AMEX Question

[Watchmann]

---

haulingthescoreup wrote:

Keep your non-AmEx balances under control. They will soft you frequently for the first however long, until they're comfortable with you.

Don't bug them with requests for CLI's. After reading several other threads, I think that they might have decided to put an end to the big CL's, at least for new-ish members.

---

I've got 28 years with AMEX (3 different cards) and they have softed me 55 times in the last two years.  That works out to each account getting looked at every 3 weeks.  That's pretty frequent for a long term account holder who has never missed a payment.  I think it is purely an automated process, and it really doesn't matter how long you have been with them, or your CL.  I think the best advice is to use the credit responsibly and pay it off in a diligent manner.  That's true for AMEX as well as any other card.  And don't push for CLI's so often, I think that will increasingly be looked upon as a sign of trouble as the economy continues to struggle.  The era of easy, cheap money is over! 

Message Edited by Watchmann on 07-13-2008 04:29 PM

[haulingthescoreup]

Wow, interesting to know that Big Brother is still watching after 28 years! Guess I'll go make up the bed in the spare room.

[MidnightVoice]

Computers never forget elephants.........

[honeybrook1]

Wow-a lot of great advice here-thanks.  I thought I had read somewhere on here about AMEX accepting mortgage payments.  What a great way to rack up reward points if they did.  But, I soon found out that neither AMEX or my mortgage company do this.  I'm just so anxious to use the card!  I can handle the f/r if they ask for it, I just don't want the hassle-or the embarrassment of being declined when I'm out for dinner or something.  I would love to set up my cable and water bill with them.  Maybe I'll do this and just charge a little here and there, then just PIF the next day. 

[Anonymous]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

I firmly believe that your cash advance story is the exception that proves the rule.

Wait...I don't get it. Wouldn't an exception prove that something isn't a rule?

I cash advanced in Dover before the FR and didn't have any issues until I got Green and Clear. After the FR I cash advanced in Vegas and they didn't seem to care.

However, both times I did notify them of my intention to do so on the phone, and made sure they would approve it.

I've also cash advanced off my Freedom Visa a couple times also.

I don't mean to sound like I cash advance all the time. It's just that both times I've done it involved me going out of town and my debit card refusing to work.

Message Edited by FretlessMayhem on 07-14-2008 10:10 PM

Message Edited by FretlessMayhem on 07-14-2008 10:10 PM

[honeybrook1]

So, is the standard to call AMEX ahead of time to inform them of a big purchase, like a washer/dryer, a PS3, or airline tickets for the fam to go to DisneyLand in October?  Why did I want this card again?

[MidnightVoice]

---

FretlessMayhem wrote:

Wait...I don't get it. Wouldn't an exception prove that something isn't a rule?

---

To be technical and pedantic (), "proves" in this case originally had the meaning of "tests", as in adding gunpowder to alcohol and igniting it - if it didn't burn it had too much water, if it did burn if was proof it was OK - hence we still measure alcohol content as proof.

Here endeth the lesson for today 

[Anonymous]

---

honeybrook1 wrote:

So, is the standard to call AMEX ahead of time to inform them of a big purchase, like a washer/dryer, a PS3, or airline tickets for the fam to go to DisneyLand in October?  Why did I want this card again?

---

Well, I think it depends what your CL is and what % of your CL you intend to use.  My Delta Gold has a $9000 limit and I don't see anything wrong with charging $1500 in airfare and paying it off right away.

I probably wouldn't bother calling unless it was over 50%, but some of the more experienced AMEX users may correct me.

[MidnightVoice]

I just call when the expenditure is "out of pattern"

[Anonymous]

I have two charge cards with them...  I've never called them before I've made a purchase and they've never turned me down.  I've made many out of the ordinary purchases and made purchases outside of the country when they didn't know I was travelling. 

Once they randomly shut off my ability to pay over time when I had a random high balance, but turned it back on when I paid, and I didn't care because I don't use that feature.   That's all.

Maybe I'm an exception, but I've never had to call about anything purchase related.