Hi all, hoping someone has a similar situation or can comment on my future approval odds/ability to fall back in AMEX's "good graces."
I've been a cardholder since 2011. Then in November (2017), my card was used in a company with which I was related (not owner). AMEX automatically cancelled my card that night (~2am). Despite calling even to Exec Office, nobody was able to re-instate my account. Now, I'm in a payment program to pay the balance (~1k)...I didn't feel like paying that minor amount in-full since they wronged me. The EO claimed I'm not on any sort of blacklist and that if I were to re-join, the new account would be backdated to my original year of 2011.
Since then, I've tried applying for each of their charge cards: Green, Gold, PRG and Platinum -- once each, about every 3 weeks. All immediately denied without any credit pull. One letter simply mentioned a poor relationship with them (though it did NOT mention the outstanding debt, which still conforms to the payment program).
Nobody I talked to--from Twitter to the phone number listed on this board--will confirm the existence of the Optima/Oasis program, so I can't even use that to get back in with AMEX.
Flash forward to today: I've been approved as an Authorized User on my parent's AMEX Delta Gold card. I suppose this is GOOD NEWS, considering if I were truly black-listed, they'd deny that application on-the-spot?!
Anyone in a similar situation with expectations of when I may be able to re-apply successfully for a charge card? Will it be 3 months from today? 6 months from cancellation? None of these??? I really miss the Platinum benefits, particularly purchase protections and travel benefits!! I'm not even interested in their credit products since I pay-in-full monthly (~40k/year).
Thanks!
FYI overall: no BK, no COs, very few 30 day lates (>95% on time), and with AMEX only 1 missed payment. Was FR'd about 4 years ago, but that went fine. FR only imposed a hard limit, but no other adverse action 'til said cancellation (they'd even let me exceed said 'hard' limit by up to $1.5k-$2k).
Starting Score: 608 (2015) 
Hold up.... I'm aware it's PIF (and wasn't asking for a lecture but instead for personal experience). As clearer background, they offered the program to me, and they consider the account in good standing--the only negative item is the fact that the card got used at a company with which I was then affiliated. That's no longer the case. Their algorithims automatically closed the account.
I considered the possible negative effects of this plan and am keenly aware of AMEX's policies and preferences, having had 5 different products of theirs since 2011. Even though I made a 60% down payment before enrolling, they continue reporting as "paid as agreed," they haven't mentioned anything negative to me, and they didn't say it'd affect my ability to re-apply in the future.
So with this in mind, do you intend to mean that it's your personal experience that once paid-in-full, AMEX will be ready to re-issue me a new Platinum Card? Please also clarify your 60 day comment to help. The program is for 12 months, and the card will become PIF prior to the program expiring--so I'm unsure what you mean about that?
@wrote:“Then in November (2017), my card was used in a company with which I was related (not owner). AMEX automatically cancelled my card that night (~2am).” This quote needs some explaining? Just guessing you did something illegal or not allowed for American Express. If so that’s a huge deal. If not I’m sorry for misunderstanding. Closing an account imediately is no small thing as you are trying to say. Odds are you ARE blacklisted. PIF and time will probably get you off this blacklist. It sounds like you ARE blacklisted. Just by applying for other cards from them and immediately denied says this. I am not being judgemental either. Just trying to stay as best I can with facts. Even one late payment is bad for a profile. 95% ontime isn’t good at all. But with time and payments this will go away too. The poor relationship with them says it all from their perspective.
Thanks for the comments.
I don't think blacklisted folks are allowed to be AUs, from my understanding, no?? So when I was instantly approved for that (card is in the mail), I took that as a good sign towards becoming my own member again soon.
Also you're right that was a bit vague! To clarify, no, it wasn't any illegal activity or anything like that. It was simply that a company for which I worked swiped my card. AMEX saw that as a cash advance, which was not the case (it was just a donation). But they saw my name on the card and on the company, so the computer auto-flagged for immediate cancellation once the transaction settled. AMEX bans cash advances unless specifically allowed in the T&C.
It's a strange situation, but I see being accepted as an AU as a good sign, eh? Just trying to collect some personal experiences, even regardless of folks' original reasons for blacklisted/cancelled accounts--but instead, to learn how people got back into good graces and particularly, when welcomed back to the club (post-cancel)??
Also, FYI the payment plan is due to an incredibly expensive medical emergency from which I was recovering (which AMEX knows)--since they offered it without me asking, I took it. Nonetheless, I paid ~60% down, as originally mentioned.
The EO was very pleasant and understanding of my situations and worked a good week on advocating for reinstatement (she had worked with me previously)...unfortunately, those pesky T&Cs got in the way!!
Thanks for the comment. An easy way to think of the original reason is: I made a purchase from a company that AMEX thought I owned (not true). Their computers saw this as a cash advance, which again is untrue. Anyway, I'm glad I'm an AU now and hope I'll fall back into good graces soon. Perhaps once the card is PIF they'll reconsider. As mentioned, EO was kind and discussed this possibility as very real (getting a new card).
Which is what I'm asking from other peoples' personal experiences. I know PIF and time are factors--I'm asking for case examples. Not reiterations of AMEX's preferences of which we're all aware.
My questions, more clearly, from people who've experienced this situation: How long 'til reapply? How long on blacklist? Did AU help get off? How long after PIF to apply? Etc.