When does AMEX start soft pulling for approvals?

[Anonymous]

Afternoon folks,

Was approved for the AMEX Gold Card about a month ago, went through pre qual first, got approved for the Gold and Platinum. Went with the Gold because I couldnt justify the AF on the Platinum.

I am intent on building a long term relationship with AMEX, and was wondering from your collective experience, when do pre approved offers start to appear on your account?  Not in a rush to get a new card or anything, just curious. Thanks in advance!

[rostrow416]

I never got a pre-approval (even when I got approved for my Gold card), but I got a soft pull approval for the Amex Amazon business card 2 weeks afterwards.  Recently apped for the BCP - soft pull but declined (not enough time as an Amex customer yet - I guess 2 cards was enough for them to give me in the first 6 months).

[Remedios]

I got my first (and only) Amex in January, by February I had pre-approval for all of their cards. Less than 3 weeks, I believe. It's profile specific. 

If you have negatives on your report, it might delay real pre-approvals, but that doesn't mean you wouldn't be approved if you try after giving it sufficient time. 

[CreditCardNinja]

I read somewhere if you are an existing Amex credit card holder and you apply for the second or third amex credit card they only do soft pull. 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the quick replies all.

Ill keep checking back periodically, right now not even the Platinum is showing as pre approval even though they offered it to me alongside the gold, so maybe just need to wait it out a little longer. Not quite looking to open a new card with them just yet, just getting familiar with their ways.

[coldfusion]

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@CreditCardNinja wrote:

I read somewhere if you are an existing Amex credit card holder and you apply for the second or third amex credit card they only do soft pull. 

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There are still well-meaning but ill-informed people that make that claim (you aren't making it, only repeating that you read it) but there are multiple members here including myself that know from personal experience that it's incorrect.  There isn't a clear set pattern as to what triggers the additional HP. 

It's fair to say that for an existing cardholder the odds of only taking a soft pull when submitting an application for an additional AMEX card are excellent but it isn't an absolute - ending up with another hard pull isn't exactly a rare occurance either.  OPs question is both reasonable and relevant.

[RDO]

It took me around 8 months to get preapproved offers.  I barely got in with amex with $1000 SL on the delta gold.  Put around $55,000 spend on it in the first year.  It took another 3 months to get 3x cli on the card. Then since February I gotten Gold, BBP, Platinum, and just now the Marriott business!!!!!!  All soft pulls after the first card.

[creditchecked]

I already had an Amex Gold Card back in Feb 2021. Last week I applied for the Amex Platinum, Hilton Honors and Blue Cash cards back to back. I was approved for all 3 with no hard or soft pulls. They told me they use the last soft pull they have on your file with them for existing cardholders. If additional data is required they will initiate a hard pull. 

[Trini88]

Got mine in August, started seeing preapproved offers in September. Only preapproved for ALL their cards with AF 😒.

[CreditCardNinja]

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@coldfusion wrote:

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@CreditCardNinja wrote:

I read somewhere if you are an existing Amex credit card holder and you apply for the second or third amex credit card they only do soft pull. 

---

There are still well-meaning but ill-informed people that make that claim (you aren't making it, only repeating that you read it) but there are multiple members here including myself that know from personal experience that it's incorrect.  There isn't a clear set pattern as to what triggers the additional HP. 

It's fair to say that for an existing cardholder the odds of only taking a soft pull when submitting an application for an additional AMEX card are excellent but it isn't an absolute - ending up with another hard pull isn't exactly a rare occurance either.  OPs question is both reasonable and relevant.

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Maybe its a case to case basis.  atleast, Coming from your mouth, you did not agree on what I read about soft pulling adding additional knowledge to us readers. But I will give an update by next month.
I was approved for Amex Gold, my 2nd amex credit card account on Oct 7. Updated Fico score released on the 15th. There was still no record shows of hard pull report. Instead my credit score to all credit bureaus upped. Maybe, it wasn't reported yet. Come Nov 15. Next credit report. We will see. thank you.