YMMV - and it obviously did vary for you, but inquiries are not an easy thing to get removed and it's not likely once they're there. Yes, of course there are people who've had them removed but it's not a sure thing. Besides, you're referring to applying to 2 cards based off of one CR. It's not unlikely with businesses, to pull a CR per application.
OP's TU FICO is a 719. Presuming the EX FICO is similar, with no derogs, we can only speculate if OP can get the card or not. I got the BCP with an EX FICO 702 and an old Amex (paid) charge-off on my EX report. If you read the boards, you'll see some getting Amex, revolving, in the 600s. Again, YMMV. I will NEVER recommend to apply for a card you don't want. If OP is denied, they can apply on a later date. That's why so many people have their cards in SDs. They don't really want or "need" them.
The boards recently tell us that expecting new Amex members think they're getting backdated, but some are not. Some, not all. It does seem the OP will since they already saw his name in the system. We've all learned not to completely believe what CSRs said although the chances look good here...but I would never expect it. 
Basically what I'm saying is there are exceptions to everything but that doesn't make my advice "bad" or untrue. It's based off of experience from myself and many others.
Starting Score: 648
@adavis425 wrote:
@readyfireaim wrote:
I'm also a Costco member, so I was thinking of driving to the "ghetto" Costco that's in a neighborhood that surely has lower average FICO scores than the Costco where I shop and applying in-store. Would applying in-store help my chances? What about the Costco location? Some people seem to think that the Costco AMEX isn't worth it under any circumstance. The lady at the store encouraged me to apply for the Costco Business AMEX because it has better rewards. Would it still report to my personal credit report? I'd hate to apply for the Business Card, get rejected, and have to apply again for the regular card. She told me that they would have to make 2 separate pulls if I got declined for one and wanted to apply for the other.
ReadyFireAim
WTH?? What?? Costco (nor FICO) doesn't care where you apply. Your credit is your credit. Approval or denial is not geographically based. Even if it were, your address is still on your app. They know you don't live in the area.
@adavis425: I hope I didn't offend you with my idea. I thought that might work because I've heard that an applicant may have a greater chance of success by applying in-store. Where someone may be declined online, perhaps they get approved in-store because they store employee calls in and notifies the decision-maker that the customer is standing here looking forward to making a large purchase, like a huge Costco flat-screen.
If that were the case, that applying in-store could help your chances because the store wants that purchase & business from you, I figured that applying at a store in an area where your score would be closer to the average applicant instead of one of the lowest in-store applicant scores in an affluent area... maybe that might allow me to squeeze by and get approved since that store may have a higher %age of applicants denied than the affluent store.
Just an idea... an idea that may show my ignorance about how credit apps and in-store apps work... which is why I asked the question... and why I appreciate this great forum.
-ReadyFireAim
Starting Scores: EQ 697 (4/3/12) / TU 683 (4/3/12) / EX FICO 643 (3/16/12)
@webhopper wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Definitely do Amex as backdating will probably help your score. You are borderline for Amex so you need to do charge card and then app for credit card same day. Charge card first though and then ask to app for credit card. Hopefully they do one inquiry. If they do two, the credit bureaus will often remove the 2nd as duplicate. With charge card and good history for 6 months, the credit card becomes more likely even if rejected on that first try. For you, that backdating is heaven as helps fill in hole when you messed up
+1 on Zync, Green, Gold or PR Gold
I agree with these posts, try to get those baddies removed 1st then get in with AMEX with a charge card.
@Anonymous wrote:
I wouldn't apply for ANYTHING until you took care of the 30 day late. How do you do that?
I know... I know... I have been kicking myself over and over again for slipping up and getting nailed with a 30 Day Late. I had been paying my auto loan 3-4 months ahead of schedule. When I initially applied for refinancing with Bellco in June 2011, the last payment I'd made to Wells Fargo was in April 2011, leaving me with a due date of Sept 2011. I figured that the refi would be completed far before September. Bellco dropped the ball... so much that they had to Hard Pull my credit again because the original pull in June was no longer able to be used because too much tome passed. I was so frustrated. Then after the second pull, the refi check gets to Wells Fargo too late.
Here's the letter I sent to Wells Fargo:
To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing this letter to dispute the two “30 day late” payment statuses that have been submitted to my credit report by Wells Fargo Dealer Services. I have been in the process of trying to get my car refinanced since June 3, 2011. Bellco Credit Union ran my credit and began the process of taking over my auto loan from WFDS.
As shown on the following page, I made a payment of $527.56 on 3/5/11 and a payment of $695.67 on 4/20/2011. Those payments pushed my next WFDS due date all the way to 9/16/2011. This was more than enough time for Bellco to complete my refinance paperwork and issue a check to Wells Fargo. Unfortunately, Bellco did not complete the necessary paperwork in time. After an apology, I was told that Bellco needed to run my credit again because too much time had elapsed since my initial credit report was run and they needed a fresh report to do the refinance. This frustrated me because I didn’t want a second inquiry on my credit because I’m saving up a down payment for my first home purchase and want to get the best rate possible. I searched for someone else to handle my refinance but ultimately decided to give Bellco a second chance.
On 10/3/11, Bellco ran my credit again for the same auto refinance and told me that they would make sure that they sent a payoff check to Wells Fargo Dealer Services in time to avoid my account reaching “30 day late” status on my credit report. Unfortunately, the payment did not reach WFDS until 10/17/2011, which was 32 days after my due date on 9/15/2011.
In early November, I received an email notification that my credit score had dropped by 77 points and that my Risk Level had increased. I am so frustrated that Bellco’s ineptitude has jeopardized my credit score and my goal of home ownership. I immediately called WFDS and spoke to a young man that instructed me on how to dispute these submissions to my credit report and told me to provide as much information as possible and to get a letter from Bellco showing that they were fully responsible for this unfortunate mess.
I have included the letter from Bellco in this fax and am requesting that WFDS please remove the two “30 day late” payment statuses reported to all three credit bureaus as soon as possible.
Thank you,
********************************************************************
WFDS removed the second 30 day late, but not the first one. Of course if I could do it all over again, I would have dumped Bellco after their first mistake or just stayed more diligent with the WFDS payment and made sure that WFDS had their money on time.
The second attempt at refi occurred on 10/3, Bellco says the check was mailed on 10/6, but WFDS says that they didn't get the check until Monday, October 17th. Couldn't it be possible that WFDS received the check on Friday, October 14th (or sooner), which would have been ON TIME... but whomever received the check didn't enter it or process it until Monday? I feel that I can fight this.
Thank you to everyone that has given me additional motivation to keep fighting. This is too important to not be the squeaky wheel. I have nothing to lose.
Any advice on how I'd fight this?
Yes...Find the CEO of Wells Fargo's address and email a revised letter to him. That's your first step and wait a week or so. More than likely you will get a call from somone there so make sure you have a good phone number. Mention how you never intended to be late and how Wells is a great company and that you are sorry you couldn't do your refinance with them. Also mention how you plan to always pursue business in the future with them and how it was an obvious unintentional mistake and would like to request Goodwill between you and Wells that they please remove the late. Also indicate to contact you if any further information or documentation is required to contact you.BE NICE
If that gets you nowhere then try to contact the credit reporting department directly...if that doesnt work then email some executives...if that doesnt work then file with the BBB....If that doesnt work send a certified letter stating your intent to sue...If that doesnt wotk then hire a lawyer to simply write a few letters on your behalf ($150 or so)...If that doesnt work then wait 7 years! 
Dont dispute with the agencies until the very end of the process when you file the complaint with BBB. Be very nice and then gradually turn the screwes to an angry ex customer.
Thanks to everyone for the advice and motivation to continue fighting my collection and 30 day late. As much as thought I was ready for an App Spree, unfortunately I'm not there yet. Here's what I'm going to do instead.
1A. Call the collection agency, see if they can push to get the collection removed from their end. Their office is 10 minutes from where I live, the last time I stopped by and had them print a letter stating that the collection should be deleted, they seemed friendly and confident that the deletion would take place.
1B. Call EQ for better service on the collection removal. I have 1-866-640-2273. Is there a better number? Found better numbers in the CRA Phone & Fax Numbers thread.
2. Call the other collection agency that put the 3rd inquiry onto my Experian report. Can't hurt to try and get it removed.
3. Get ready to battle with Wells Fargo to get the 30 Day Late removed. Going to write a revised letter that includes that fact that I initially wanted to refi with WFDS but was told that I couldn't because my balance was too low. Will be nice, professional, request goodwill, and profess love for Wells Fargo. Also going to get as much proof and ammo from Bellco as I can to support my effort. Going to be a squeaky wheel until I get some oil!
4. I'm still tempted to give AMEX a try, especially since I called again this morning and was told again that I will receive backdating to 1999 and my AAoA could really use that boost. If they are only going to pull my EX score, it's usually my strongest score. I'd like to go for the Green or Gold charge cards instead of Zync, but I'd rather not get denied. I'm not worried about having 2 inquiries if I can't get the second removed since I have zero inquiries currently. If I were to do one charge and one credit, does the Gold require a stronger report than Green, or is there no difference for approval and I'd basically be choosing how much in annual fees I'd like to pay in exchange for the benefits associated with the Green or Gold card? For the credit card, I'm a Costco member, but I've read that the Delta SkyMiles Gold card is the easiest AMEX credit card to get approval.
Beyond AMEX, I'm going to wait for my credit to get stronger and cleaner before I apply for Southwest Chase, Discover, or anyone else.
How would you suggest completing the AMEX applications? Over the phone? Apply for Zync/Green/Gold on the phone, then drive to Costco and apply for that card in-store? If I'm approved for the charge card, I'll be tempted to apply for the Delta card on the phone right then as well. Can I apply for the Costco card over the phone?"
When I apply over the phone, should I tell the CSR, I'd like to apply for a Gold charge card, but if I'm not approved, I'd like to go for the Zync card? Then if I get one or the other, request to apply for the Delta Skymiles Gold (or Costco)? I'm trying to resist the tempation to go app crazy and excited to see how the backdating helps my score overall. That's why part of me says, just apply for Zync, cross your fingers, and hope for the best.
*sigh*
I'm going to take care of #1 & #2 in the meanwhile.
Thanks again,
ReadyFireAim
Called the Collection Agency. They are SO FRIENDLY! Of course it's because they've already been paid. The rep that handles credit reporting told me that they submitted a request for deletion from all three bureaus back in 2010.
Called EQ at 866-640-2273. Automated System kept kicking me out so I intentionally chose the wrong option to get a human on the phone faster. That lady gave me 877-784-2528 as the EQ Dispute Dept phone number. Called that number, gave them my dispute number from my unsuccessful dispute. Confirmed last four of SSN and mother's maiden name. Was told that my dispute wasn't successful because I tried to claim that the debt didn't belong to me so all EQ did was check with the CA to see if my name, previous address, SSN, etc. all matched up. Once they did, the investigation ended without consideration of deletion. I went back into EQ's dispute forms and looked at the menu again. None of the options truly match a PFD. The closest match after further review was "I am not liable for this debt". I was going to choose that option until the nice lady on the phone (Kelly) gave me the option of allowing her to file the dispute for me. She had just heard my entire sob story and I felt we had some decent phone rapport, so I let her type what she felt would get me the outcome that I needed. She also gave me a new confirmation number, told me to fax the deletion letter from the CA, a copy of my drivers license and SS card to 888-826-0573 and to write my name, email, confirmation number, and phone number on the faxed papers. She also told me that 800-685-5000 was the phone number that I could have the CA call to expedite the removal of the derogatory account from my credit report. Called back the CA with hopes of encouraging them to make that call for me ASAP. Of course they didn't answer and I didn't want to leave a message and not feel as confident about the task being completed. I'll catch up with them later today.
On to #2...