AMEX Applications - Hard pull or soft pull for current account holders? Which bureau?

[ngerasimatos]

I am looking to add a few AMEX cards to my portfolio to get better travel rewards and hotel status. I currently have an AMEX Gold Rewards and a Starwood card, which I think is now the Marriot Bonvoy. If I was to apply for other cards, such as Delta, would they do a soft or hard pull? Also, what credit bureau do they prefer to use? I have all of my credit locked down so I would have to thaw out whatever bureaus they need to access. 

Thanks! 

[Anonymous]

Owned an Amex for 12 yrs and was SP approved for the HH last May.

[ngerasimatos]

Which bureau did they pull? 

[Anonymous]

DPs suggest it can be either. But, it seems they can/will HP if they want. I only have one AMEX, so I’m not sure what happens on the second app. Definitely YMMV with it.

[spiritcraft1]

I wonder what happens if you app with your reports locked if already a card holder?

[FinStar]

OP, for best results, thaw your CR. AmEx tends to pull EX. And, while a variety of outcomes can lead to SP approvals, there are reported instances where it can still be HP. So, YEMV.

[Bestman79]

Last month I applied for 2nd Amex, HH. Expecting a SP boy was I wrong. Immediately after approval received HP alert from Experian. Best of wishes to you. F8 score was 717

[coldfusion]

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@FinStar wrote:
OP, for best results, thaw your CR. AmEx tends to pull EX. And, while a variety of outcomes can lead to SP approvals, there are reported instances where it can still be HP. So, YEMV.

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I'm one of the cardholders who has taken multple HP from AMEX - one each for card #1, #4, and #8, none for cards 9-13.    There are other regulars on this site with similar stories.   No discernable pattern for me to have an idea why those specific applications triggered a HP. 

[FinStar]

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@coldfusion wrote:

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@FinStar wrote:
OP, for best results, thaw your CR. AmEx tends to pull EX. And, while a variety of outcomes can lead to SP approvals, there are reported instances where it can still be HP. So, YEMV.

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I'm one of the cardholders who has taken multple HP from AMEX - one each for card #1, #4, and #8, none for cards 9-13.    There are other regulars on this site with similar stories.   No discernable pattern for me to have an idea why those specific applications triggered a HP. 

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Yep, fairly similar outcomes on many AmEx CCs I've applied for over the years, whether it's a charge card or a revolver.  I simply just expect the HP, but if it ends up being an SP approval, then fantastic 😁

[Anonymous]

Apped for 2nd Amex card and approved without hp. I was logged into app and it stated my name and I was pre approved.