topic Re: Timing of Amex Backdating Request in Credit Cards

Timing of Amex Backdating Request

Ubuntu — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 21:47:25 GMT

I've read dozens of Amex backdating threads and I'm still not quite sure about the best time to attempt backdating.

To start I had an Amex that was opened in 1994 and was closed in 2002 for being a few months delinquent. I paid it off shortly thereafter and it appeared on my credit reports for years as "Pays as Agreed" and "Closed by Credit Grantor". I do have the original account number.

Yesterday I was approved for both a PRG and a BCP. As of right now I can login and see the PRG but the BCP doesn't appear yet.

The member since date at the top of the screen currently says 2014. That makes it look like my account didn't auto backdate as I was hoping it would. Since I just applied yesterday and the BCP doesn't even appear it seems possible that the process hasn't completed yet and the backdate could still happen on it's own.

My question is should I be patient and wait until I get both of my cards in the mail before trying to get the backdate or should I do it ASAP before they waste the effort of producing cards that will just need to be reissued in a few weeks (hopefully)? I'm sure the cost is negligible to them based on the bonus offers they give but I hate to see wasted effort. I'd also like to avoid the accounts reporting with a 2014 open date and then changing to an earlier one. I don't know if that would hurt me at all but I'd still prefer to avoid it.

I know I could just call and ask so what I'm looking for is advice to avoid rocking the boat. Thanks.

Re: Timing of Amex Backdating Request

Anonymous — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 21:51:23 GMT

@Ubuntu wrote:
I've read dozens of Amex backdating threads and I'm still not quite sure about the best time to attempt backdating.

To start I had an Amex that was opened in 1994 and was closed in 2002 for being a few months delinquent. I paid it off shortly thereafter and it appeared on my credit reports for years as "Pays as Agreed" and "Closed by Credit Grantor". I do have the original account number.

Yesterday I was approved for both a PRG and a BCP. As of right now I can login and see the PRG but the BCP doesn't appear yet.

The member since date at the top of the screen currently says 2014. That makes it look like my account didn't auto backdate as I was hoping it would. Since I just applied yesterday and the BCP doesn't even appear it seems possible that the process hasn't completed yet and the backdate could still happen on it's own.

My question is should I be patient and wait until I get both of my cards in the mail before trying to get the backdate or should I do it ASAP before they waste the effort of producing cards that will just need to be reissued in a few weeks (hopefully)? I'm sure the cost is negligible to them based on the bonus offers they give but I hate to see wasted effort. I'd also like to avoid the accounts reporting with a 2014 open date and then changing to an earlier one. I don't know if that would hurt me at all but I'd still prefer to avoid it.

I know I could just call and ask so what I'm looking for is advice to avoid rocking the boat. Thanks.

The cards ESP the PRG -are already produced. You can notify them now but they will not reship corrected cards until 10 days after the original set due to security. If I were you, I would just wait and do it at once- save yourself two calls/chats

Re: Timing of Amex Backdating Request

Marcos8 — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 22:17:41 GMT

I've had my BCP since October and I called them practically immediately to tell them that I had a previous relationship w Amex and actually received my backdated card in the mail even before the original card. I waited about 48hr after my approval to call them.

Re: Timing of Amex Backdating Request

Kenny — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 22:19:40 GMT

It's never a bad idea just to do it on chat -- very easy and painless process. They normally also send you replacement cards without notifying you that arrive via Fedex or UPS quite quickly. This is the method I usually 100% recommend.

Re: Timing of Amex Backdating Request

Anonymous — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 22:20:43 GMT

@Marcos8 wrote:
I've had my BCP since October and I called them practically immediately to tell them that I had a previous relationship w Amex and actually received my backdated card in the mail even before the original card. I waited about 48hr after my approval to call them.

Ok but the OP has two cc's coming and the PRG ships expedited. He'll have to call back after ten days to have the date corrected. If he doesn't care about the dates on the cards, then he can call now.

Re: Timing of Amex Backdating Request

Anonymous — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 22:27:21 GMT

Pardon my ignorance, but I'm still trying to understand why this matters. I also had an AMEX account when I was in college. What is the benefit to me of having my new AMEX cars backdated to 1999?

Re: Timing of Amex Backdating Request

heyarrnold — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 22:34:37 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Pardon my ignorance, but I'm still trying to understand why this matters. I also had anAMEX account when I was in college. What is the benefit to me of having my newAMEX cars backdated to 1999?

The correction will also happen on you credit reports. Meaning that if you have a low AAOA, and a massive backdated card, your AAOA will increase significantly and so will your score.

Re: Timing of Amex Backdating Request

Anonymous — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 22:37:25 GMT

"The correction will also happen on you credit reports. Meaning that if you have a low AAOA, and a massive backdated card, your AAOA will increase significantly and so will your score."

Now THAT is worth it. Calling them NOW! Thank you!

Re: Timing of Amex Backdating Request

Anonymous — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 22:41:53 GMT

So that didn't go well. I was told that since I wasn't an AMEX cardholder that entire time, my Member Since date stands as it is.

Re: Timing of Amex Backdating Request

heyarrnold — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 22:43:50 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
So that didn't go well. I was told that since I wasn't anAMEX cardholder that entire time, my Member Since date stands as it is.

Go online, start a chat, and ask for your member since date to be corrected. Do not mention the term "backdated."

Re: Timing of Amex Backdating Request

H14 — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 22:49:49 GMT

I would wait for your cards to arrive. My MSD date didnt change until I activated the card. If after that it doesn't change then you can contact them. (I don't consider the year physically printed on the card to matter so much, just a cosmetic benefit.)

Re: Timing of Amex Backdating Request

hizzaah — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 22:53:12 GMT

I got my BCE card last month. I had been an AU on my Mom's account in 2009. I asked for my member since date to be corrected via chat and they asked what it showed on my credit report. I told them that I was an AU and it said date opened 2003, reported since 2009 which is when I had my card. They ended up backdating me to when my mom opened her account in 2003! I initiated this request the day that I was approved and I received both cards on the same day. Good luck!

Re: Timing of Amex Backdating Request

heyarrnold — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 22:56:57 GMT

@hizzaah wrote:
I got my BCE card last month. I had been an AU on my Mom's account in 2009. I asked for my member since date to be corrected via chat and they asked what it showed on my credit report. I told them that I was an AU and it said date opened 2003, reported since 2009 which is when I had my card. They ended up backdating me to when my mom opened her account in 2003! I initiated this request the day that I was approved and I received both cards on the same day. Good luck!

You got lucky. The backdating of AU's to the original CM's MSD is a policy, from what I understand, that ended long ago.

Re: Timing of Amex Backdating Request

hizzaah — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 23:20:24 GMT

@heyarrnold wrote:
@hizzaah wrote:
I got my BCE card last month. I had been an AU on my Mom's account in 2009. I asked for my member since date to be corrected via chat and they asked what it showed on my credit report. I told them that I was an AU and it said date opened 2003, reported since 2009 which is when I had my card. They ended up backdating me to when my mom opened her account in 2003! I initiated this request the day that I was approved and I received both cards on the same day. Good luck!
You got lucky. The backdating of AU's to the original CM's MSD is a policy, from what I understand, that ended long ago.

A few others have said they go by what the policy was when you were an AU.

Re: Timing of Amex Backdating Request

Ubuntu — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 04:23:12 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Marcos8 wrote:
I've had my BCP since October and I called them practically immediately to tell them that I had a previous relationship w Amex and actually received my backdated card in the mail even before the original card. I waited about 48hr after my approval to call them.
Ok but the OP has two cc's coming and the PRG ships expedited. He'll have to call back after ten days to have the date corrected. If he doesn't care about the dates on the cards, then he can call now.

Thanks to all who replied. I couldn't come up any real reason to to rush this except for instant gratification so I've decided to wait until I have both cards in hand. Then I'll most likely ask for my MSD to be corrected via chat. If that doesn't go well I'll call.

Re: Timing of Amex Backdating Request

Ubuntu — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 04:30:10 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
So that didn't go well. I was told that since I wasn't an AMEX cardholder that entire time, my Member Since date stands as it is.

I missed this reply earlier... Wow! That's awful. I've always know there was a chance that backdating won't work but based on all of the success stories I've come to assume it will even if I have to jump through a few hoops. If you try again please let us know how it goes.

Re: Timing of Amex Backdating Request

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 06:11:24 GMT

@heyarrnold wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
So that didn't go well. I was told that since I wasn't anAMEX cardholder that entire time, my Member Since date stands as it is.
Go online, start a chat, and ask for your member since date to be corrected. Do not mention the term "backdated."

I'll try that. I didn't use the term backdating, either.

Re: Timing of Amex Backdating Request

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 06:12:46 GMT

@Ubuntu wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
So that didn't go well. I was told that since I wasn't an AMEX cardholder that entire time, my Member Since date stands as it is.
I missed this reply earlier... Wow! That's awful. I've always know there was a chance that backdating won't work but based on all of the success stories I've come to assume it will even if I have to jump through a few hoops. If you try again please let us know how it goes.

And to be clear, this works for people even if they didn't have an account with AMEX for years between cards?

Re: Timing of Amex Backdating Request

heyarrnold — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 06:20:13 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Ubuntu wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
So that didn't go well. I was told that since I wasn't an AMEX cardholder that entire time, my Member Since date stands as it is.
I missed this reply earlier... Wow! That's awful. I've always know there was a chance that backdating won't work but based on all of the success stories I've come to assume it will even if I have to jump through a few hoops. If you try again please let us know how it goes.
And to be clear, this works for people even if they didn't have an account with AMEX for years between cards?

Yes. They should honor the request without a problem. But if they, for some reason, want proof, just have that ready. But it's really a painless task that generally depends on the CR.

Re: Timing of Amex Backdating Request

takeshi74 — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 16:11:34 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
And to be clear, this works for people even if they didn't have an account with AMEX for years between cards?

Yes. I didn't have any AmEx cards from ~2000 through 2012 but the two cards I applied for in 2013 were backdated to my MSD of 1998.