I'll cut to the chase and ask my main question: as someone who was an authorized user on my Ex-Wife’s Amex Gold that was written off in BK, would I likely be on a blacklist? And if so, is there even a point in ever applying for an Amex. Any and all advice and data points would be appreciated.
Backstory
Of all the cards I have been looking at , Amex didn’t even enter my mind. The reason was due to the BK in 2012 we completed before our divorce. Four years before that, my ex-wife had applied for and was issued an Amex GC. She put me on as an authorized user. The original plan was to earn points on our natural spend. However, she went above and beyond in the spending, and did so behind my back, and fast!
She was manufacturing spend by buying high electronics and reselling them without me knowing thinking she could make a profit on eBay/Amazon. She also bought large amounts of consumer goods, and even a moped using the card. It got out of hand and eventually led to a financial review.
In the end, the event took a hot steaming dump on Amex. All told, our bankruptcy wrote off more than $37K in debt to Amex. We were married, and in the state of Illinois at the time. We filed BK jointly prior to divorce. Due to this, I assumed I would be on the blacklist, because we had been married and I was an authorized user.
Today
Ten years later and I was playing around on the preapproval site for Amex. I figured they would kick me out automatically. However I was shown several cards to apply for based on the soft pull. The Platinum, Gold, The EDC, and the BCP, all offering big point bonuses. While I understand that soft pull prequalifying pages are hit and miss, the question remains: am I actually black listed?
To be honest, while I have heard of the Amex Optima for those trying to get back into Amex's good graces, I would never voluntariliy cough up $37K just for reward points. So am I just spinning my wheels, or should I put this idea to bed and focus on the Chase Cards I was planning on after my BK falls off and I am at 3/24 in October?
Current Data Points
Credit Scores: see picture below
Baddies: Bankruptcy Ch7 August 2012 (falls off this year), no collections
Payment history: perfect for nearly 10 years on all accounts.
Total Available CL Reporting: $43.5K
CC Utilization: ~9.85%
DTI: 17%
AAoA: 8 years 2 Months
AoYA: 8 months
Amex prequals are usually pretty solid, but this is not absolute. YMMV. If you are black listed, it likely won't cost you a hard pull to attempt to follow through.
The HP was one of my concerns, as I dont want to waste one on something I dont have high odds of getting. Thanks.
@FinStar wrote:Just to add to the above comment OP, getting a pre-qualified offer is not a guarantee of an approval if for any reason you're somehow part of their internal blacklist. The system will perform a cross-check after you submit the application which will then provide the outcome.
If your name is still on any internal blacklist, even if it's been >10 years, there will not be a HP or SP -- it will auto-decline the application citing previous AmEx experience. If a HP occurs, then one of two things will happen, you'll either be approved...or denied, but at least you'd know where you stand as far as the blacklist.
I think part of me hates the idea of having hope about the card at all. If im out, then im out. I can live with that. But not knowing is an issue for some reason. I wish I had never played with that page.
An AU isnt responsible for the account so you should ok. However im guessing maybe if they keep records on AU spend they might have back records for future consideration on that person as we know info is king and more info companies have on us , in any form, could be gold for them.
So say you were putting thousands of spend on your card , while your wife on hundreds, just an exsmple, even though shes responsible, they might internally conclude you are a risk to them? Just a thought that might get a person noted for if they app solely.
Overall i think pull the trigger for s&g and if approved enjoy your giggles
