Amex starter (Odds?)

[jayjayhawaii]

I'm currently eyeing the PayPal 2% MC, which I'll app for in 3 weeks when my util will be below 30% and my TU score should be past 700.

My ultimate goal for 2018 however is to get in with Amex - It would be an incredible feeling og accomplishment for someone whose Experian FICO was 455 two years ago. Experian is my dirty report, so I've got a little ways to go, but want to prep myself as best as I can before pulling the trigger. by December, my Experian report should look something like this:

660 (give or take) FICO8

Income: $80k

AAoA: 1 yr, 2 mo

Util: <9%

Inq last six: 0
Inq last year: 5

New accts last six: One if I get the PayPal

New last year: Six if I get the PayPal
Baddies: One 120+ (paid and closed, 2.5 yrs old), One paid disputed collection (1.5 years old) 

Ultimately, I'd want the PRG or Delta Gold since I don't currently have any travel cards. I was shot down for Delta gold back in June when my Experian was 608. Anyone have any recommendations for which one to pull the trigger on? I see plenty members on this forum getting approved for Delta Gold around 640, but I also hear PRG might be easier since it's a charge card? Is BCE or green better as Amex entries?

[Brian_Earl_Spilner]

The supposed easiest cards to get are the Delta gold or blue, green charge (though the prg is supposed to have the same underwriting), and the blue (not the blue cash).

I got approved for the PayPal the other day and my DPs are way worse than yours. I have a thread in approvals if you want to check it out.

[jayjayhawaii]

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@Brian_Earl_Spilner wrote:

The supposed easiest cards to get are the Delta gold or blue, green charge (though the prg is supposed to have the same underwriting), and the blue (not the blue cash).

I got approved for the PayPal the other day and my DPs are way worse than yours. I have a thread in approvals if you want to check it out.

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Knock on wood, I'm feeling fairly confident with Synchrony as they were generous with CareCredit back in June. Mucho mahalo for the DPs, and congrats!

I'll need that confidence to pull the Amex lever.

[Brian_Earl_Spilner]

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@jayjayhawaii wrote:

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@Brian_Earl_Spilner wrote:

The supposed easiest cards to get are the Delta gold or blue, green charge (though the prg is supposed to have the same underwriting), and the blue (not the blue cash).

I got approved for the PayPal the other day and my DPs are way worse than yours. I have a thread in approvals if you want to check it out.

---

Knock on wood, I'm feeling fairly confident with Synchrony as they were generous with CareCredit back in June. Mucho mahalo for the DPs, and congrats!

I'll need that confidence to pull the Amex lever.

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I'm waiting until spring 2019 to try amex

[RicHowe]

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@jayjayhawaii wrote:

I'm currently eyeing the PayPal 2% MC, which I'll app for in 3 weeks when my util will be below 30% and my TU score should be past 700.

My ultimate goal for 2018 however is to get in with Amex - It would be an incredible feeling og accomplishment for someone whose Experian FICO was 455 two years ago. Experian is my dirty report, so I've got a little ways to go, but want to prep myself as best as I can before pulling the trigger. by December, my Experian report should look something like this:

660 (give or take) FICO8

Income: $80k

AAoA: 1 yr, 2 mo

Util: <9%

Inq last six: 1 (Your are apping for PayPal)
Inq last year: 6

New accts last six: One if I get the PayPal

New last year: Six if I get the PayPal
Baddies: One 120+ (paid and closed, 2.5 yrs old), One paid disputed collection (1.5 years old) 

Ultimately, I'd want the PRG or Delta Gold since I don't currently have any travel cards. I was shot down for Delta gold back in June when my Experian was 608. Anyone have any recommendations for which one to pull the trigger on? I see plenty members on this forum getting approved for Delta Gold around 640, but I also hear PRG might be easier since it's a charge card? Is BCE or green better as Amex entries?

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As always, YMMV, but with a 660ish score and low util and low inquiries you should be good for the Delta family of cards (Blue, Gold, Platinum). BCE is off the table for now as it's an AMEX core card and has slightly higher underwriting (you might get it under credit steps or a very low SL). If you are not comfortable with PIF, then getting a charge card (Green, PRG, Platinum) would not benefit you, plus having a new revolver will help your utilitization with the increase in total available credit.

[jayjayhawaii]

Thank you for laying it out like that.

The Blue, Gold and Platinum have the same underwriting?

(The PayPal inq shouldn't show up on EX, Sync only pulls TU).

[MrDFinance]

I got approved for my PRG when my Experian was around 660 .... This is after I burned them in 2008 on a charge off..... Now I not only have the card but also have a $25,000 Pay over time limit....

I suggest you go to thier website and check pre approvals..... I had "Excellent" Approval odds on Credit Karma and that made me check the pre approval and sure enough I was Pre Approved and Then Approved...

[FinStar]

Another item to keep in mind is the AFs associated with any products you are considering plus doing the math and evaluate which one would be more fitting (not just which is easiest or getting "a foot in the door").  If you fly Delta with plenty of frequency, then look to see which Delta CC makes sense.  Otherwise, you can consider the PRG if it meets your other goals, including the $100 travel/incidental credit, etc.

[FinStar]

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@jayjayhawaii wrote:

Thank you for laying it out like that.

The Blue, Gold and Platinum have the same underwriting?

(The PayPal inq shouldn't show up on EX, Sync only pulls TU).

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SYNCB has been known to pull either TU or EX for the PayPal cards, YEMV.

[jayjayhawaii]

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@MrDFinance wrote:
I got approved for my PRG when my Experian was around 660 .... This is after I burned them in 2008 on a charge off..... Now I not only have the card but also have a $25,000 Pay over time limit....

I suggest you go to thier website and check pre approvals..... I had "Excellent" Approval odds on Credit Karma and that made me check the pre approval and sure enough I was Pre Approved and Then Approved...

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Thanks for the input and DP. I have 'fair' approval odds on CK, but I'm only at 631 EX right now. No pre approvals on the Amex website yet. I'm currently prepping my TU for PayPal at the end of this month (just got the invite when logging in), and then I'll focus entirely on getting EX to 660 by December.

How do you get PoT on the charge cards?