Amex Pre-Qualify

[busybee85]

Hello everyone!

Quick background: I filed chapter 7 bankruptcy that was discharged 08/2017. Since then, I've established many credit cards, a few mortgages, and a few auto loans. Unfortuantely, I have been able to get back into the good graces of Discover and American Express- everytime I checked to see if I'd prequalify for a credit card, I was declined....until recently.

I randomly checked American Express' prequalify website, and pre-qualified for 3 cards. I applied for one of them, their amex gold card, and was declined. The reason was because of a previous account I had with them, that was included in my chapter 7 bankruptcy. I'm wondering why I'm pre-qualifying for cards with them, but then get declined when I apply? Is it even worth reaching out to the recon line to discuss with them?

Please let me know your thoughts or recommendations.

Credit Info for me:

Equifax: 682 Experian: 678 Transunion: 672

1% revolving debt

12 inquiries

No late payments ever, even before my bankruptcy

[creditgnome]

Idk about the chapter 7. I believe there is a period of time u have to wait.dk if u reached the date yet. Fire medic knows a lot on here.

I went the regular route defaulted charged off then paid back in full through optima without filing bk.

I was black listed til the other day when I was approved for Optima 1000cl..now I have bluebird bank checking account and the amex business checking account as well. They unlock everything pretty quickly.

My credit score ranges from 447 to 573. Lenovo said it was 447 last week..

[PapaTunde]

Chances are you were not HPed in this application so there is a little ray of good luck

Sorry for your denial tho

[OmarGB9]

So you're saying you burned them in the BK7?

If so, there's no chance of getting in anytime soon, unless you pay them back. The reason the prequal may come back with something is cause that only validates your report and compares it to some initial criteria, but it doesn't cross-reference with Amex's internal records. Only when you do the full app and they check their internal records does it realize you burned them and come back with a denial. I'm afraid you won't be able get back in for years if you don't pay them back.

[Ficoproblems247]

Just to add to this in case you DID pay them back, you can usually get back with them 5 years and 1 month after your filing date. If you pay them, they can be surprisingly forgiving. 

[Jnbmom]

I agree with @OmarGB9 . If you filed in 2017 and included Amex it will probably  be close to 10 years at least .

[mortimerwereback]

Hmm.. if you included Amex in your bk then I think you're blacklisted for life or until you pay them back. If not, then I believe it's 5 years after your bk and then you can app. I believe I did mine in year 6, after my first ch.7, and was approved for three cards. That said, I burned them in my last ch.7 so that door's closed for me.

If you were discharged in 08/2017 + 5 years is 8/2022, this month. You may have pulled the trigger just a tad early. I'd say wait a month or two and try again.

[bigseegar]

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@mortimerwereback wrote:

Hmm.. if you included Amex in your bk then I think you're blacklisted for life or until you pay them back. If not, then I believe it's 5 years after your bk and then you can app. I believe I did mine in year 6, after my first ch.7, and was approved for three cards. That said, I burned them in my last ch.7 so that door's closed for me.

If you were discharged in 08/2017 + 5 years is 8/2022, this month. You may have pulled the trigger just a tad early. I'd say wait a month or two and try again.

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That's not true. If the OP included them in their BK and didn't pay them back, which is likely since it was a CH7 then yes they are Blacklisted. If they pay them back and then 5 years 1 month after the closing of the BK case it's possible they can get back in at that point. However if they don't pay them back they won't be approved at that point BUT they also won't be Blacklisted for Life. BUT they will be BL'ed for a very long time though. Probably at least 10 years as @Jnbmom stated. In my case I didn't include them in a Dismissed CH13 BK and was still Blacklisted for 19 years. I now have 6 AmEx cards again.

[mortimerwereback]

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@bigseegar wrote:

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That's not true. If the OP included them in their BK and didn't pay them back, which is likely since it was a CH7 then yes they are Blacklisted. If they pay them back and then 5 years 1 month after the closing of the BK case it's possible they can get back in at that point. However if they don't pay them back they won't be approved at that point BUT they also won't be Blacklisted for Life. BUT they will be BL'ed for a very long time though. Probably at least 10 years as @Jnbmom stated. In my case I didn't include them in a Dismissed CH13 BK and was still Blacklisted for 19 years. I now have 6 AmEx cards again.

Some very interesting data points. Sounds like a YMMV situation, but in any case, congrats on getting back in after 19 years. Believe me, if I ever get back in.. many, many years from now, I'll be sure to share it here. 

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