AMEX Everyday or AMEX Blue Cash Everyday?

[Anonymous]

After being blacklisted by AMEX for 10 years, it appears I am now prequalified for the AMEX Everyday Card and AMEX Blue Cash Everyday card.  I am hoping to get opinions from those experienced on here as to which card I am best applying for.

MY GOAL:  Most generous starting credit line and most beneficial and ease of use rewards program.

MY STATS:  I am prequalified.  EX 750, 5 inquiries total, 1 inquiry in the last 6 months. 11% utilization.  no baddies.

I fear they may start me low due to the default 10 years ago, but I want to get back in with them and then there is the 3x cli increases etc.

Thoughts on which card folks prefer?

[Meanmchine]

It all depends on what you prefer.  Amex Everyday (ED) is a rewards or MR based card while Blue Cash Eveyday (BCE) is a cash back card.  BCE is considered one of Amex's easier cards to get. Cash or Rewards, its your choice

Good luck

[Anonymous]

I don’t think it makes a difference as far as a starting limit. You’ll get what you get no matter the card. If you left them high and dry before, expect a low limit. 

As far as ease of use, do you want a simple statement credit or do you want to dabble in MR points? And if you go the MR route it’s best to pair the ED with a PRG or Platinum . Otherwise the Blue Cash is more of a simple, no thought required card.

[MrDisco99]

The BCE has an awkward redemption scheme. Rewards don't show up in your balance until TWO statements later. You can only redeem in $25 increments (most issuers have a minimum but you can redeem any amount above that). You can also only redeem as statement credit. This means you have to have purchases on the following statement or carry a balance in order to redeem rewards from the previous month.

That being said, if you're just starting out with Amex, I'd recommend the BCE over the EveryDay. MR points value vary greatly depending on how you redeem them. You want to have a plan for how you're going to use points before you start collecting them. Cash back value is a lot more easily reckoned.

If you're interested in getting the $200 bonus offer on the BCE, PM me.

[Anonymous]

At our house we have BCE and BCP.  We max  out the grocery on bcp and then switch to bce.  I would  test the water with a bce.   If you spend enough at the grocery some where around $3700 (I am to tired to do the math) then after a while I would get a bcp also.  BCP has $95 fee. After    61 days you can apply  for 3X increase on either.   I have heard of people who burned them got $500 or $1000 limits and after the 61 got the 3X increase  then after another 180 days applied for another 3X increase.   Good luck   The $500 and $1000 limit cards frequently have no spend bonus or 0% apr intro rate. 

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine they would start me out at 1k or less.  If they did, I would be devastated and this would be a huge mistake.  hmmm

When I said they would start me low, I was thinking 2k or 3k.  So it's an interesting question.

[MrDisco99]

I burned Amex 10 years ago.  My account was sold to a collection agency and eventually I paid it off.

In April I applied for the BCE and they approved me for $4K.  I tripled it 61 days later.  In 6 months, I'm now sitting on $47K in revolving limits and two charge accounts with Amex.

I'm thinking you're good to go.  BCE and ED seem to have similar underwriting, so it's really up to you which card you want.

[Anonymous]

Congrats on the prequal and hopefully getting back in the door!

Can I ask when the last time you checked prequals were and showed nothing?  I'm curious how often Amex updates that stuff -- if they do an SP every check or if they use an SP for a month, etc.

[Anonymous]

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@MrDisco99 wrote:

I burned Amex 10 years ago.  My account was sold to a collection agency and eventually I paid it off.

In April I applied for the BCE and they approved me for $4K.  I tripled it 61 days later.  In 6 months, I'm now sitting on $47K in revolving limits and two charge accounts with Amex.

I'm thinking you're good to go.  BCE and ED seem to have similar underwriting, so it's really up to you which card you want.

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WOW, that is EXACTLY the story I wanted to hear.  Thank you.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Congrats on the prequal and hopefully getting back in the door!

Can I ask when the last time you checked prequals were and showed nothing?  I'm curious how often Amex updates that stuff -- if they do an SP every check or if they use an SP for a month, etc.

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Back in June I actually applied for the BCF and was immediately denied without any inquiry due to the blacklist.  So I never even went on the prequal site.  This week for the first time since June I went on the prequal site and was preqaulified for BCE and a couple others but NOT the "preferred" cards.  I would say AMEX is not doing promotional SP on me at all and this prequal is only because I went to the prequal site myself (then they did a SP).  I heard around the 10 year mark they sometimes let people back in so my plan was to check every 6 months.  Looks like I have a shot but it's not done until it's done.  I won't actually be applying until mid December(in 6 weeks) as that is when I have a large App Spree planned when all my ducks will be in a row, all the stars in alignment, and the sun shining just right.  I will go back to the preqaul site then, and pull the trigger if it still works.