Amex Charge Card Prestige is OVER

[Anonymous]

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cheddar wrote:

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ddd wrote:

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concorduser wrote:

I dont understand. I still can not get a Delta Card.  Is Amex hard to get or not hard to get?  What is going on here? LOL How come I can not get a Delta Card?

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Get A Green

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concorduser already has a Platinum.

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Point MADE you are approved for a PLAT AMEX but they will not Approve a Delta Credit Card. You dont see anything SAD about this?

[Anonymous]

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pjriverap wrote:

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esshua wrote:

ddd, would you mind sharing why you care so much?

Why does it bother you that more people are eligible for Amex cards these days?   I truly believe that there is more to people's "creditworthiness" than their FICO scores.  There are a number of reasons why a person could have a 630 score.  Doesn't neccesarily make them a bum.

Do you have a problem with Amex's standards, or a problem with the fact that you feel that you have lost a certain degree of perceived prestige? 

I think the implied "loss of prestige" has more to do with being a competitor in the credit game.  Bottom line is a credit card is still a credit card.  And most people have no idea what benefits or implied prestige come with the cards in their wallets. 

Pay CASH.  That would definitely set you aside from everybody else.

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esshua - valuable points.

DDD, you were very presumptuous in interpreting my e-mail vis a vi your response...however, I don't have time to do a point-by-point retort.

Instead, I'll simplify my initial message: The Blue Card is harder to get then most of the Amex Charge Cards. I BELIEVE Amex (as highlighted by the OP) has lowered their standards and I think much of this can be attributed to various things, one being, that there are other competitive rewards cards out there. In the end, I'm happy that more people can enjoy the Amex rewards and I like my Gold Card, Blue Cash Card, and other reward cards very much.

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Me TOO I love that anybody can get approved by AMEX. And you're right they did it to be competitive you're presumption coment was not friendly or helpfull.

[Anonymous]

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lurknomore wrote:

Good point, esshua.  I would also be curious to hear ddd's respoonse.  On the one hand he mentions the loss of prestige argument and the lowering of credit standards that resulted in his ability to get the card.  The next minute he seems to be talking about how much dough he pushes through his cards and I assume that fact makes him more worthy than say an 18 year old with little financial means.  These points seem to be a little confusing to me. 

I'm curious to see who ddd deems more "worthy" of an Amex card: 1.) a person with good credit (let's say fico of 700+) who could only afford to push a modest amount through the card or 2.) a big spender whose more credit-challenged (let's say fico around 640). 

(I purposely omitted the obvious big spender/good credit customer that Amex has traditionally targeted.)

Incidentally ddd, this is NOT an attack on you.  I just want to continue a thoughtful dialogue.  Truth be told, I am in the second category I mentioned above and recently received my first Amex, thus benefitting from their lowered credit standards. 

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Not taken as an Atack:

Call Amex and ask to see the requirements for a charge card 10-15 years ago. Who I personally think : YOU SAID IT

BIG SPENDER/GOOD CREDIT like it was 10-15 yeaars ago when it was respectable.

[Anonymous]

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MidnightVoice wrote:

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ddd wrote:

And you are completley incorrect about Credit Cards are Credit Cards. Flash a Plat Amex at an Aiport lounge along with a ticket and Flash you're Household Credit One Providian Card and see what the difference is.

At the United Red Carpet club (the airline I use almost exclusively) both will get you nothing 

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LOL

[Anonymous]

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ddd wrote:

Me TOO I love that anybody can get approved by AMEX. And you're right they did it to be competitive you're presumption coment was not friendly or helpfull.

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The presumption comment was in response to the tone of your note...your message seemed to be more debative than focused on a constructive dialogue. However, you have made some great points and my bad if I misinterpreted your initial response.

In the end, I think we agree on several points: (1) Amex has lowered their standards and (2) sub-prime lending isn't always helpful and it often hurts individuals economoty  significantly.

However, I want to add that I the standards that Amex use to apply to its charge cards still exists for the Blue and Blue Cash. I hear often from colleagues and friends they simply can get approved for that card without a good income, good spending patterns, exceptional, and/or a very good balance of the three. I agree the Delta, among some of the other CCs, are definitly "sub-prime-ish" cards.

Message Edited by pjriverap on 02-04-2008 01:43 PM

[Anonymous]

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pjriverap wrote:

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ddd wrote:

Me TOO I love that anybody can get approved by AMEX. And you're right they did it to be competitive you're presumption coment was not friendly or helpfull.

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The presumption comment was in response to the tone of your note...your message seemed to be more debative than focused on a constructive dialogue. However, you have made some great points and my bad if I misinterpreted your initial response.

In the end, I think we agree on several points: (1) Amex has lowered their standards and (2) sub-prime lending isn't always helpful and it often hurts individuals economoty  significantly.

However, I want to add that I the standards that Amex use to apply to its charge cards still exists for the Blue and Blue Cash. I hear often from colleagues and friends they simply can get approved for that card without a good income, good spending patterns, exceptional, and/or a very good balance of the three. I agree the Delta, among some of the other CCs, are definitly "sub-prime-ish" cards.

Message Edited by pjriverap on 02-04-2008 01:43 PM

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I think we agree on EVERYTHING we just use  the card differently. What might be important to me is not important to you. Thats fine we live in a great country were if we want we can disgree respecfully.

What I dont understand is How you can get the Delta and simply have a product change to Blue Points or Cash? I dont know but may I used the wrong word prestige to me same as standarts.

I dont want to come of like a JERK I had HORENDOUS Credit 6/7 years ago I know what it's like to be in that sistutation and try to get a Credit Card.

Now at days you NEED a credit card for everything. Try booking a trip with not credit Card. Imposible

[Anonymous]

ddd wrote:

I think we agree on EVERYTHING we just use  the card differently. What might be important to me is not important to you. Thats fine we live in a great country were if we want we can disgree respecfully.

What I dont understand is How you can get the Delta and simply have a product change to Blue Points or Cash? I dont know but may I used the wrong word prestige to me same as standarts.

I dont want to come of like a JERK I had HORENDOUS Credit 6/7 years ago I know what it's like to be in that sistutation and try to get a Credit Card.

Now at days you NEED a credit card for everything. Try booking a trip with not credit Card. Imposible

Touche. I completely forgot about the "product change" aspect. Yeah, I'm not sure I agree if that is always a "healthy tool"...however, I think that it is an unintentional loophole rather than lowering Amex standards (ppl's ability to swap a Delta for a blue card)...or maybe I'm wrong.

Message Edited by pjriverap on 02-04-2008 02:51 PM

[Anonymous]

Let's look at this from amex's perspective.

A green card earns them an annual fee of under $100. A plat card gets them $450.

They're not going to give you more buying power JUST because you have a plat card. They'll still cut you off at the same limit (that they don't tell you about).

Now, regardless of whether they issue you a green or plat, they're taking the same credit default risk on you if you spend $1000. Why not collect the incremental annual fee? Either way, if you don't spend money on the card and use the rewards program on it, you're just blowing that 450 bucks. I'm sure amex would love to issue you a card, collect the $450, and have you never use it.

Message Edited by fail2deliver on 02-04-2008 06:11 PM

[Anonymous]

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fail2deliver wrote:
Let's look at this from amex's perspective.

A green card earns them an annual fee of under $100. A plat card gets them $450.

They're not going to give you more buying power JUST because you have a plat card. They'll still cut you off at the same limit (that they don't tell you about).

Now, regardless of whether they issue you a green or plat, they're taking the same credit default risk on you if you spend $1000. Why not collect the incremental annual fee? Either way, if you don't spend money on the card and use the rewards program on it, you're just blowing that 450 bucks. I'm sure amex would love to issue you a card, collect the $450, and have you never use it.

Message Edited by fail2deliver on 02-04-2008 06:11 PM

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I completley disagee with you're theory. Simply perks, the $450 that you're paying is for for the PLAT perks the secret credit will not be same. I just tlaked to someone on the phone about this, if you have solid credit it is truly unlimited. It cost $50 everytime you use an airport lounge. There is no way the cards are the SAME. I disagee

[Anonymous]

What some people are not talking about is that when people are accepted w/ lower Cred. scores, they (and actually all) people are succeptible to FR.

So- people also need to think about that they need to take care of their overall credit situation so to not get flagged for FR.