American Express with Ch 7 BK, and High Inquiries? Is it possible?

[Deltadog03]

Great points!!  I agree!

[ojefferyo]

If you get declined for a card by AMEX recon is most likely a no. They generally will uphold their decision unless there was something incorrect with the report they pulled.

[Anonymous]

My brother was declined by Amex and had never filed BK.  He found the following post that included backdoor numbers to call when you are declined.  This gives you a change to explain to a credit Analyst your situation.  They might not approve you but I can attest that if you call the credit anyalst/Recon Department numbers they might give you a shot.  Read the following and let us know what happens. Best of Luck!

(Kudos and thank you to forum member Sylviatob, who authored the original version of this fabulously helpful thread.)

A "backdoor number" is one that gets you past frontline CSR's directly to Credit Analysts / Credit Departments / Account Managers / Account Specialists (different lenders call 'em different things) -these people/departments have decision-making abilities greater than frontline CSR's, they are able to take and review requests for reconsideration of denied cc apps or CLI requests, APR reductions, etc. and implement their decisions.

Backdoor numbers and the people to whom they connect you can be useful in requesting a reduced APR if you feel your credit profile rates a lower one, or in requesting a review of a denied credit application or declined request for a credit limit increase, if you feel your credit profile deserves an approval, but they aren't magic wands - as with anything, your mileage may vary depending on your individual credit profile.

This thread relies on input and feedback from YOU! If you try a number and find that it is no longer working, that it's a regular, frontline CSR number or other, non-backdoor number, PLEASE PM ME so that I can edit accordingly!

Note: Capital One apparently stopped accepting customer-initiated credit line increase (CLI) requests sometime in 2010, so these numbers won't work for that, at this time. If CapOne starts accepting them again at some point, someone please PM me so I can update this thread again! Thanks. -

Scamp Update:  On 04/12/11, one of our forum members PM'd me that he had called CapOne at 1-800-625-7866 to request a CLI, and said that, after verifying his account information, the CLI was put through without any other questions being asked.  If anyone else has similar success, please PM me. Thanks! - S. Update as of 10/16/11 (confirmed on 03/10/12)  A forum member PM'd me that he/she was told that CapOne is not accepting customer-initiated CLI requests. FYI, all. -Scamp

Thanks to everyone who has PM'd me about dead numbers, new numbers, numbers that turn out to be not true backdoor numbers,etc.!

This thread only works because the whole community helps keep it updated!

- Scamp

Amazon UW consumer: 1-800-634-8380 - credit: CreditLuv

Amex Collections Dept:  800-921-6490 (people on blacklist can call this number)
AmEx Oasis Program: 888-232-3261
AmEx: 800-567-1083 (App Status - Use with caution if attempting a denied app recon; have been advised by one member that they can only resubmit app with another hard pull)
AmEx: 800-230-1284 (Account Services - handles accounts with issues)
AmEx: 800-700-7619 (Reserves - handles closed and charged-off accounts)
AmEx Executive Office: 800-297-6197
American Express Credit Bureau Unit: 800-874-2717. (Must have a current credit report before calling. They will ask for the account number from the credit report, which is different from your card number.)

Barclays: 888-232-0780 (Customer Care)
Barclays: 866-408-4064 (Credit Analyst)

Barclays  866-951-1437 ( 24/7 Underwriting Dept)- jsucool 

Barclays: 18776831400  (Security Dept)

Best Buy: 800-365-0292 (CSR)
Best Buy MasterCard and Citi Credit Card Executive Office 423-477-6858 -CreditAddict 07/2014

BofA:  800-421-2110 – Customer Satisfaction
BofA:  888-991-8222 – Customer Satisfaction
BofA:  866-811-4108  (Credit analyst - existing cardholders) by myjourney 
BofA:  888-503-6090 non working number
BofA:  877-721-9405 (App Status - Choose Option 3)

BofA:  866-811-4108 (Dedicated APR Reduction) credit to B335is

BofA:  800-732-9194
BofA:  888-260-4696 (secured accts.)
BofA:  800-824-5895 (secured & partially secured accts.)
BofA:  800-718-6072 (Credit analyst - for existing cardholders only) Reported as non-functional 6/6/14
BofA:  800-881-4730 (Loan Dept.?)

BofA:  866-618-4585 (Sr Credit Analyst) ~corymcdd88

BofA Credit Dept. Fax: 888-500-6270
BofA/FIA: 888-831-4181
BOFA:866-865-7839 (Recon Department)- no longer working

BofA E/O:  704-386-5687 -heyarnold 08/2014

Bank of America -- Rate Reduction Team (1.800.770.6459) or (800-421-2110) available 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET Saturday, closed Sunday

BP/Amoco App Status: 800-365-6204

Cap1: 800-625-7866 (Account Specialist)
Cap1: 800-951-6951 (cust. relations)
Cap1: 800-548-4593 (application status - automated only)
Cap1: 800-889-9939 or 800-625-7866.(Account Specialist)
Cap1: 877-513-9959 (Account Retention?)
Cap1: 800-258-9319 (Debt Recovery)
Cap1 Secured Platinum: 800-219-7931 (deposit taker, can speak to credit analyst)
Cap 1: 800-707-0489 (Senior Escalation Account Mgrs.)

GM Lending Dept  800-395-2120 - (Analyst) they cannot assist with other Cap 1 CCs -VeganMakePeace

Chase: 800-436-7927 (App status - automated)
Chase: 888-270-2127 (App recon)
Chase: 888-245-0625 (Credit Analyst - Recons)
Chase: 888-622-7547 (Chase Executive Ofc. in IL)
Chase: 800-955-9900 (Product change status questions)
Chase: 888-688-6708 (Chase Credit Dept additional number?, need confirmation, credit to Express)

Chevron/Texaco Biz Card App Status: 888-243-8358
Chevron Cust Service: 800-243-8766

Citi: 888-201-4523 (New App Approval Status)
Citi AA: 888-662-7759
Citi App Status: 800-645-7240, 800-288-4653, 800-750-7453
Citi: 800-444-2568 (Retention Dept.)
Citi: 800-763-9795 (App status?? They ask for your app #)
Citi Credit Bureau Dispute Fax: 866-713-5028
Citi EO: 718-248-6433 No longer active -5/31/14

Citi EO: 866-336-7285 - maiden_girl

Citi: CSR:  301-733-5501 (New App Status) ~ eagle2013

Citi Credit Card Executive Office 423-477-6858 -CreditAddict 

Comenity: 800-303-1368 (Recon) ~ Happychap

Discover: 888-676-3695 (Recon)
Discover: 866-219-0214 (Retention Dept.)

Elan Financial Services: 800-685-7680

ExxonMobil Biz Card: 800-903-9966

FIA: 866-421-8153 (credit analyst) no longer working

FIA: 800-655-1491 for 24 hr automated balance, app status, and payment information.  ~ score_building

FIA: 888-503-6901 (Credit Analyst) ~  codypendant

Fidelity Amex: 1-866-865-7842 (Card Services, 8am- 8pm EST M-F) --Lexie09 no longer working

Fifth Third Bank Phone: 1-800-457-0842 - Select 3 for a CSR (Credit Card Application Status) 

FNBO:  800-444-6220 (UW) ~ gdale6

GE Moneybank (except WalMart): 866-419-4096
GE Moneybank: 866-519-6441 (Credit Analyst/Credit Solutions)
GECRB -Credit Solutions 877-379-8173

GE 937-534-6180 ( Fraud Dept/locked account)

Home Depot Store Card: 800-677-0232 (Credit Analyst)
Home Depot Store Card: 423 467 6957 (App Status/Recon)
Home Depot MC (Commercial): 800-720-0649

Hooters: 801-545-6705, 800-850-4668

HSBC: 866-574-4421 (App Status)
HSBC: 866-551-0258 (Credit Analyst)

HSBC: 866-280-0118 (Executive Resolution Unit)

Juniper: 866-408-4064 (Credit Analyst)
Juniper/Barclays: 866-750-6031 (Corp. Offices)

Key Bank: 888-201-4523 (App status)
Key Bank MC: 800-288-4653
Keybank Credit Research Fax: 216-357-6404

Lowes: 800-445-6937 (App Status)
Lowes: 866-232-7443 (Biz Acct. Underwriting)
Lowes Fraud/Underwriting/Credit Dept.: 800-444-1408

Macy's: 800-627-2909 (Credit Dept. - new credit, inquiries on upgrade to Visa AmEx, credit reporting issues)
Macy's: 800-543-9617 (Recovery Services)

Macy's: 800-477-2167 ( Credit Account Specialist, reconsideration and limit increases)

Meijers MC: 801-517-5560

Merrick Bank - CC - 877-790-5648 (newUser0)

Nationwide Visa: 866-757-2720 (App. status)

Philips 66: 866-289-5630, 800-610-1961

PNC: 800-762-0974 (Credit Dept.)

Saks Fifth Avenue: 866-500-7257 (Application Status) - credit: Ron1

Sallie Mae Visa: 877-564-7965 (Credit Dept.)
Sallie Mae Visa: 877-903-7968 (Credit Analyst)

Sam's Club: 800-301-5546, 866-246-4282 (Underwriting)
Sam's Club/WalMart: 877-294-7541 (escalated help desk)

Sears: 800-599-9710 (Comm'l Accts.)
Sears: 866-533-1820 (Sears credit bureau dispute FAX number)

Shell Fleet Card: 800-223-3296 (App status)
Shell: 800-223-3296, 866-438-7435
Shell: 800-377-5150

Staples: 800-767-1291, 800-282-5316

Sunoco Corp. Card: 800-935-3387, 800-278-6626
Sunoco: 800-310-4773

Target:   866-225-7041 ( New accounts, i.e. 7 to 10 day message )

Target Biz Card: 800-440-5317

Tiffany: 800-770-0800

Toyota Financial Visa:  866-865-7757

US Bank: 800-947-1444, 800-685-7680 (Underwriting)
US Bank Corp. & Comm'l Cards: 800-344-5696 (may not be true backdoor number - someone please PM me if this is frontline CS. Thx! - Scamp)
US Bank: 800-308-3648 (Debt Recovery)

Valero: 877-882-5376

Wal-Mart: 800-480-0205 (personal accounts)
Wal-Mart: 800-301-5546 (commercial accounts only)
Wal-Mart Underwriting: 877-294-7548; 877-294-8770
WalMart/Sam's Club: 877-294-7541 (escalated help desk)

WaMu CSR: 800-356-0011, or 800-280-9441
WaMu: 888-687-2273 (Apps/New Accts)

Wells Fargo: 800-967-9521 (credit card underwriting - credit to Brax)

Wells Fargo: 866-412-5956 or 866-412-5957  (UW) per michael_us and Lyythine

Wells Fargo: 866-677-1128 (now Executive Office - credit to Brax)

Wells Fargo Financial National Bank: 866-535-2725 (Executive Office - credit to high-flyer)

Wright Express: 888-743-3893

[Anonymous]

I'd also say if you are declined and decide to recon, explain to them that you're not looking to start with a high limit.  Ask for $1000 and an increase after 6 months.  It's all in how you present your case to the credit analyst.

[Anonymous]

I don't think you'll be approved. I applied in December for the prg and was declined. I called, the rep cited a almost 7 year old chapter 7. He told me to try again after the 7 year mark since they are more forgiving on those. Chapter 7 lingers for 10 years.

My 7 year mark was on 1/11/2015. I applied for delta gold on 1/17/2015 and was approved. Same night I received via mail an offer for the everyday card and went online to apply. It gave me a 5 day hold due to multiple apps on same day but was approved on the 6th day. I applied for the prg on 2/19 and got it rushed approved. All backdated to 2001.

I'd say 3 years is way too soon, but you have nothing to lose. Try to check for pre-qualified offers first.

[Scupra]

On the other boards there was a pretty big group of BK'ers getting approved 5 years post FILE date. YMMV as always but it seems they have lightened up recently

[OnTheRebound]

From all the approvals I've been reading about lately, Amex has definitely lowered their underwriting standards compared to pre 2010.

My wife applied for the Green in 2008 and again in in 2009. Both times was instantly denied, citing Chapter 7. She also had a paid Fed tax lien showing. In 2010, when her BK disappeared from her reports she applied again and was instantly approved. So, at least in my wife's case, at that time, Amex wanted nothing to do with her until the BK was gone. They didn't seem to care about the tax lien still showing. Besides that, her reports were perfect.

Amex approvals have definitely gotten easier.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

They ignore bks after 7 years.

[pizza1]

it all depends on your overall credit profile, how thick or thin it is, scores, and if you IIB them or not. Ive seen a few at the 5-6 yr range off a BK7.
Me personally...I have a thick file, never burned them but had their card years ago. I will try at the 6 yr mark in 2019 and see what happens.

[BackInTheSaddleAgain]

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@Anonymous wrote:
They ignore bks after 7 years.

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After filing or discharge?