topic Re: Amex Optima offer/approval criteria in Rebuilding Your Credit

Amex Optima offer/approval criteria

Mainee — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 14:11:26 GMT

Hello,

Today I recieved an email to settle my balance for less or PIF and recieve the Optima card once the balance is zero'd. I owe approx $1600 on my C/O Delta Reserve Card. I contacted support and asked to see if the orginal card could be reinstated under financial relief/military hardship. Assuming that doesnt happen, I'd proceed with the Optima option.

My only concern is that I have some other derogs on my report, and I wont have all of them settled or disputed (inaccuracies) in time before my amex arrangement is complete and I send in the app.

Will Amex take this additional derog debt into consideration when approving me for the Optima or is it a sort of guranteed approval that comes with the program?

Re: Amex Optima offer/approval criteria

Jeffster1 — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 09:56:36 GMT

@Mainee wrote:
Hello,

Today I recieved an email to settle my balance for less or PIF and recieve the Optima card once the balance is zero'd. I owe approx $1600 on my C/O Delta Reserve Card. I contacted support and asked to see if the orginal card could be reinstated under fiancial relief/military hardship. Assuming that doesnt happen, I'd proceed with the Optima option.

My only concern is that I have some other derogs on my report, and I wont have all of them settled or disputed (innacuries) in time before my amex arrangement is complete and I send in the app.

Will Amex take this additional derog debt into consideration when approving me for the Optima or is it a sort of guranteed approval that comes with the program?

If they are offering you Optima...and many who are blacklisted by Amex would happily trade places with you...they will not consider you for a Delta Reserve...or any other Amex card...until you have completed the Optima program.

I am sure others will chime in on whether an offer of an Optima is a likely approval or not.

Re: Amex Optima offer/approval criteria

Linnaea — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 13:48:50 GMT

I am jealous. I paid in full without the Optima offer. I called every number ... I wrote emails to executive office. Because I didn't prenegotiate ...NO soup for me. Now i just app every 7 days.

Dont quote me I think they will give it to you... it's the graduating to another card that may be dictated by your credit report.

Re: Amex Optima offer/approval criteria

Linnaea — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 13:47:44 GMT

I am jealous. I paid in full without the Optima offer. I called every number ... I wrote emails to executive office. Because I didn't prenegotiate ...NO soup for me. Now i just app every 7 days. Id go for it if I was you. I did the right thing and I should of waited for a temptation offer. I did my penance with no bribery. I hope and Amex reads this... I am heartbroken. Amex offers me predator Credit One with a 75-95 AF. Go for it.

Dont quote me I think they will give ot to you... it's the graduating to another card that may be bictated by your credit report.

Re: Amex Optima offer/approval criteria

coldworld — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 19:22:32 GMT

@Mainee wrote:
Hello,

Today I recieved an email to settle my balance for less or PIF and recieve the Optima card once the balance is zero'd. I owe approx $1600 on my C/O Delta Reserve Card. I contacted support and asked to see if the orginal card could be reinstated under financial relief/military hardship. Assuming that doesnt happen, I'd proceed with the Optima option.

My only concern is that I have some other derogs on my report, and I wont have all of them settled or disputed (inaccuracies) in time before my amex arrangement is complete and I send in the app.

Will Amex take this additional derog debt into consideration when approving me for the Optima or is it a sort of guranteed approval that comes with the program?

Based on what I've read here, Amex doesn't do a whole lot of negiotiating. You should pay the debt and take the Optima offer. Your counteroffer may cause them to say nevermind and just blacklist you.

Re: Amex Optima offer/approval criteria

GZG — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 19:30:14 GMT

@Mainee wrote:
Hello,

Today I recieved an email to settle my balance for less or PIF and recieve the Optima card once the balance is zero'd. I owe approx $1600 on my C/O Delta Reserve Card. I contacted support and asked to see if the orginal card could be reinstated under financial relief/military hardship. Assuming that doesnt happen, I'd proceed with the Optima option.

My only concern is that I have some other derogs on my report, and I wont have all of them settled or disputed (inaccuracies) in time before my amex arrangement is complete and I send in the app.

Will Amex take this additional derog debt into consideration when approving me for the Optima or is it a sort of guranteed approval that comes with the program?

they wouldn't have offered optima if they didn't want you to have it, they've surely pulled your report and know your other derogs, if you're able, PIF and take the card and work towards getting a clean profile and always paying on time in the future

$1600 that you already owe is a small amount to not have amex if you want them back in the future

Re: Amex Optima offer/approval criteria

Jeffster1 — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 19:53:13 GMT

@Mainee I consider myself as having been fortunate...despite my having IIB AMEX...to not end up on the Amex BL. Admittedly, I was in a 13 which ended up as a 100% plan so I could emerge from BK 1.5 years early. I got back in with Amex at 61 months after filing, and they have been very good to me since. My Amex cards are in my signature, and as soon as my BK drops off, I will pursue CLIs. Given their generosity thus far, I expect to see some progress in that area.

HOWEVER...in the one year between my early DC and when I hit 61 months post-filing, I read a lot on this forum about the Optima program. At the time, I had no idea if I would EVER get back in with Amex. If things had not worked out the way they did for me, I would have JUMPED at the opportunity to get in with Optima. I was jealous at the time of those being offered Optima because I really did think I would never get back in, and because I knew they only offered Optima under certain circumstances which did not apply to my situation.

In short, DO IT. Don't hesitate. This opportunity may not come back again. This forum contains many posts by people not being able to get back in for years, and even decades.

Re: Amex Optima offer/approval criteria

Mainee — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 20:18:10 GMT

Unfortunely I think this is what happened. I saw your message and took your advice and that email now redirects me to a page telling me to call customer service. it is no longer being handled by Amex collections. womp womp womp they move quick!

Re: Amex Optima offer/approval criteria

Jeffster1 — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 20:04:49 GMT

@Mainee wrote:
Unfortunely I think this is what happened. I saw your message and took your advice and that email now redirects me to a page telling me to call customer service. it is no longer being handled by Amex colections. womp womp womp they move quick!

@Mainee Call them. I'd be on the phone with them already.

Sending you positive vibes for good luck.

Re: Amex Optima offer/approval criteria

Mainee — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 20:19:02 GMT

@Jeffster1 wrote:
@Mainee wrote:
Unfortunely I think this is what happened. I saw your message and took your advice and that email now redirects me to a page telling me to call customer service. it is no longer being handled by Amex colections. womp womp womp they move quick!
@Mainee Call them. I'd be on the phone with them already.

Sending you positive vibes for good luck.

@Jeffster1 Ive been on the phone for the past 2 hours lol. bouncing back in forth between collections and regular customer service.

Apparently its being handled by someone who deals with military relations, so they are moving the account arround in response to my initial request it seems. maybe itll get reinstated, maybe I burned my options on getting the Optima...its all in limbo now and im freaking out lol

Re: Amex Optima offer/approval criteria

Jeffster1 — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 20:24:36 GMT

@Mainee wrote:
@Jeffster1 wrote:
@Mainee wrote:
Unfortunely I think this is what happened. I saw your message and took your advice and that email now redirects me to a page telling me to call customer service. it is no longer being handled by Amex colections. womp womp womp they move quick!
@Mainee Call them. I'd be on the phone with them already.

Sending you positive vibes for good luck.
@Jeffster1 Ive been on the phone for the past 2 hours lol. bouncing back in forth between collections and regular customer service.

Apparently its being handled by someone who deals with military relations, so they are moving the account arround in response to my initial request it seems. maybe itll get reinstated, maybe I burned my options on getting the Optima...its all in limbo now and im freaking out lol

I'm keeping the good vibes going for you. The power of positive thinking. Keep the faith! I see an Optima in your future.

Re: Amex Optima offer/approval criteria

coldworld — Sun, 06 Aug 2023 07:47:23 GMT

I'm invested in this story now. I hope OP lets us know how it ends.

Re: Amex Optima offer/approval criteria

Graythalamus1 — Sun, 06 Aug 2023 20:38:21 GMT

Hello OP,

is Amex proper handling your account, or is it the "outside agency"?

Would like to know if they re-extend their optima offer

thank you

Re: Amex Optima offer/approval criteria

Mainee — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 21:37:22 GMT

I haven't heard back from Amex yet, but I'll be giving them a courtesy call in the morning. I will definitely keep this post updated as more info/data comes in!

Re: Amex Optima offer/approval criteria

Mainee — Sat, 02 Sep 2023 05:10:11 GMT

Update :/

CS mishandled my account and I'm now being assisted by an Executive Assistant after reaching out to the CEO...Fingers crossed I get my Optima!

Re: Amex Optima offer/approval criteria

7774x — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 22:26:49 GMT

@Linnaea wrote:
I am jealous. I paid in full without the Optima offer. I called every number ... I wrote emails to executive office. Because I didn't prenegotiate ...NO soup for me. Now i just app every 7 days. Id go for it if I was you. I did the right thing and I should of waited for a temptation offer. I did my penance with no bribery. I hope and Amex reads this... I am heartbroken. Amex offers me predator Credit One with a 75-95 AF. Go for it.

Got many an offer from Optima Card, after payment of amex accounts....read the whole letter /offer ..you will need the finanical resources ,good credit, able to pay Optima ...before receiving card. Hang in there for Optima Card. Vague it can be,,Amex has no other relationship with Credit One , other than giving their name and processing Credit One charges.. Credit One???? .. Many a thread here about credit one

Dont quote me I think they will give ot to you... it's the graduating to another card that may be bictated by your credit report.

Re: Amex Optima offer/approval criteria

Mainee — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 06:13:49 GMT

Update!!!

I got my offer back! After a lengthy waiting period, I received my offer again and entered an arrangement to pay the past due balance. I plan to pay this off sooner than agreed, so I should have my Optima prior to the end of the calendar year!

Re: Amex Optima offer/approval criteria

Jeffster1 — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 06:19:41 GMT

CONGRATS! Your persistence paid off! Great to hear!

Re: Amex Optima offer/approval criteria

Mainee — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 06:37:35 GMT

Thank you! I was losing hope lol, but as you said "the power of positive thinking!"

Re: Amex Optima offer/approval criteria

Jeffster1 — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 06:39:31 GMT

@Mainee wrote:
Thank you! I was losing hope lol, but as you said "the power of positive thinking!"

🎯 🎯 🎯

You did it!