I have questions about backdating. I went on an AmEx spree over the past month, and now have three. I didn't want all of these initially, but I am happy with them for now. None of them have reported yet. I am wondering how these are going to show up and how I might best proceed. I opened AmEx Delta Gold first in mid-October. Definitely keeping it and enjoy the benefits it offers. I really wanted a charge card then, so I applied 10 days later for the Green (did not know I could qualify for Gold or Platinum) and was approved. Fast forward a couple of weeks, and I decided to go for the Platinum because I was utterly unimpressed with what the Green had to offer. Also approved. I am not sure how these are going to report and how backdating (if any) might work with this stuff. I am keeping the Green until the 11th month, before the AF is due just to build some internal history, but I want to keep the Platinum for the long run. Since I opened all of these in a short period of time, will I get any backdating? It is my understanding that you open an AmEx in 2013 (for example), but should wait until January of the next year, and they will backdate any new cards to January 2013. Is that right? Have I screwed up my opportunity to backdate royally? Will they all just report as having been opened this month?
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If you are new to Amex and you opened all your cc's this year- there will not be any backdating.
If you waited until Jan, the second or third cc would have been backdated
If you waited until Jan, the second or third cc would have been backdated
Thank you Lexie! This whole backdating thing has blown my mind! I will probably wait until I cancel the Green next year and apply for BCE, and take advantage of the backdating then. Does it matter what month you open the card in later on if you want to take advantage of backdating? Or could I open up that BCE next August and it would be backdated to January 2013? Is that correct?
No, the month you open the acct would be the actual month and the year would be 2013.
So in your example, if you wait until Aug it would be Aug 2013.
So in your example, if you wait until Aug it would be Aug 2013.
So January is always the best time to do this because you benefit the most from backdating? That makes a lot more sense now. AmEx is so strange, yet very helpful.
@09Lexie wrote:
No, the month you open the acct would be the actual month and the year would be 2013.
So in your example, if you wait until Aug it would be Aug 2013.
Great, thank you for this info Lexie!! I, too, didn't know about this at all. Always wonder about this "backdating" thing w/ AMEX
@MACFRME wrote:
So January is always the best time to do this because you benefit the most from backdating? That makes a lot more sense now. AmEx is so strange, yet very helpful.
that is the reason why a lot of us addicts can't wait for jan 
heheh
@MACFRME wrote:
So January is always the best time to do this because you benefit the most from backdating? That makes a lot more sense now. AmEx is so strange, yet very helpful.
Not always. There's a lot more to FICO than just tradeline age, and one has to remember with backdating one always gets X years of a backdate regardless of where in that individual year is, but with the way FICO works it's always helpful to get your negatives (and an inquiry is never positive) as early as possible so it's less impactful when you need your credit score for something else. Also don't discount the payment history on a new tradeline in addition to the extra AAoA: you're way better off in my opinion applying for an Amex in June or before in a given year than waiting till January of the following year. I'll take a seasoned tradeline and 4.5 years AAoA over 5 years AAoA on a new tradeline as an example anytime without question.
Personally for me I think the split is right around the September/October timeframe from a FICO break-even perspective; October through December I'll just wait till January. Note this is just my opinion and doesn't have hard evidence behind it, but anecdotally this is my own strategy after seeing tons of reports on the impact of new tradelines vs. aged ones at different boundaries.
Edit: also from a financial perspective, if it makes sense for you to apply for a credit card right now and you have a good chance of being approved, do it and disregard the backdating altogether. Age will come with time, but if you can make a solid shift with a new reward set, go do that. It's always better to make an app on something that's useful right now, rather than waiting unless there's some reason to delay it (like my trying to finagle a mortgage... may wind up with a diamond spade at this rate with how the market is rising).
i forgot to add this earlier...but OP, you could've waited perhaps a few months after you got the green and receive the option to upgrade your card to platinum or PRG without having to incur another HP...and yes, i understand that it's all done, however, those that might find themselves in a similar boat in the future might find this tidbit useful