum ..thanks so much! - and gardened for a few months. I received an offer for an Amex PRG card, so I took it since one of my goals, outside of healthy credit, is to start earning rewards points for travel.

Anyway, back when I was very young and dumb I signed up for an Amex Blue Student card. This was in 2001. Things were fine for a bit, but in 2003 it did not end well. It was not a CO that I can remember. I am 99% sure it was a payment for less than full amount. In any case, it was taken care of. Anyway, in 2005, I noticed that it appeared to be reporting with a balance, so I called AMEX to say I'm pretty sure that's wrong. The lady verified that there was some kind of error and the trade line itself disappeared soon after.

Ok thats the background. After looking around on this site, I thought I'd call and ask nicely about being backdated to 2001. They told me they had guidelines that prevented this from happening. It was a bt of a weird conversation, where the rep was being a little unclear and was saying that they used 2013 to give me a clean slate with them. Maybe he didnt want to embarass me about my past history wth them...though I'm not embarassed - it was so long ago it's almost as if it happened to a different person, and it was at least dealt with before CO. When I asked if it would harm my current relationship with them to have the old date included, he said no. But then he said it couldnt be done anyway.

Thats a bummer, because I've seen other cases on this site where people have been backdated after a CO and bankruptcy. I know that's anecdotal, and I don't want to be a jerk, but it would be nice to have that 2001 membership date. Can anyone shed some light on this? Is this guy right? Should I be a good customer for awhile and then try again?

Also, how do charge cards work in terms of credit reports? How are they viewed? I know I've read there's *some* prestige with Amex in that other lenders view it as a good thing on a report (if it's in good standing of course) but I'm a wondering how the almost debit card nature of the account will read on the report.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Re: Amex won't backdate?

RyVision — Thu, 30 May 2013 19:09:14 GMT

@manzanita wrote:
Hi everyone - I did some work to clean up my report in the beginning of the year - with lots of help from this forum ..thanks so much! - and gardened for a few months. I received an offer for an Amex PRG card, so I took it since one of my goals, outside of healthy credit, is to start earning rewards points for travel.

Anyway, back when I was very young and dumb I signed up for an Amex Blue Student card. This was in 2001. Things were fine for a bit, but in 2003 it did not end well. It was not a CO that I can remember. I am 99% sure it was a payment for less than full amount. In any case, it was taken care of. Anyway, in 2005, I noticed that it appeared to be reporting with a balance, so I called AMEX to say I'm pretty sure that's wrong. The lady verified that there was some kind of error and the trade line itself disappeared soon after.

Ok thats the background. After looking around on this site, I thought I'd call and ask nicely about being backdated to 2001. They told me they had guidelines that prevented this from happening. It was a bt of a weird conversation, where the rep was being a little unclear and was saying that they used 2013 to give me a clean slate with them. Maybe he didnt want to embarass me about my past history wth them...though I'm not embarassed - it was so long ago it's almost as if it happened to a different person, and it was at least dealt with before CO. When I asked if it would harm my current relationship with them to have the old date included, he said no. But then he said it couldnt be done anyway.

You got a lazy CSR that didn't want to do the work (or didn't know what they're supposed to do, very common lately). Wait a while and call so you get someone else. You might have to get to the Credit Analyst (dept) level.

Thats a bummer, because I've seen other cases on this site where people have been backdated after a CO and bankruptcy. I know that's anecdotal, and I don't want to be a jerk, but it would be nice to have that 2001 membership date. Can anyone shed some light on this? Is this guy right? Should I be a good customer for awhile and then try again?

You did not get "the right guy" you got a rookie or lazy rep. If you can find an old CR or Card with the date, it'll be that much easier as well.

Also, how do charge cards work in terms of credit reports? How are they viewed? I know I've read there's *some* prestige with Amex in that other lenders view it as a good thing on a report (if it's in good standing of course) but I'm a wondering how the almost debit card nature of the account will read on the report.

It will report as a charge card and show the highest balance you allow to report as being the CL.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Also, do NOT use the word "Backdating" in any way! You want "Your original Membership Since Date".
The "Back Date" term confuses the newer reps and "red flags" the experienced reps.

Re: Amex won't backdate?

Walt_K — Thu, 30 May 2013 19:44:59 GMT

I have also been told before that they will not give you the benefit of a membership since date when an account was not closed in good standing. I don't know how to tell whether RyVision is correct that this is due to a misinformed CSR, or whether those who have gotten backdated when their accounts were charged off simply got lucky.

Re: Amex won't backdate?

Azumi1 — Thu, 30 May 2013 20:03:04 GMT

I was recently approved for the amex bce card. They backdated it to 2001, and the only history I have with them is as a au on my brother's account. And I know his account was a CO unpaid.

Re: Amex won't backdate?

Anonymous — Thu, 30 May 2013 20:18:31 GMT

@Walt_K wrote:
I have also been told before that they will not give you the benefit of a membership since date when an account was not closed in good standing. I don't know how to tell whether RyVision is correct that this is due to a misinformed CSR, or whether those who have gotten backdated when their accounts were charged off simply got lucky.

They did so for me. I had an unpaid CO that was 20 years old when they offered me a new card and approved the app. My new account has been backdated to 1987, which is my original membership date. I would check with a different CSR.

Re: Amex won't backdate?

manzanita — Thu, 30 May 2013 20:48:27 GMT

Thanks everyone -

Called again, and the CSR again was completely stumped by the idea that the "Membership Since" date could be changed to the original date of membership. She -like the orginal rep- kept saying "This is a new card, so the date on the card will be from 2013" and I kept explaining that actually, AMEX offers this benefit where they recognize the earlier date, etc...I asked nicely if perhaps I could speak with a higher level, and she fnally checked on it and said "Yes you're right, thanks for telling me about this."

Surprised this is so obscure? I mean, the rep I spoke with in the New Accounts dept knew all about it. Anyway, the CSR said she still couldnt help me because the account was derogatory when it closed. I would say fair enough...but as you have all stated, this is obviously not impossible. I asked several times to be transferred to a higher level and she avoided doing so. I guess I could have angrily demanded to be transferred, but don't want to be a jerk and then ask for a favor. Eventually I got tired of going over the same point, so I let her go.

Sigh. Is this worth calling the Executive Office about? That's the only non-collection back door number I can find. Called new accounts hoping to get a credit analyst and they couldnt help me (though they verified that backdating was absolutely standard.)

Any other ideas?

Re: Amex won't backdate?

Cdnewmanpac — Thu, 30 May 2013 21:45:01 GMT

Just to be clear: do NOT use the word "backdate" or "backdating" in these conversations. I'm pretty sure that using that word triggers a script for the CSRs that ends badly. What you want to say is this," I logged in to my card web site and it says thank you for being a member since 2013. I've been a member since 2001, so was hoping to get that fixed to show the correct year." Be polite, don't argue. Don't talk about how it shows up on your credit report or the card. Just focus on the web site being incorrect. When/if you get that changed, it is a simple call to a 2nd csr asking to have a new card sent to you with the correct member since date. Issuing the new card will trigger the reporting change. It took me 6 months to get mine backdated (to a green card that was closed by lender, but paid in full).

Re: Amex won't backdate?

fairclok — Thu, 30 May 2013 22:16:11 GMT

Caught this thread a the right time.

Amex backdated my New Amex Card to 1996 (previously was a member). I opened the New Amex Card in January of this year 2013 (1/13).

My question is. On my 3 CRs the card reports as opened in 1/13 and only shows on time payments from 1/13. My card has Member Since 1996. How do I get the benefit of backdating on my CR? or is there no benefit to backdating an Amex on my credit report?

Re: Amex won't backdate?

manzanita — Thu, 30 May 2013 22:19:34 GMT

Thanks - this is helpful. I didn't use the b word with the CSR and was really careful not to argue....more like explaining (pretty close to how you suggested). They really seemed to not know. I'm going to let it be for now, be a good customer for a few months, then try again.

Re: Amex won't backdate?

manzanita — Thu, 30 May 2013 22:41:13 GMT

Welp -

Because I'm impatient and have the time this afternoon, I tried one last attempt via their secure message system and took the chat option. I said exactly what had been suggested - I noticed the date was wrong, and I know how Amex likes to acknowledge the original membership date, and would she mind changing it? Not only was the rep NOT confused by the question, she didn't miss a beat looking up my old account and submitting a date change. According to her I will receive new cards with 2001 on them.

So, barring anything else, that might be the end of this story. So far, when it comes to CC customer service it seems chat is the way to go...it's that way for me with Cap 1, and so far with Amex. Thanks everyone for chiming in and encouraging persistence.

Re: Amex won't backdate?

Anonymous — Thu, 30 May 2013 23:02:49 GMT

Great news!

I hope you get a nice score bump.

Added by edit: You also won't take a new account ding!

Re: Amex won't backdate?

manzanita — Thu, 30 May 2013 23:05:57 GMT

Me too!

Just realized that once this hits my reports, it will become my "oldest" revolving account - beating out my Cap 1 platinum card -the first card I got after trashing my credit in college and current oldest open card- by two years.

And now back to gardening.

Re: Amex won't backdate?

LS2982 — Thu, 30 May 2013 23:42:01 GMT

I do not see how it is an issue if AMEX declines to backdate because you burned them in the past. To me its a no brainer. Mayne if yoi paid it off but if you just let it go id say no too.

Re: Amex won't backdate?

Walt_K — Fri, 31 May 2013 00:34:01 GMT

It's still unclear to me if the CSRs who say it isn't done when an account was closed as a derogatory account are correct and the other CSRs are making a gesture of goodwill or just aren't checking into the status of the prior account when making the change, or if there simply is no such policy about prior derogatory accounts, but good to know that people are having success with persistence.

Re: Amex won't backdate?

webhopper — Fri, 31 May 2013 01:05:11 GMT

My husband received his new card with member since 2013 on it and also had trouble registering his new card to his online account which had his two ACM cards on it. We were able to get the correct member since date and the new card added to his existing account and the new card showed up on doorstep in less than 24 hours. Secure chat is definitely very helpful.

DH has been an ACM on zync since march 2012, so the backdating is only one year but still!

Re: Amex won't backdate?

RyVision — Fri, 31 May 2013 01:47:23 GMT

@manzanita wrote:
Welp -

Because I'm impatient and have the time this afternoon, I tried one last attempt via their secure message system and took the chat option. I said exactly what had been suggested - I noticed the date was wrong, and I know how Amex likes to acknowledge the original membership date, and would she mind changing it? Not only was the rep NOT confused by the question, she didn't miss a beat looking up my old account and submitting a date change. According to her I will receive new cards with 2001 on them.

So, barring anything else, that might be the end of this story. So far, when it comes to CC customer service it seems chat is the way to go...it's that way for me with Cap 1, and so far with Amex. Thanks everyone for chiming in and encouraging persistence.

Huge congrats!!

The chat option works a lot like the phone (luck of the draw on who you get) but I think the reps that work through chat are more on top of what's going on, more experienced and have more authority than phone reps.

You'll want to check your CR later to see that the original Member Since date show's as the "date opened" for the account though. Getting the card with the MS Date doesn't guarantee the CR will be reported that way. (It's one of the ways they sometimes attempt to get you to quit bugging them about it but it doesn't do anything for you, so be sure to check the CR).

Re: Amex won't backdate?

RyVision — Fri, 31 May 2013 01:56:46 GMT

@Walt_K wrote:
It's still unclear to me if the CSRs who say it isn't done when an account was closed as a derogatory account are correct and the other CSRs are making a gesture of goodwill or just aren't checking into the status of the prior account when making the change, or if there simply is no such policy about prior derogatory accounts, but good to know that people are having success with persistence.

It's actually another way for them to get around having to do it (it's a common excuse). The fact is, if AMEX takes someone back, it's because past "derogs" are "settled" and you get to keep your original MS date. They know that is the one thing AMEX can do for customers that no other creditor can do, allow them to keep their date of original account. If they feel you're "OK" to be allowed back in, then you're essentially being allowed to "re-open" your credit account with them, it's complicated but all cards etc fall under your original "account" as a member, not an individual TL so to speak.

So essentially, if I understand your last sentence correctly, there is no such policy.

(And you're getting that from as close to "from the inside" as you're ever probably going to).

Re: Amex won't backdate?

Walt_K — Fri, 31 May 2013 13:38:12 GMT

@RyVision wrote:
@Walt_K wrote:
It's still unclear to me if the CSRs who say it isn't done when an account was closed as a derogatory account are correct and the other CSRs are making a gesture of goodwill or just aren't checking into the status of the prior account when making the change, or if there simply is no such policy about prior derogatory accounts, but good to know that people are having success with persistence.
It's actually another way for them to get around having to do it (it's a common excuse). The fact is, if AMEX takes someone back, it's because past "derogs" are "settled" and you get to keep your original MS date. They know that is the one thing AMEX can do for customers that no other creditor can do, allow them to keep their date of original account. If they feel you're "OK" to be allowed back in, then you're essentially being allowed to "re-open" your credit account with them, it's complicated but all cards etc fall under your original "account" as a member, not an individual TL so to speak.

So essentially, if I understand your last sentence correctly, there is no such policy.

(And you're getting that from as close to "from the inside" as you're ever probably going to).

Interesting. Thank you. Most of the time, when I read these threads, the argument is simply that it has been done before for people, so the CSR stating that it can't be done must be wrong. But that's not necessarily the case because the CSR who processed the request for the person with the derogatory account could have been the one who was wrong, or could have been extending goodwill. Interesting to hear that you have this from an inside source.

Re: Amex won't backdate?

manzanita — Fri, 31 May 2013 22:15:42 GMT

@ LS2982 Hi there - I did pay it off before it went into collection. (See original post).

Just catching up with the rest of the thread- my sense from my conversations is that it's not a policy (because was asking them that too, and they wouldnt really say.) Obviously, as I said before I realize that it would be more of a favor. But it never hurts to ask - nicely. And yes, my sense was that I was off the blacklist, and the original closed account has been off my CRs since 2005 (again, they deleted the TL because they had been reporting a balance due in error for a few years). So, my sense is that I was "back in the fold," so why not acknowledge my original start date? That was really my internal thought process - I didn't say that to them of course.

The impression that I got was that I spoke to two different general customer service reps who were unaware that AMEX uses the original membership date for anyone. So they were completely unfamiliar with this. If I had had sterling credit, they still would have balked. So, they went to their supervisor or looked on their company wiki or whatever they did to familiarize themselves. Then they said no. The reps that were familiar (one girl in New Accounts and I'm guessing the rep via chat given how quickly she responded to the request) and therefore didnt have to consult with anyone said yes. Having worked in customer servce myself this makes perfect sense.

Anyway, got an email today showing the cards are on ther way and the my account portal now shows 2001.