AMEX lifetime ban?

[916networktech]

I was foolish in college and burnt them on the Amex Green Card at the time that was in the early 90s

I now have 5 cards with them funny thing is they even say Member since 88

Gold, Hilton, Blue, Clear, Schwab, 

[fastboat]

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@916networktech wrote:

I was foolish in college and burnt them on the Amex Green Card at the time that was in the early 90s

I now have 5 cards with them funny thing is they even say Member since 88

Gold, Hilton, Blue, Clear, Schwab, 

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If you dont mind me asking, how much did you burn them for, and did you do anything to get back in?

It seems like our situations are close to the same - curious why you got back in and why I cant yet. 

[Jeffster1]

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@916networktech wrote:

I was foolish in college and burnt them on the Amex Green Card at the time that was in the early 90s

I now have 5 cards with them funny thing is they even say Member since 88

Gold, Hilton, Blue, Clear, Schwab, 

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Lots of us were foolish in college. 🤣 I was book smart and athletic, attending a Tier 1 university,  but acted like a kid in a candy store when it came to credit. Thank Goodness no issuer thought me worthy of more than a $300 CL.

[916networktech]

it was $6K i believe and never paid back

[SouthJamaica]

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@fastboat wrote:

When I was a freshman in college (early 90s) I got an amex card the day spring break started. Long story short I ended up having an account with a ballance of 5 or 6000 written off. 

Since then I have been more serious about my credit. Currently experian has me at 755 right now, but one card I had charged up close to the max last month just got paid off and it will be reported shortly. When that happens I'll be at about a 7% utilization ratio with a collective credit limit of just under $100k. I have two primary cards I use with limits of $30k and $35k, and a few others right around $10k each. My history sees them all charged up to close to the max, then paid off, typically once or twice a year. Own a home, with no mortgage, make decent money.

I have tried to prequalify for an amex more than once, and no luck. Not even when my credit score was hovering at just under 800.

Is it likely that I have a lifetime ban, three decades on? Can I find out without a wasted hardpull?  I'm specifically looking to get the platinum card for it's travel benefits. Anythign else wouldnt be useful to me.

TIA

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I don't think it's a lifetime ban.

I think they'll be glad to take your $695.

Oops, I was wrong.

[SouthJamaica]

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@fastboat wrote:

CL? on an amex? have things changed that much since Ive been gone?

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No. For the platinum card there wouldn't be a credit limit.

[SouthJamaica]

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@fastboat wrote:

Well, I waited for my last payments to show up on all three credit reports. Have a nil utilization ratio across the board, and tried the no hard pull application website. got this as a response:

"Thank you for applying for the Platinum Card®. We're writing to let you know we cannot approve your application at this time because American Express cancelled your previous account(s).

If you have any questions, please call 1-800-222-8416 or write to us at the address above. You may qualify for a new Card in the future and are welcome to submit an application at a later date. You can also learn more about managing your credit at...."

Is this the wording used for black listed former members?

TIA

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Yes.

[OmarGB9]

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@SouthJamaica wrote:

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@fastboat wrote:

CL? on an amex? have things changed that much since Ive been gone?

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No. For the platinum card there wouldn't be a credit limit.

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Well not in the traditional sense. But Amex can always institute a hard limit if one does something they don't like. And then there's also the Pay Over Time limit. 

[Wilburtheman]

I've never seen any issuer have lifetime bans. Some have longer memories than others but you still have a chance at getting back in. A friend messed up his first card when he was around 20 with Amex. Ten years later he applied and got denied. He called them and was finally able to get back in. It wasn't a big limit but it was at least something. 

maybe calling could help 

[FinStar]

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@Wilburtheman wrote:

I've never seen any issuer have lifetime bans. Some have longer memories than others but you still have a chance at getting back in. A friend messed up his first card when he was around 20 with Amex. Ten years later he applied and got denied. He called them and was finally able to get back in. It wasn't a big limit but it was at least something. 

maybe calling could help 

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There are a variety issuers with lifetime bans. Read around.  

With that being said, AmEx has been known to have the memory of an elephant where some community members have not been able to crack them or get approved even after 20 or 30+ years, profile and ban-specific of course. In a variety of such scenarios, the debt is still outstanding, but other members have been able to get approved years later. Obviously, everyone's outcome will vary and just because someone can get approved despite a negative past experience with AmEx others won't.