Advice needed--possible Amex app

[honky]

Cards and scores are in my sig.  Oldest account 13 years, aaoa 3 years.  2 new cards are not showing yet--when they do, my aaoa will decrease.

Ive been denied the BCP twice--most recently about 9 months ago.  My wife has the boa123 for gas purchases, so I dont need the BCP.  I want to get in for the backdating.

My thoughts are that I can get in now, do the 3x@61 days, and use it enough to keep them happy.  The goal is to have the backdate, in a few years so I can increase my overall aaoa.  Im also looking to the future where I can help give my children a head start to financial responsibility by adding them as AU.  Does this make sense?

I dont want another inq, but the entire point of getting an amex is for the backdating.  The longer I wait, the less useful that becomes.  My wife has less inq, so I thought about having her apply, but her score is only 660 and likely would not get approved.  We do both get 25k gold offers in the mail every couple weeks.

Should I app, her app, or both app for best future gains?  Go for the gold offer or straight for a revolver like BCE which Id rather have long term, but have no offers?

[09Lexie]

What was the reason for the denials?

[honky]

I wish I could remember, but I dont.  Ive done a lot since then on my credit journey.  Probably late pay to Cap1 2007.  My score was similar, but I did not have as many cards.

I have a couple 30 lates from 2007, no collections, good income.

I did let a balance report, so my util is probably 25% right now.  If I wait a month I can get that back down, however I will lose aaoa when the CSP reports.  Maybe the CSP will help tho?

[tengtengvn]

AMEX CCs are harder to get than their charge cards. I got my BCP backdated from the old Green, then convert to BCE before AF hit.

[09Lexie]

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@honky wrote:

I wish I could remember, but I dont.  Ive done a lot since then on my credit journey.  Probably late pay to Cap1 2007.  My score was similar, but I did not have as many cards.

I have a couple 30 lates from 2007, no collections, good income.

I did let a balance report, so my util is probably 25% right now.  If I wait a month I can get that back down, however I will lose aaoa when the CSP reports.  Maybe the CSP will help tho?

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It would help if you knew what they did not like and your profile now is 'acceptable' - I'm not sure if the information stays on their status check website but its a worth a look. IMO, I would get that util down. 

How many new cards have you opened since the last denial? 

[honky]

Ive opened Alliant and CSP since then, but also added as AU on my wifes BoA123.

I almost always carry <5% util, but let 1 card report a 4k balance before paying it this month.  Maybe I should wait until next month and make sure I pay before statement cuts.  They auto-pif, but the balances show if I dont get online and do it before that time.  I usually make 2-3 payments on my goto card every month.

[p-]

Too bad about the unicorn card, you'd be a shoo-in.

[honky]

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@p- wrote:

Too bad about the unicorn card, you'd be a shoo-in.

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Yep, I dropped the ball on that.  Never apped.