TIP: App for AMEX

[Anonymous]

If you have one of AMEX's products that show your FICO score; that is the score they go off of. I apped for the SPG three days after my EX jumped to a score of 703, however the AMEX product showed 685 and I was declined. Should have waited until it updated on their page.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the tip! I get my FICO from my Gold Skymiles card

[TheConductor]

This is the side effect of AMEX's "soft pull if denied, hard pull if approved" practice for existing cardholders.

Upside: If denied, it does not cost you a hard pull.

Downside: they will usually make the decision based on data from the last time they soft-pulled your report, instead of initiating a fresh pull.

Consequently, exactly as you suggest it is best to wait until you have some confirmation Amex is seeing the data you want them to see. One way of doing that is to look at the free FICO if you have a card that offers it, but you can also simply wait 31 days, or use a 3rd-party monitoring service that enables you to see when Amex soft pulls you.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

If you have one of AMEX's products that show your FICO score; that is the score they go off of. I apped for the SPG three days after my EX jumped to a score of 703, however the AMEX product showed 685 and I was declined. Should have waited until it updated on their page.

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Their FICO score only updates once per month but they may have pulled your score since then so if you can check when they did the last soft pull and your score at that time you will know the score they will base their decision reguardless of the score showing on the website.

[Anonymous]

Gumby, what product gave you denial at 685? I inched past 685 to 688 but I'm not trying until I am paid down.

[Anonymous]

Yep kinda annoying, got denied for being too new for a second card (under six months with Amex) when the soft pull was a month behind at 5 months

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Yep kinda annoying, got denied for being too new for a second card (under six months with Amex) when the soft pull was a month behind at 5 months

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That's a bogus reason they just pulled from the roulette wheel of reasons. I got the ED in January, and was instant approved for the SimplyCash in May.

[Anonymous]

Maybe because one was personal and one was business? Who knows maybe my 719 ex was borderline in their eyes.

[Anonymous]

Just curious what others use to monitor soft pulls.....my fico doesn't show those, do they??

[Anonymous]

All of the free scores that CCs give you are SP