AMEX Green-Upgrade or PC to Platinum or Gold

[PointsBonus]

Hello everyone, need some help.

So about 8 years ago ( just found out a month or so ago)  that AMEX GOLD card has written off $2000, i offered to pay it back but they said it wont do no good.

Fast forward.....

When i applied for a any AMEX card it says "declined due to AMEX closed one of yoru accounts" -- Here is where it gets confusing

I applied for a GREEN CARD back in March of this year, and i got approved !!

6 months later my "spending limit" or "spending power" went up from $1200 to $5250, I avg about $4-$5K a month and i pay them before it is due, and AMEX CSR New Credit Team who i speak to once a month LOVES me and compliments me on how the payments history is just incredible.

so now with that being said ......

April of 2017 will be 13 months. ...So will I get a Product Change or Upgrade offer for a Gold or Platinum card ? if so ?

What is the difference between PRODUCT CHANGE and UPGRADE ?

Is it a Hard Pull ? or Soft Pull or NO Pull ?

Do they base it off payment history and spending habits ?

OR 

Am i stuck with the Green Card for the rest of my life ?

Thank You all for you support !!

Current scores on all three bureaus are high 500 or Low 600

[sjt]

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@PointsBonus wrote:

Hello everyone, need some help.

So about 8 years ago ( just found out a month or so ago)  that AMEX GOLD card has written off $2000, i offered to pay it back but they said it wont do no good.

Fast forward.....

When i applied for a any AMEX card it says "declined due to AMEX closed one of yoru accounts" -- Here is where it gets confusing

I applied for a GREEN CARD back in March of this year, and i got approved !!

6 months later my "spending limit" or "spending power" went up from $1200 to $5250, I avg about $4-$5K a month and i pay them before it is due, and AMEX CSR New Credit Team who i speak to once a month LOVES me and compliments me on how the payments history is just incredible.

so now with that being said ......

April of 2017 will be 13 months. ...So will I get a Product Change or Upgrade offer for a Gold or Platinum card ? if so ?

What is the difference between PRODUCT CHANGE and UPGRADE ?

Is it a Hard Pull ? or Soft Pull or NO Pull ?

Do they base it off payment history and spending habits ?

OR 

Am i stuck with the Green Card for the rest of my life ?

Thank You all for you support !!

Current scores on all three bureaus are high 500 or Low 600

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The definitions/differences are blurred, especially changing from a Green charge card to a Gold or Platinum.

You can request the change, its most likely not a HP. I would wait until you get a promotional offer to change.

[Anonymous]

The traditional Green, Gold and Platinum is out of date. Doing a PC with AMEX isn't advisable. When you hit your 13th statement, cold app for the PRG, it's much better than any other card, unless you travel a lot, then the Platinum is better.

But most of all, look for the MR bonuses, that's where the good is. You'll likely have to do an incognito search on their website to get the best MR points bonus. Every once in a while, they'll do 50-75k on the PRG and 100k on the Platinum!!

Once you get one or the other, ditch the Green, unless you're nostalgic... Otherwise, it's a useless card.

Last thing, you might want to wait till your scores are a little above 680, since you squeaked in with the Green.

[Anonymous]

Isn't the underwriting for the green gold and platinum all the same?

[Anonymous]

Agree with the above. A lot of people are getting 15k upgrade offers but you are better off cold apping and getting a higher sign up offer unless you don't want another HP and new account. I did it because my old senior gold card was 25 years old and I was paying $65 for a useless card just for its age. The signup bonus and travel perks on the PRG I got offsets the annual fee for the first year. It also delays my decision to upgrade my CSP to CSR or just reapply in January. I can't afford the app right now, so I took the upgrade.

[ohnomyfigo]

I've also heard the underwriting requirements for the charge cards are the same but last week I apped for the Gold and the green back to back. Was approved for the green but denied the gold. Take that for what it's worth but I wouldn't say it's the same. 

[Anonymous]

Did you app for the green first?

[adelphi_sky]

I PC'd from AMEX GOLD to AMEX PLAT with no problem. And this was after the recession when AMEX was dropping AMEX PLAT card members like hot potatoes. Not sure what they saw. But It was as easy as a phone call. Since then, I PC'd back down to Green as the AMEX PLAT value decreased after they nerfed a lot of benefits and lost the Costco partnership. Then I got rid of the Green altogether. I also got rid of the SPG as I rarely stay at any of their properties and I already have a Marriott Rewards card which offers an annual free night. Citi Prestige and the CSR are more valuable as travel cards for me now.

My guess is that if they see you paying an annual fee for the Green and you pay on time, why not take you for $450? That's just my guess.

[Anonymous]

As I am still rebuilding I got an offer for the Gold Card in February of 2016, I took it without even thinking. I then learned about the PRG and have been trying for the upgrade. Fast forward to January of 2017, yes I got it. If I was cold applying I would have went for the PRG. I really see no point anymore for the regular Gold card, and the Green AMEX for personal use doesn't make sense. If there is a big difference in UW between the Green and Gold, then yes the Green could be a starter, but as most have said there doesn't seem like a big difference in UW criteria. Unless you never fly, eat out, buy gas, or anything that the PRG gives you extra MR then go for the Green, but then why would one want an AMEX card then? Some say that the original AMEX cards are obsolete, I disagree. They require full payment so it keeps you out of debt and AMEX offers can be great. If you fly often, buy the tickets on your card then the obvious choice would be the Platinum for the 5x's points on airline tickets and lounge access. 

[ohnomyfigo]

Ya I apped for the green followed by the gold.