Approval for Gold Delta SkyMiles American Express

[Anonymous]

They only gave me until tomorrow to decide.

Pros

30,000 miles = $300 after spending $1000 in first three months
2x miles for dollar spent on card
Free check bag on delta
Annual fee waived first year
No foreign fee

Cons

Annual fee

As of last month my Fico 8 TU 800~790 it wobbles in there depending on utilization. No baddies. One inq on experian for background check for rented housing (they lied to me about it being soft pull).

My credit reports have been frozen for the three major credit agencies and Innovis.

Experian I can't log in because it has my old phone number in the forgot my password prompt.

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How can I unfreeze experian if I can't log in, do I have to call?

Is it worth getting this card with annual fee? The $300 in miles helps me rationalize it but I have never had annual fee card. I have no AE accounts currently. 4 credit cards never late, one installment loan never late, no real estate or any debt.

Is there still such a phone number as American Express underwriter I can call when I apply and ask for the limit I want, to try and crank it up high to start?

Any advice on this is helpful. They always want proof on income which is deal breaker for me.

Thanks lots of love to yall.

[FinStar]

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@Anonymous wrote:

They only gave me until tomorrow to decide.

Pros

30,000 miles = $300 after spending $1000 in first three months
2x miles for dollar spent on card
Free check bag on delta
Annual fee waived first year
No foreign fee

Cons

Annual fee

As of last month my Fico 8 TU 800~790 it wobbles in there depending on utilization. No baddies. One inq on experian for background check for rented housing (they lied to me about it being soft pull).

My credit reports have been frozen for the three major credit agencies and Innovis.

Experian I can't log in because it has my old phone number in the forgot my password prompt.

--

How can I unfreeze experian if I can't log in, do I have to call? Some of our members may be able to provide guidance on this.  As this would be your first AmEx, it's likely a HP is required. 

Is it worth getting this card with annual fee? Honestly, there are usually better SUB offers (public and targeted) on this card.  I would wait if this is something you don't have to have right away. The $300 in miles helps me rationalize it but I have never had annual fee card. I have no AE accounts currently. 4 credit cards never late, one installment loan never late, no real estate or any debt.

Is there still such a phone number as American Express underwriter I can call when I apply and ask for the limit I want, to try and crank it up high to start? No.  However, if approved, there may be an option to see whether you'd qualify for a CLI, either as soon as your account is set up or in about ~61 days.   This outcome varies for everyone though. 

Any advice on this is helpful. They always want proof on income which is deal breaker for me.   Are you saying you've applied in the past and AmEx is requesting a 4506-T? 

Thanks lots of love to yall.

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Hi @Anonymous and welcome to the forums! 

[Remedios]

You will need to call EX so they can advise you on ways to submit documentation needed to prove your identity and make changes. They will advise you what kind of documentation you're going to need in order to access your report and make changes, such as lifting freeze. 

Usually it involves sending copy of DL, SS card and utility bill. It's not an overnight process, and in some instances it can take weeks. 

[KJinNC]

Do you often fly Delta? Are you planning any flights on Delta in the near future?

If not, do you have any other reason to want this card (eg you want to get in with Amex, or you want any decent card that can grow in SL)?

If your answers to all of those questions are no, I'd pass.

You mentioned that the 30,000 miles are worth $300. That's true, and they can even be worth a bit more than that, but only if you actually use them to fly on Delta. If you have to go out of your way to use them, that reduces their value for you.

However, if you DO fly on Delta, note the free checked bag benefit. That can easily cover the annual fee (which you usually don't need to pay in the first year for this card, anyway). If you fly Delta, it's a no-brainer to get one of these Amex Delta cards, depending on the specific features you want. There are four levels with different annual fees and benefits. The Gold version is the next to lowest.

Amex does not ask everyone, or most applicants, for tax transcripts, although it's not as rare as I think it should be.

Good luck!