AMEX PRG- pending- trying to gage approval chances--UPDATE

[ohreally7654]

Hi All!

Question for all of you who have somewhat recently app'd for Amex! I was approved on 4/30 for the Delta Skymiles card. I was debating for the last few days about trying for a charge card (I had one prior, many years ago).  I didn't want to push my luck, as my Delta card was a low SL, but figured what the heck, I'll give it a go!

I submitted the application, then the system came back and said it needed a little more information. It asked questions about my assets, and a few other basic questions.  It then came back and said it couldn't give me an instant decision--showing pending.  I don't know if that's good, bad, or neutral at this point!  Just curious as to what others' experiences have been in this regard. If I was flat out denied, would they just tell me that?

Brief backstory on my Amex experiences--I had a Blue card once upon a time that ended up with 60 day lates with them a few years ago. I ended up having to close almost all of my open accounts, including Amex, and entered into payments through CCCS.  I paid off my Amex account 3 years ahead of schedule as my financial situation drastically improved, but it was still only fairly recently.

Anyway, they ended up approving my Delta card, but I'm sure it was the somewhat recent CCCS arrangement that prompted the lower limit.  Not sure if they let me in with Delta because it's co-branded a bit easier. I guess I will find out soon enough, but I really hate the waiting game! LOL!

Thanks so much in advance for your help/feedback!

UPDATE as of 5/9/16: The decision came back from Amex and it was denial.  But the good news is that the sole reason for the decline was having been on a payment plan with them in the last 12 months. SO, come February 2017, after the 12 months is up, I will reapply and should be golden! It's interesting though that I was able to snag the Delta Gold.  I'm thinking it must have been because it's co-branded that I was able to do so.  

Thanks, all, for your insights and feedback! I'm still very happy with my Delta Gold and will look forward to continuing my relationship with Amex!

[Anonymous]

Hmm if it's pending then you may have a chance. I almost went for the PRG on the same day I apped for the Delta (to combine pulls) but decided not to. Best of luck! Not sure about you, but I got my Delta card yesterday...I apped on 4/29.

[ohreally7654]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Hmm if it's pending then you may have a chance. I almost went for the PRG on the same day I apped for the Delta (to combine pulls) but decided not to. Best of luck! Not sure about you, but I got my Delta card yesterday...I apped on 4/29.

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@Anonymous @Anonymous! I'll definitely update the post once I get a decision! Hoping for an approval of course but even if it's no I'm very happy with what I have!

And big congrats on your approval too! I got my Delta yesterday as well! I'm excited to have it and should hit my bonus spend next week paying my school tuition with it 

[thummel]

It could go either way at this point in my opinion. It's super hard to tell. One part of me thinks if there asking for assets and such may be related to the lates to see if you have the money to pay. Or I could be totally wrong but I don't see that happening very much after an app is submitted.

[ohreally7654]

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@thummel wrote:
It could go either way at this point in my opinion. It's super hard to tell. One part of me thinks if there asking for assets and such may be related to the lates to see if you have the money to pay. Or I could be totally wrong but I don't see that happening very much after an app is submitted.

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@Thank you for the input @thummel! And that's something I hadn't thought of, that they asked for assets potentially due to prior lates. I guess the fact that it's not a flat out denial means there's still some hope but not holding my breath! 

[Meanmchine]

I wish i had an Amex card.  Ive been wanting to pull the trigger for months but havnt til my baddies fall off.  That being said and being i dont know squat about Amex, Just a cursory glance at your sig Id guess you have like 7 recently opened accounts.  This might be an issue for them.

[fullstackdev]

Congrats on your recent Delta approval! I was approved for my PRG and Delta back in March. Low SL on the Delta like you. At the time, I still had one unpaid collection, 2 public records, and an EX score just over 650. I think your chances are really good! Good luck.

ETA: I'm sure I also had more inquiries and new accounts than you do when I was approved for my AMEX cards.

[ohreally7654]

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@Meanmchine wrote:

I wish i had an Amex card.  Ive been wanting to pull the trigger for months but havnt til my baddies fall off.  That being said and being i dont know squat about Amex, Just a cursory glance at your sig Id guess you have like 7 recently opened accounts.  This might be an issue for them.

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@Oh I definitely have some new accounts! And honestly I was a bit surprised I got the Delta Gold last week. I would have actually understood a straight up denial on the PRG. So it makes me wonder why it's pending! I've just never seen that before with Amex. Doubtful I'll know anything on this before Monday! Thanks for your input, @Meanmchine!

[ohreally7654]

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@fullstackdev wrote:

Congrats on your recent Delta approval! I was approved for my PRG and Delta back in March. Low SL on the Delta like you. At the time, I still had one unpaid collection, 2 public records, and an EX score just over 650. I think your chances are really good! Good luck.

ETA: I'm sure I also had more inquiries and new accounts than you do when I was approved for my AMEX cards.

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Thanks so much! I appreciate the data points, as well! The nice thing is that, now that I'm a member again, if it's a denial, they won't pull my credit again. I'll update the thread when I hear back! And big congrats to you too on your approvals! Nice work! 

[Anonymous]

Sucks that you have to wait over the weekend though.