American Express backdating limits?

[Scene]

I know American Express grants backdating on their cards (e,g having member since 1999 on new cards), but is there a limit to the number of years or generations?

Say for example, I have an American Express Zync dated 2010 and I basically keep this card until I die and AU my kids. My kids cards are backdated to 2010. Then when my kids turn 18 or whatever, they apply for a REAL American Express and get accepted. They ask for a backdating or are automatically backdated to 2010 (it's probably the year 2040 or something) because they were AU under my Zync/Gold/Platinum. Then rinse and repeat the above process until the year 2800 or something ridiculous.

Is something like this possible with AXP or is there some sort of limit? I know it's a stupid question but I was wondering this last night when I saw a friend have a gold card backdated to 1988.

[Walt_K]

Odds are there won't be an Amex in 2800.  But here's to them if they can make it that long.

ETA:  Wouldn't this be great for the appaholics.  Their AAoA would be nicely insulated.

[Open123]

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@Walt_K wrote:

Odds are there won't be an Amex in 2800.  But here's to them if they can make it that long.

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2800 is a long time. 

[mross1080]

I think it can go as far back as possible. I added my mother as a AU since she has zero credit and it turned out she had an amex in 86 for a few months and they backdated her AU card to 86.

[Anonymous]

If you make somebody an AU and then they get their own card. That card will be backdated to the date they were made AU not to the date of your account. So it doesn't work that way.

[Walt_K]

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@Anonymous wrote:

If you make somebody an AU and then they get their own card. That card will be backdated to the date they were made AU not to the date of your account. So it doesn't work that way.

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There has been some debate on this.  There was another thread earlier today about this, and I've seen what you are saying and I've also seen people reporting success with getting it backdated to the original member's date.  I personally haven't had any experience with it.

However, even if it is possible, this question is unanswerable.  Amex credit cards haven't been around long enough to provide any meaningful real world examples, and past practice is no indicator of what would be done hundreds of years forward. 

ETA:  Here's the other thread: http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Does-amex-account-membership-date-gets-transferred-to-A...

[CHARGE]

Not so fast ... I have personal experience with this.  I made my brother an AU on one of my AMEX accounts and his card arrived with my member since date of 91.  It also shows the same on all of his CRs.  So ... at least in his case ...

[Anonymous]

That's his AU card, but when he gets his OWN AMEX it more likely than not will not be backdated and if he calls to ask to backdate it chances are they're gonna refuse. Now if he's lucky and the CSR is willing to help, he might be able to get it backdated to the date he was added as an AU. He has no argument to convince them to backdate it to YOUR original membership date because that date doesn't belong to him.

[CHARGE]

Nope ..  still doesn't work ... I should have added more detail. 

I added him to my account in August 2008 as an AU.  All his info updated with my info ... etc. Fast forward to November 2010 ... he applied for an AMEX BLUE CASH on his own and was approved.  It showed up with my member since date of 91.  He never called.  It shows on his credit bureau as 91 as well ... but NOV 91, the month he opened it with my year.  So ... YMMV.   

[scottwagnon]

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@mross1080 wrote:

I think it can go as far back as possible. I added my mother as a AU since she has zero credit and it turned out she had an amex in 86 for a few months and they backdated her AU card to 86.

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funny thing. same thing here. added my partner as au blue cash january 2011 with zero credit as well, and his amex card backdates all the way to 71 when he was originally a card holder. i wasn't even born yet!  im going to show a picture of it in a couple of days.