Should I request a CLI on an existing Amex BEFORE applying to a new one?

[Anonymous]

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@Superduper2014 wrote:

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I need a backup plan though.

Do you have any suggestions on a card with Zero bal transfer fee? This is the only reason I was looking into this amex card. 

CU cards tend to be 0/0 BT's.  Have to look at the T&C's though to make sure as there are fewer and fewer of them doing it these days.  They do tend to be lower cost overall though in the long term.  I have one through a CU that's 6.9% F that I hang onto for the sake of a backup option if I don't pay attn to something on a new app and end up with a 19% APR.

How much are you looking to move?  The ED has a cap on BT's these days of 5K.

[Anonymous]

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@Superduper2014 wrote:

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@FinStar wrote:
Personally, I'd wait for the application process to play out. The 14-day message can go in either direction. Optionally, you can check the status of your application online.

Also, just something to be aware of given the recent developments associated with self-referrals:

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Major-Amex-clawback-related-to-self-referrals/td-p/567...

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Thanks. I checked the status online and it says Processing. 

I might have screwed it up big time with the self referral not knowing about this.

Hope this doesn't affect my existing BCP with 25k CL just increased, since that is some nice padding I got there without having to open another account. 

I need a backup plan though.

Do you have any suggestions on a card with Zero bal transfer fee? This is the only reason I was looking into this amex card. 

Thanks for the valuable information. 

Thanks

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If you can get in to NFCU, their Platinum card is the best around. 0% for 12 months, $0 fee but what sets it apart is the low 8.24% APR you can get and the fact that after every holiday season they tend to offer no or low (last year was 1.99%) APR, $0 fee BTs to everyone with their card.

Otherwise, I would check local CUs and see what they're offering. 

[Superduper2014]

UPDATE 2:

Thanks for the suggestions on CU cards. I will look into it. 

I am also helping my girl friend. She also has a BCE card with Amex and today she applied for the same card I tried, the everyday card, and the dreaded pop up came up as well. So we cancelled her application. 

She never had an Amex before this BCE, which is at least 3yrs old, and she does not carry a balance or use it much.

Could it be that the Amex Everyday card is the same "family" as the BCE and therefore that is why she can't get the offer on the new card?

My application is still "processing" I am really curious about it, but have been holding back from calling and jinxing it even more. 

[Anonymous]

As I mentioned earlier, there seems to be no rhyme or reason to the SUB denial popup. According to the executive office, there is nothing that can be done about it. They said "whatever the computer shoots back to us." I also asked if the BCP was in the same family and the reason they said I had the card before, and was told no. According to one rep that I spoke to, many people have had this issue with no explanation as to why. So maybe it is a system glitch. Who knows. 

[Superduper2014]

UPDATE 3: SUCCESS!!!!! 

What do you know!! I was approved AND the offer is there under account services. 

So they approved it for a small line of $6,500 and they did not take away any available credit from the $25k BCE card I requested the CLI for yesterday. Total combined is $31,500 !

The take away for me is the following. 

1) Requesting a CLI on existing card before applying for another card worked had no impact on approval, but not sure if not requesting the CLI would have yielded a higher initial credit line on the new card that would combined still make 31,500. In any case, I did this preemptively and now I have to move the available credit over to the new card as planned. 

2) Despite getting the pop up saying I was not eligible for the offer, I still have the offer for the zero fee 0% Apr showing under account services tab, credit management, transfer balances. They allow to use up to 75% of the available credit for the card though. 

What I did for this, was to copy the link referral that you get in your account when signed in and then open that link and chose the card I wanted. Filled in the information and received no pop up and just applied and now a few hours later, approved!

I will be trying the same steps with my girl friend's account later today and see what happens.

The only thing I may do differently is that I will create a referral link in my account for her to use as this link takes you to choose the Everyday card I have, which is the one she will apply for, instead of using her own link. 

I am exhausted with amex research though... need some cherry garcia right about now.!!! 

[gdale6]

Comments are now closed as OP has been approved. OP is free to start a new thread in approvals if so desired.