AMEX Plat offer after CLI Decline

[Anonymous]

Hello Everyone,

I have applied for a CLI on my AMEX Everyday card 3 times. To increase it from $1,000, since it's my most used card, and it has my lowest Credit Line, apart from a Kohls card I don't use. Everytime I have called, they denied me. In my most recent call, I asked to speak with a credit analyst, expecting to go over the issues in my credit report, i.e. the reason I been denied. I was told told they were using the data from March, despite it being May, and their own credit score feature having April. He pretty much told me Experian told them not to approve me. I found it odd. The only bad thing on my credit report is a derogatory tax lien for about $100 that I never knew about until it appeared In my credit report. I paid it immediately. It should come off with the new credit bureaus rules next month or so.

I spend more than the $1,000 every month, and always pay in full. One of the reps told me, they didn't like that I paid in full every month. She told me they would prefer I ran a balance, if I wanted to qualify for offers.

I decided I was just going to get a Chase card and a Discover card. I was approved for both yesterday, and added a PenFed checking account.

Today I received an email from Amex with an invitation for an Amex Platinum Card.

Does anybody have any experience with Amex and this sort of odd behavior?

[Anonymous]

The other thing I forgot to add is that they soft pull my credit report more than once a month. One time for their Fico Score, and another or so for who knows what.

[CreditCuriosity]

What is your current EXP. Fico?  Yes Amex is known for this sort of stuff.  Even though it is a platinum card with a NPSL, that NPSL isn't really a NPSL it has a limit and will fluctuate with your use and profile over time.. Plus they get a nice 550 AF off of you whether you use the benefits or not.  In theory they havfe more control and less risk with the platinum card than say even only a 1k card.  Without more information about your profile it is hard to know what is going on.  Such things as score, AAoA baddies (you mentioned tax lien), utilization, dti, etc. 

[Anonymous]

If they are already putting strict sanctions on you with your everyday; something tells me that you would run into a similar wall with the Platinum, as far as the internal spending limit goes. But if you find those benefits worth it– then go ahead and apply.

[Anonymous]

My Experian score is 664. I was told by a Bank America Credit Analsyst that it is a "soft score number", that my actual score should be about 721 since my tax lien is less than $1,000, and that some bank make the "extended calculation" to get that number. After posting I logged into the AMEX website, and noticed I was over my limit, first time this happened to me. I called to make an immediate full payment. The lady told me that I was able to go over the limit due to my spending history, and that the Platinum offer was spefically sent to me based on my spending and profile. She said it wasn't a mistake offer, that they send it to people that meet certain criteria. 

MY AAoA is currently 2Yrs 4 mos / Credit Utilization is 17% on purpose / 9 total accounts.

The Platinum Card offer just appeared on Credit Karma for the first time, with "Very Good Aprroval Odds". There must be some kind of formula.

[CreditCuriosity]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

My Experian score is 664. I was told by a Bank America Credit Analsyst that it is a "soft score number", that my actual score should be about 721 since my tax lien is less than $1,000, and that some bank make the "extended calculation" to get that number. After posting I logged into the AMEX website, and noticed I was over my limit, first time this happened to me. I called to make an immediate full payment. The lady told me that I was able to go over the limit due to my spending history, and that the Platinum offer was spefically sent to me based on my spending and profile. She said it wasn't a mistake offer, that they send it to people that meet certain criteria. 

MY AAoA is currently 2Yrs 4 mos / Credit Utilization is 17% on purpose / 9 total accounts.

The Platinum Card offer just appeared on Credit Karma for the first time, with "Very Good Aprroval Odds". There must be some kind of formula.

---

a 664 experian score is probably part of the reason of the 1k CL and no CLI's...  Amex will approve a bit lower and obviously higher, but the limits reflect this.  Income also plays into the factor among another 1000 factors that you will never have a clue about.  I have no doubt that you might qualify for a platinum, but if you got off spending 5k say on it in the first month most likely you wouldn't be allowed to charge that in the first month as you need to build a useage pattern before they start allocating your NPSL limit to what you spend and they know your spend patterns, payment history on the new card, etc.  Question is can you use the benefits of a 550 dollar AF card?  Are you targeted for the 100k MR sign-up bonus?  can you make use of MR's?  Platinum has the same UW standards as the green card btw.  Best of luck whatever way you decide to go.

[jamesdwi]

---

@Anonymous wrote:
Hello Everyone,

I have applied for a CLI on my AMEX Everyday card 3 times. To increase it from $1,000, since it's my most used card, and it has my lowest Credit Line, apart from a Kohls card I don't use. Everytime I have called, they denied me. In my most recent call, I asked to speak with a credit analyst, expecting to go over the issues in my credit report, i.e. the reason I been denied. I was told told they were using the data from March, despite it being May, and their own credit score feature having April. He pretty much told me Experian told them not to approve me. I found it odd. The only bad thing on my credit report is a derogatory tax lien for about $100 that I never knew about until it appeared In my credit report. I paid it immediately. It should come off with the new credit bureaus rules next month or so.

Probably best to sit on the side lines untill its off, it will make things go smoother with other lenders.  If you want the flexibility get a charge, I would recomend the Gold Premeir Gold Rewars card,  3% on travel, signing bonus, no AF the first year, unless you travel alot and use Uber, the platinum probably isn't worth it. After the first year, you can keep the charge card if you value it, but at that point your internal score with AMEX will improve enough to get you a CLI on your existing card, or a new card (which may be better, because some lenders attach flags to cards given with low limits and they grow much slower, than a new card recieved with a better report).

EX didn't not tell AMEX not to give you a card, they simple said here is the report, and a score, Beyond that its up to AMEX, EX wouldn't give anything else because it would open them up to other problems and risk. 

I spend more than the $1,000 every month, and always pay in full. One of the reps told me, they didn't like that I paid in full every month. She told me they would prefer I ran a balance, if I wanted to qualify for offers.

don't listen to the Rep, she doesn't have any clue what  the underwriting department likes to see.  AMEX started out as a Charge card company, they are still a charge card company at heart, they don't mind you carrying a balance on a revolver, but they like to see it paid off or at least down over time.  

I decided I was just going to get a Chase card and a Discover card. I was approved for both yesterday, and added a PenFed checking account.

Off to the Garden,  2 new cards in a week probably took your score a bit lower you may not qualifiy, and AMEX will classify applying for a 3rd card in a week with a weak report as credit seeking and pidgeon hole you into low CL hell on the new card as well, even if they give the card. 

Today I received an email from Amex with an invitation for an Amex Platinum Card.

Does anybody have any experience with Amex and this sort of odd behavior?

---

[Anonymous]

Not to be a debbie downer on this post, but I wouldn't be so head over heels to get an invitation to apply for the Amex Platinum card. As much as I love that card and have one of my own, I don't think it's a card that's hard to be approved for. I hardly ever hear anyone really get denied for their charge cards and I believe the consensus is its the same underwriting criteria as the green, gold, etc. If anyone else can chime in on the dificulty of getting this card, please do so. I wish it was more exlclusive to get, but it just seems its about if youre willing to pay the AF or not. 

[Anonymous]

---

@jamesdwi wrote:

---

@Anonymous wrote:
Hello Everyone,

I have applied for a CLI on my AMEX Everyday card 3 times. To increase it from $1,000, since it's my most used card, and it has my lowest Credit Line, apart from a Kohls card I don't use. Everytime I have called, they denied me. In my most recent call, I asked to speak with a credit analyst, expecting to go over the issues in my credit report, i.e. the reason I been denied. I was told told they were using the data from March, despite it being May, and their own credit score feature having April. He pretty much told me Experian told them not to approve me. I found it odd. The only bad thing on my credit report is a derogatory tax lien for about $100 that I never knew about until it appeared In my credit report. I paid it immediately. It should come off with the new credit bureaus rules next month or so.

EX didn't not tell AMEX not to give you a card, they simple said here is the report, and a score, Beyond that its up to AMEX, EX wouldn't give anything else because it would open them up to other problems and risk. 

---

My thoughts exactly.   It might be a paraphrase by the OP, or the rep was just trying to push the "blame" elsewhere, but as above, EX is just a passive information source, it's up to the issuer to make a determination.