Hilton Honors American Express Business Card - Declined

[Citylights18]

Recently had my app declined on this one stating I had too many AMEX cards and too many of one type.

6 AMEX cards overall.

5 Business Cards.

3 Regular Revolver (BBC, BBP, Marriott)

2 Store Revolver (Amazon, Lowe's)

What am I up against? Is it the maxium number overall of AMEX cards? I thought the AMEX max for revolver was 4 but I have 5. I haven't spoken to the CSR about it but I will later today when I have time.

[FinStar]

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@Citylights18 wrote:

Recently had my app declined on this one stating I had too many AMEX cards and too many of one type.

6 AMEX cards overall.

5 Business Cards.

3 Regular Revolver (BCE, BCP, Marriott)

2 Store Revolver (Amazon, Lowe's)

What am I up against? Is it the maxium number overall of AMEX cards? I thought the AMEX max for revolver was 4 but I have 5. I haven't spoken to the CSR about it but I will later today when I have time.

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Just FYI - AENB doesn't differentiate anything labeled as "store revolver" vs "regular revolver". Revolving accounts are revolving accounts, regardless -- personal and/or business. 

What you're up against is the number of revolving accounts that AENB is willing to approve you in aggregate, regardless of how many you have as personal or business. Currently, the known 'soft' limit is 5. Though, not an officially published policy by AENB, since anything in excess of that number is at their discretion.

While some profiles can exceed that 'soft' restriction, it's all profile-specific.

If you're interested in the HH biz card, you would need to entertain closing an existing revolving account for consideration.

[Citylights18]

It sounds like I have to close a revolver to open a revolver. Was thinking my Marriott card but I really needed to close the card first. After checking my free night on the card it does expire until November so maybe I should keep it.

Then I don't believe I can apply for 30 days after a decline from AMEX and be approved even if I close the card.

[FinStar]

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@Citylights18 wrote:

It sounds like I have to close a revolver to open a revolver. Was thinking my Marriott card but I really needed to close the card first. After checking my free night on the card it does expire until November so maybe I should keep it.

Then I don't believe I can apply for 30 days after a decline from AMEX and be approved even if I close the card.

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Since you currently have BCE + BCP, perhaps consider reallocating the limit on whichever one you intend to keep and close one of them -- as long as either of them are 12+ months in age or whenever a SUB was awarded. I'm assuming you're the primary cardholder on both BCE + BCP?

[Citylights18]

Update 1/25:

Finally got the CSR on the phone about this. The language I heard used was lending accounts (e.g. revolvers) and non lending accounts (e.g. charge cards). Yes I was told that if I wanted to open up another lending account I would have to close one of my 5 lending accounts. If I wanted to add something else like a Business charge card it would be no problem.

I asked if I really had to wait 30 days to reaply as the initial notice because I didn't see the point of discontinuing one of my cards if I couldn't apply for another one until another month or two passes by. They said I could go straight back to the Hilton application if I were to close one of my cards. I selected to close my Marriott card due to the $125 AF, poor redemption rates in Marriott and lack of perks for the Business Hilton with priority pass select and a lower $95 fee.

The next step I moved what remained of my limit on the Marriott card over to my BCE down to 1,000 and then proceeded to close it. Then I was transfered over to the application team and they told me it would be 3 to 5 business days before I will know but I was informally told by the lending team that it would be all but given I would be approved with my excellent credit.

[Citylights18]

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@FinStar wrote:

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@Citylights18 wrote:

It sounds like I have to close a revolver to open a revolver. Was thinking my Marriott card but I really needed to close the card first. After checking my free night on the card it does expire until November so maybe I should keep it.

Then I don't believe I can apply for 30 days after a decline from AMEX and be approved even if I close the card.

---

Since you currently have BCE + BCP, perhaps consider reallocating the limit on whichever one you intend to keep and close one of them -- as long as either of them are 12+ months in age or whenever a SUB was awarded. I'm assuming you're the primary cardholder on both BCE + BCP?

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To me the BCE+BCP are not exactly redundant products as one earns MR while the other gives you cash back. At the moment I have a 12 month APR promotion on the BCE until October and if I close my AMEX Green I want to keep the BCP around as a MR earning card.

Another advantage of what I'm doing here by picking up the Hilton and replacing the Marriott is I'm able to score another SUB without having to take a hard credit pull. I like that AMEX has a enhance transfer ratio to Hilton and I've transfered MR before to redeem for a free night. I can still take a Marriott transfer bonus from AMEX/Chase if I want down the road. All I am really giving up is Marriott status and yes they are the biggest chain but when you have Hilton/IHG/Hyatt/Choice w/ Citi I think one can survive. Plus annual hotel credits with CSP/Citi Premier to also snack on.

[FinStar]

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@Citylights18 wrote:

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@FinStar wrote:

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@Citylights18 wrote:

It sounds like I have to close a revolver to open a revolver. Was thinking my Marriott card but I really needed to close the card first. After checking my free night on the card it does expire until November so maybe I should keep it.

Then I don't believe I can apply for 30 days after a decline from AMEX and be approved even if I close the card.

---

Since you currently have BCE + BCP, perhaps consider reallocating the limit on whichever one you intend to keep and close one of them -- as long as either of them are 12+ months in age or whenever a SUB was awarded. I'm assuming you're the primary cardholder on both BCE + BCP?

---

To me the BCE+BCP are not exactly redundant products as one earns MR while the other gives you cash back. At the moment I have a 12 month APR promotion on the BCE until October and if I close my AMEX Green I want to keep the BCP around as a MR earning card.

Another advantage of what I'm doing here by picking up the Hilton and replacing the Marriott is I'm able to score another SUB without having to take a hard credit pull. I like that AMEX has a enhance transfer ratio to Hilton and I've transfered MR before to redeem for a free night. I can still take a Marriott transfer bonus from AMEX/Chase if I want down the road. All I am really giving up is Marriott status and yes they are the biggest chain but when you have Hilton/IHG/Hyatt/Choice w/ Citi I think one can survive. Plus annual hotel credits with CSP/Citi Premier to also snack on.

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@Citylights18 

I believe there's some confusion on the credit card products' abbreviations. BCE (Blue Cash Everyday) and BCP (Blue Cash Preferred) are in the same cashback family that includes Cash Magnet on the personal side -- none of the latter earn MRs. Conversely, ED and EDP are the MR-earning cards. So you may want to edit your original post if you got your AmEx products mixed up... or look at your cards from your collection to confirm the actual types.