topic Re: Amex Denied My Application in Credit Cards

Amex Declined My Application

amdm2013 — Mon, 05 May 2014 06:23:00 GMT

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this forum and I would really like some advice.

I am a non-US citizen, and I've been in the US for 4 years. I do not have an SSN or ITN. I have a valid checking account with Bank of America for over two years, and this year I got approved for 4 credit cards with BofA after one year of having a secured card with them. In addition, I also got approved for a Macy's credit card. I have six credit cards in total.

In May this year, I applied and got approved instantly for the Gold, Platinum and Blue within a period of three days. At that time, I only had two credit cards with BofA.Within ten days, I received a call from the Financial Review Team and were asking for my bank statements. During that time, my income did not appear in my bank statements, so Amex decided to cancel all three cards, and offered me to re-apply after 30 days.

During these last few months, I have sorted out my bank statements and decided to call Amex and apply for the Gold Premier Rewards card. I was surprised that my application was denied. I called Amex after the letter arrived and they said they would review my application after I faxed them my credit report. A week later, they said that they would stand by their original decison (please read below) and would not be able to approve my application.

My FICO score was 701

They said that I had too many 'trades' which I understand to mean 'accounts'

One credit card which had already reached to the max (I have paid off half of it by now)

Accounts where I have paid off the total amounts in a short period of time

Too many inquiries in 12 months

I spoke to Experian and Amex several times, in vain. I used to be a Centurion Card member from the Middle East before arriving to the US. I had an exceptional credit history but Amex were asking for a bank guarantee when I resigned from my job, which I refused to provide, but they kept my account 'blocked' until they decided to cancel the card in 2012. I was a card member since 2001 and began with the Green, Gold, Platinum all the way up to the Black.

I didn't mention this to Amex here, since I did not know how it would effect my application even further.

I am very keen on getting the Amex card, and I a planning on re-applying towards end of October. I was also thinking of faxing my latest credit report to the Financial Review Team, alongwith my 3-month bank statements.

Apologies for my long post. I would really appreciate any advice.

Thanks.

Re: Amex Denied My Application

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 09:33:24 GMT

Welcome to the forum. Sorry for the situation you are in but Amex can and will close accounts if documents are asked for and not received by FR. Amex uses an internal risk score and I would guess that's yours is high. The new accts/inq's , high util , concerns on the funds you have access to and 3accounts they closed 4 mos ago is hard to recon.

Only time is going to help in your situation. Amex finds your behavior risky and they are not interested in giving you a second chance now. I am going to assume that 6 new cc's on an extremely thin file didn't help and your AAOA . Applying in October or anytime soon would be a waste of inquiry IMO.

Good luck if you decide to app.

Re: Amex Denied My Application

azguy13 — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 11:35:09 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Welcome to the forum. Sorry for the situation you are in but Amex can and will close accounts if documents are asked for and not received by FR. Amex uses an internal risk score and I would guess that's yours is high. The new accts/inq's , high util , concerns on the funds you have access to and 3accounts they closed 4 mos ago is hard to recon.

Only time is going to help in your situation. Amex finds your behavior risky and they are not interested in giving you a second chance now. I am going to assume that 6 new cc's on an extremely thin file didn't help and your AAOA . Applying in October or anytime soon would be a waste of inquiry IMO.

Good luck if you decide to app.

I agree completely with the highlighted portion. IMO, I think you should at least a year before applying again. You need that AAoA to increase as well as give your new TLs some time. Also, next time you apply you should make sure all your cards are paid down to an acceptable level so your UTI does not hurt you.

Amex is definitely one of those lenders that you need to have all your ducks in a row before applying.

Re: Amex Denied My Application

amdm2013 — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 02:05:17 GMT

Thank you 09Lexie. I totally agree with you and I think I'll wait for some time. I'm in no hurry, but, I just wanted to get it done and over with it. But, it's worth the wait!

Re: Amex Denied My Application

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 02:15:28 GMT

Are you able to open another card in the middle east? Or Maybe an IDC card? That way you could global transfer into the US and establish history in the US with Amex.

Re: Amex Denied My Application

amdm2013 — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 02:18:28 GMT

Thanks azguy13. I'll definately wait. But, what I don't understand is how I got approved for 3 cards in May, when I only had one Visa card (for 18 months) and a

new BofA Amex card, with limited credit hisory. And now, with 6 six cards, and some movement in my card usage and payment history, and still cannot get approved.

Re: Amex Denied My Application

amdm2013 — Mon, 07 Oct 2013 02:22:49 GMT

Actually, I have contacted Amex Bahrain, where I am from and where the Amex ME is based. They said they will review my case and let me know if I can

get my card re-instated. They will definately ask for a bank or cash guarantee for any amount I want to use my card. I think that would be the only option. The membership fee for the Centurion card in the Middle East is $3,000 only. In the US, its $2,500, with a $7,500 initial joining fee. Will see how things work out. Thanks.

Re: Amex Denied My Application

sjt — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 01:23:29 GMT

How were you able to get credit cards without a SS or TIN number?

Re: Amex Denied My Application

amdm2013 — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 02:09:10 GMT

BofA has this program since 2007 for non-ummigrant as long as you have a valid foreign passport and Id and a US address. Amex allows any person who has the same requirements but should show proof of income such as bank statements.

Re: Amex Denied My Application

mnavas — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 03:02:29 GMT

@amdm2013 wrote:
BofA has this program since 2007 for non-ummigrant as long as you have a valid foreign passport and Id and a US address. Amex allows any person who has the same requirements but should show proof of income such as bank statements.

I know that AMEX lets you apply for any of its cards with an ITIN (if you don't have SSN) but you need to send the original page that IRS gives it to you through the Mail and actually, i contact them about this issue a few months ago and they told me they weren't able to approve anyone without SSN or ITN

Re: Amex Denied My Application

amdm2013 — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 03:11:47 GMT

That's weird. They proceeded with my applications twice without any SSN or ITN. If I only had my bank statements the first time I would have my cards by now. When its transferred for the instant approval they read out a list of types of foreign id's you have.

Re: Amex Denied My Application

mnavas — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 03:24:38 GMT

@amdm2013 wrote:
That's weird. They proceeded with my applications twice without any SSN or ITN. If I only had my bank statements the first time I would have my cards by now. When its transferred for the instant approval they read out a list of types of foreign id's you have.

Maybe they allowed you to do that bacause you were basically transfering the cards from your home country to the US... so the process might be different but when you're applying for the first time with them they ask you for a TIN (ITIN or SSN) .I checked with them twice they always stated an application cannot be fully procesed without an ITIN or SSN

Re: Amex Denied My Application

amdm2013 — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 03:31:51 GMT

I never did any global transfer or provide them with my old card details. When I spoke to them last year they said the same thing about the SSN requirement. I was surprised that they accepted my applications this year.

Re: Amex Denied My Application

mnavas — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 03:44:56 GMT

@amdm2013 wrote:
I never did any global transfer or provide them with my old card details. When I spoke to them last year they said the same thing about the SSN requirement. I was surprised that they accepted my applications this year.

Ok maybe they changed that policy recently and yeah i called last year too and they said a SSN or an ITIN was needed to get approved for their cards. The same concept applies with CITI, Chase, Discover and Capital one. They let you apply with an ITIN if you don't have a SSN. Macys is an exception to this rule they only require you to have an ID like your foreign passport and a debit card to apply and get approve for this card but you need to apply in the Store

Re: Amex Denied My Application

amdm2013 — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 03:53:23 GMT

Actually Capital One has changed their policy. Iapplied this morning and I asked to speak to a superviser. They processed my application and told me to call them on Thurs/Friday for a decision.

Re: Amex Denied My Application

mnavas — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 03:56:32 GMT

@amdm2013 wrote:
Actually Capital One has changed their policy. Iapplied this morning and I asked to speak to a superviser. They processed my application and told me to call them on Thurs/Friday for a decision.

Oh good to know. what Cap 1 card did you apply? Let me know about outcome when a desicion is made...

Re: Amex Denied My Application

amdm2013 — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 04:00:49 GMT

I chose the quicksilver visa with rewards and no annual fee. I will let you know by then. Im positive that in the near future the remaining CC companies will change their policies too.

Re: Amex Denied My Application

mnavas — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 04:10:19 GMT

@amdm2013 wrote:
I chose the quicksilver visa with rewards and no annual fee. I will let you know by then. Im positive that in the near future the remaining CC companies will change their policies too.

Yeah i believe so too. Although it's not that hard to get an ITIIN though.... Some banks like Wells Fargo, US bank, Barclays don't let you get one of their cards, not even with an ITIN. They only accept a SSN because Citizenship or Permanent residence are a must for them to approve you...

How did you apply for the Cap 1 Quicksilver? since the online app ask you for your SSN to submit the app?

Re: Amex Denied My Application

amdm2013 — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 04:20:55 GMT

I cannot apply online. Its all done by phone.

Re: Amex Denied My Application

amdm2013 — Thu, 10 Oct 2013 22:48:48 GMT

Just an update on my Capital One application. It got denied and they told me to wait for the letter and appeal or re-apply after 30 days.

I think it was because I had too many inquiries. Guess, I'm running out of luck!