I have been reading re: AMEX cards and wanted to know how I should treat my card. I know they get picky, so what do I need to do? PIF every month? Not max out the card? Can someone give me tips on how to use this card?
Just PIF-
That is all you have to do to keep AMEX happy-
If you did end up revolving a balance- no more than 3 months
I have put some major $'s (to me) though my AMEX cards- I am not sure if this makes a difference or not.
hautemama wrote:
I have been reading re: AMEX cards and wanted to know how I should treat my card. I know they get picky, so what do I need to do? PIF every month? Not max out the card? Can someone give me tips on how to use this card?
Have either of you had any problems using your AMEX? I just received my Delta Gold with a cl of $6000. Does AMEX like to see a lot of usage? I know to PIF and that cash advances are a no-no. I don't plan on converting the card. Is there anything else that would ruffle their feathers?
Starting Score: 718
I appreciate your response, haulingthescoreup!
The $6000 cl that they gave me is just fine! It's my second highest cl, after Citi ($7070). Are there charge entries that AMEX doesn't like to see on their card? Do they frown on paying utilities bills or your mortgage with their card or anything like that?
@honeybrook1 wrote:I appreciate your response, haulingthescoreup!The $6000 cl that they gave me is just fine! It's my second highest cl, after Citi ($7070). Are there charge entries that AMEX doesn't like to see on their card? Do they frown on paying utilities bills or your mortgage with their card or anything like that?
There has been all sorts of speculation as to whether or not they look at certain charges as riskier than others.
I am of the opinion that certain charges could be a trigger for the FR, but I'm not sure about whether they care or not. I've cash advanced off my Amex at Dover Downs Casino, and in Vegas, as well as bought expensive whiskey, and they haven't seemed to care so far.
Then again, I've already done the FR.
They won't frown on those types of purchases. (Are you sure your mortgage lender takes Amex, though? Most won't let you pay with a CC at all.) They actually encourage cardholders to use their cards for their everyday expenses, as long as you PIF every month.
honeybrook1 wrote:
I appreciate your response, haulingthescoreup!The $6000 cl that they gave me is just fine! It's my second highest cl, after Citi ($7070). Are there charge entries that AMEX doesn't like to see on their card? Do they frown on paying utilities bills or your mortgage with their card or anything like that?
The only thing you want to avoid is cash advances, but that is true of any CCC.
@honeybrook1 wrote:I appreciate your response, haulingthescoreup!The $6000 cl that they gave me is just fine! It's my second highest cl, after Citi ($7070). Are there charge entries that AMEX doesn't like to see on their card? Do they frown on paying utilities bills or your mortgage with their card or anything like that?
Mu utilities are paid on it and they don't seem to mind.
And when you find a card that you can pay your mortgage on, let me know!! Think of all those points!!
@FretlessMayhem wrote:
@honeybrook1 wrote:
I appreciate your response, haulingthescoreup!The $6000 cl that they gave me is just fine! It's my second highest cl, after Citi ($7070). Are there charge entries that AMEX doesn't like to see on their card? Do they frown on paying utilities bills or your mortgage with their card or anything like that?
There has been all sorts of speculation as to whether or not they look at certain charges as riskier than others.
I am of the opinion that certain charges could be a trigger for the FR, but I'm not sure about whether they care or not. I've cash advanced off my Amex at Dover Downs Casino, and in Vegas, as well as bought expensive whiskey, and they haven't seemed to care so far.
Then again, I've already done the FR.
I firmly believe that your cash advance story is the exception that proves the rule.
@honeybrook1 wrote:
I appreciate your response, haulingthescoreup!The $6000 cl that they gave me is just fine! It's my second highest cl, after Citi ($7070). Are there charge entries that AMEX doesn't like to see on their card? Do they frown on paying utilities bills or your mortgage with their card or anything like that?
No, they love it when you run recurring bills through them, because they get a cut. I have my Verizon account on the Gold card, and I'm trying to get the Comcast on as well. And wow, if I could run the mortgage.....
There's a thread floating around that if you use a card for booze, gambling, and so forth, it can hurt you in CCC's internal scoring, but there are enough other people who've posted otherwise that I don't know that it's worth worrying about. Maybe if you have daily charges from the corner liquor store, that might raise some eyebrows.
I did try to reserve my Gold card for big-ticket, travel-related items, but we don't do much traveling or big-ticket purchases, so I decided not to worry about it. Life's too short to try to read their minds, IMO.
I think the main thing is that for the first year, at any rate, don't do anything to startle them, with this card or any other.
Nice starting limit!