AMEX Instant Decision - we need to speak with you

[Anonymous]

I applied for an AMEX Green last year and got denied.  My credit has been getting better and better so I applied again.  Instead of the instant decline via e-mail, this is the response I got:

Thank You for applying for the American Express® Green Card. 

In order to provide you with an instant decision, we need to speak with you. We are available to assist you during our Hours of Operations: Monday-Friday 8AM to Midnight, Saturdays 9:30AM to 9PM, and Sundays 10AM to 9PM Eastern Time.

Please call us at 1-800-348-6103 to be connected directly to a Customer Care Professional who will provide you with a decision. To expedite your call, please refer to your individual tracking number. 

If you are unable to speak with us now, print this page, call us during our Hours of Operation. We will finalize your application when you call. If we don't hear from you, we will attempt to contact you in the next 2-3 days.

Thank you for choosing American Express.

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They are closed now so I'll have to call them tomorrow.  Any ideas?  My new address is not the same as my old address where I still have some of my existing credit cards billed to.  This was the same as 6 months ago when I last applied, my credit has improved 30-40 points though since then according to Experian.  I can't think of any

[crunching_numbers]

It sounds like there might be an identity issue or fraud alert related to your name/account. The message reads as if you are approved and they just need to verify things.

[Anonymous]

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@crunching_numbers wrote:

It sounds like there might be an identity issue or fraud alert related to your name/account. The message reads as if you are approved and they just need to verify things.

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+1  if there was not the potential for approval you would have simply been rejected.

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys - I'll let you know whether or not I am approved.

Do you know if the approval criteria is the same for the AMEX Green vs. Gold cards?  

I'm not very familiar with the benefits of each server, but I do spend quite a bit on my existing cards every month (~$5-$10K/mo) so if the approval criteria is the same I'd like to get whichever card will provide me with the best benefits in terms of points, travel, etc.  Any insight would be greatly appreciated. 

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys - I'll let you know whether or not I am approved.

Do you know if the approval criteria is the same for the AMEX Green vs. Gold cards?  

I'm not very familiar with the benefits of each server, but I do spend quite a bit on my existing cards every month (~$5-$10K/mo) so if the approval criteria is the same I'd like to get whichever card will provide me with the best benefits in terms of points, travel, etc.  Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

[Anonymous]

I'm excited to hear the outcome of this one.

[BullsEye10]

I'm interested as well ... please be sure to update as soon as you speak with them.

[ppiresny]

This happened to me with chase sapphire, you are definitely in the right direction for approval, in my case it was just verification, questions such as income,social,total in accounts, may be different for you but you should be fine.

[suebee123]

This very thing happened to me with AMEX.  They just wanted to verify my identity.  Call them, I'm sure you are approved.  I have two AMEX charge cards and I think the criteria for green, gold and platinum is the same.

Good luck.

[Whereis750]

Any update yet?  Curious...