Good evening everyone!,
Had to sign up after living through probably one of my most frustrating (commercial) experiences of recent memory. It's a long read, so I apologize beforehand. I posted this at a less frequently visited forum- seems this one has more activity.
Backstory; I've haven't used a credit card since college that's been paid off sitting in my office drawer for years. Cars, airplanes, etc were always cash purchases. Have strong earnings, no blemishes of any kind.
Have a personal goal (for no particular reason) of a Centurion. It's a ridiculous and childish goal, I know.
After much reading and due diligence the normal course seems to be a $250k annual spend on a platinum. Ok, I'll apply.
I apply through the website, fill out appropriate information, etc.
Goes to the "cancelled" status. Fair enough, I place a call and am greeted by foreign customer service (odd for a card of this caliber). New accounts team they say, my application is in further review, please call back in 7-10 business days. 10-4, is there anything I can do or provide to facilitate a timely and meaningful turnaround? No, call back in 7-10. Ok.
Call back in 7, told to call back in 3 days.
Call back on the tenth day. We sent you a 4506-T form in the mail, please fill it out and send it back.
2 days later, it arrives, I fax it back. I call the next day to confirm it arrived. Yes it has arrived. Give us 3-5 days to review.
Call in 5 days (learned from my first time calling) and am told we need proof of residence. A power bill. Ok, did the 4506-T work? Yes, we have sent it to the IRS.
Fax in power bill. Call the next day to confirm it arrived. Yes, but we can't accept it, has to be an original copy (uh, that's an oxymoron). Ok, go down to my provider and get an [original] copy, mail it in.
Wait, nothing. Wait, nothing. Call again, yes we got the power bill. Thank you. But we had a problem, your 4506-T form was filled out wrong. I thought you already received it?, all was well? No, I don't know who told you that. Uh, ok. They send another. I fill it out, fax it back.
Wait, nothing. Another phone call. Your power bill isn't enough, we need official bank letterhead signed with your name and address. I go to my bank, BofA. We don't do that. Have Amex call us. I call Amex back, they said they won't sign that but you can call them. Sorry, if you don't provide a signed bank letterhead, we cannot process your application. So I'm the only BofA applicant this has happened to? Foreign CSR starts raising his voice, talks over me. Says if I can't provide that, there's nothing more to talk about. I asked to speak with a supervisor, he said he was busy, I said I'll wait. He asked why I wanted to talk to one and I said to discuss this process. He said he can talk to me about that. I again asked for a supervisor and said sorry he's busy.
I hang up, call right back hoping for a different CSR. He says yes, this has happened in the past and they usually call the bank or have the bank call in- but before that, my 4506-T form didn't come in. They have no record of a form ever coming in. I commented, that's worrisome as my personal information went rogue in a foreign country and no one knows where it went?
At this point I tell him to terminate my application. I've never experienced anything like this in my life before.
Called Chase, applied for a sapphire reserve. Got a call the next day to verify my information and was approved over the phone right then for $35k for the first 6 months and could request a cli after 6 months.
Has anyone ever had this big of a problem with Amex? This was truly a terrible experience. I don't get it. My app with chase was a breeze.
As for Chase, do you bank with them ? The US credit system is unfortunately a bit unfair. People that always pay cash and have no debt or do not use credit do not get the credit history. For this you need to use the cards and show activity on your report. Do you know your scores? Have you checked your reports? Any info not accurate on it? 