Realizing that all this back-and-forth on my part about AmEx usage for new card holders looks terribly muddled, let me try again:
Think of getting your new card in terms of a job interview. When you're sitting across the desk from the interviewer, you want to seem interested in the job and competent. You don't want to be a tiny little mouse, squeaking "yes" and "no" answers and never moving. But you also don't want to climb up on the desk, rip your shirt open, and bellow that you're the next great hope for the company that you're interviewing with.
So to drag the tortured analogy back to American Express, you don't want to immediately stick the card in your sock drawer, too scared to use it. But it might not be too smart to go completely berserk at first in an attempt to push your internal limit higher. Don't try to game them. Just use the card responsibly and with reasonable frequency, keep the balances under control, and let them get used to you, and you to them. They'll turn you loose soon enough once they see that you will be a good customer.
Sorry for any confusion by my previous posts here and elsewhere! Hope that helps.
* goes to put overheated head under faucet *
* Credit is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master. * Who's the boss --you or your credit?
FICO's: EQ 781 - TU 793 - EX 779 (from PSECU) - Done credit hunting; having fun with credit gardening. - EQ 590 on 5/14/2007
