AMEX - PreApproved for everything but charge cards

[Anonymous]

So I signed on to my Amex account to see if I was preapproved for a PRG as my wife and I are moving some spend from cash back cards to MR and the PRG compliments the ED card nicely. Interestingly, it shows pre approval for every single revolver and not a single charge card.

I was planning to wait at least 6 mo anyway to let the new accounts settle in, but curiosity got me and I thought it was strange. My impression was that the charge cards were easier to get approval for, I'm curious if this is just targeting or are the charge cards not a match to my profile?

[Anonymous]

If all the cards come up as pre-approved, you have a great chance of getting approved for a charge card.  I would suggest find a nice big bonus offer under incognito mode if you pull the trigger.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

If all the cards come up as pre-approved, you have a great chance of getting approved for a charge card.  I would suggest find a nice big bonus offer under incognito mode if you pull the trigger.

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I will look for that, thanks. Was hoping to get a nice bonus offer while logged in to avoid the HP.

[Anonymous]

How long have you been an Amex member; and what is your current Experian FICO 8 score?

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@Anonymous wrote:

So I signed on to my Amex account to see if I was preapproved for a PRG as my wife and I are moving some spend from cash back cards to MR and the PRG compliments the ED card nicely. Interestingly, it shows pre approval for every single revolver and not a single charge card.

I was planning to wait at least 6 mo anyway to let the new accounts settle in, but curiosity got me and I thought it was strange. My impression was that the charge cards were easier to get approval for, I'm curious if this is just targeting or are the charge cards not a match to my profile?

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[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

How long have you been an Amex member; and what is your current Experian FICO 8 score?

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Active member 1996 - 2010, cards closed in 2010 BK but not IIB. New cards (in sig) approved 4/2018. 

Current EX FICO 8 = 741

[Anonymous]

To me you have encountered one of the mysteries of Amex; and its the reason I disagree with people who claim that its easier to get charge cards.  I was a member of Amex since 1995 with the Green charge card and added the Optima card in 1999.  Around 2003 I stopped using credit cards and eventually all my cards were closed for non-use.  In 2017 I applied for the BCE and was approved but turned down for the Green charge card (wasted a hard pull).  I again applied for the PRG and was also denied but then approved one month later.  It appears that even if you're pre-approved for both revolving and charge cards, once you have a new card of one type you wouldn't be approved for the other until Amex develops a sense of your spending patterns.

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

How long have you been an Amex member; and what is your current Experian FICO 8 score?

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Active member 1996 - 2010, cards closed in 2010 BK but not IIB. New cards (in sig) approved 4/2018. 

Current EX FICO 8 = 741

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[Anonymous]

That's really interesting, seems we are experiencing something similar.  I wonder if there is some internal hold/review time at Amex for new cardmembers to mix/match revolver and charge cards. What were the denial reasons for the charge cards? Common lore here is that the charge cards are all the same UW and easier to get..

[redpat]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

If all the cards come up as pre-approved, you have a great chance of getting approved for a charge card.  I would suggest find a nice big bonus offer under incognito mode if you pull the trigger.

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I will look for that, thanks. Was hoping to get a nice bonus offer while logged in to avoid the HP.

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You don't have to be logged in to avoid a HP.  Once you apply they already know you are a current cardholder.

[Anonymous]

This is interesting. I have been a member since 2/2018. Earlier in the month I was pre-approved for all cards. I checked today, I'm still pre-approved for everything but the PRG (all charge cards). I find it strange. Nothing changed with my CR. EX is a 744. I've hit two SUB (ED - $2k/Ascend $3k). 

[sjt]

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@Anonymous wrote:

So I signed on to my Amex account to see if I was preapproved for a PRG as my wife and I are moving some spend from cash back cards to MR and the PRG compliments the ED card nicely. Interestingly, it shows pre approval for every single revolver and not a single charge card.

I was planning to wait at least 6 mo anyway to let the new accounts settle in, but curiosity got me and I thought it was strange. My impression was that the charge cards were easier to get approval for, I'm curious if this is just targeting or are the charge cards not a match to my profile?

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Chances are you would be re-approved for a charge card as well. One way to check is if you hit the "Apply" button and it will say youre pre-approved right on the appliaction.