Amex Current "Once in a Lifetime" SUB Rules

[OmarGB9]

Hello everyone,

I'll preface my question by saying that I tried running some searches, but couldn't find any recent DPs on my question, so I figured I'd go ahead and ask.

What is the current consensus on Amex's "once in a lifetime" SUB rule? I ask because I'm looking to get back in with them after having a PRG from 2015-2017. I closed my card with them in December 2017 in good standing. This was just before my credit imploded. Since then, I've gotten all collections removed and only have 8 COs, but they are all paid/most of them aged at least 2 years. Amex was NOT one of the COs, as I said, I closed that account in good standing. I recently ran the prequal, and I saw that I prequalified for Delta Gold and Blue, as well as Amex Green. Now I know the charge cards all have the same UW, so I was hoping to maybe apply for the new Gold instead of the Green, but if I'm not eligible for a SUB, then maybe I'll just go ahead and take them up on the Green card for I believe 60k MRs.

Thanks in advance for any and all advice!

[wasCB14]

I've heard people say "seven years" but not with any context as to whether that means since opening, since the first SUB posted, or since the card was closed. And that seven year notion may not be based on a lot of data points.

I had PRG for 2014-2016 and my personal regular Platinum is about to have the AF post. I have the Schwab Platinum and just got the Business Platinum, but a third Platinum is kind of excessive. I figure I may PC that to a Gold. But it's not out of the question that I might get a personal Gold if I'm eligible for the SUB and close the Platinum once the AF hits.

What has worked well for me is riding the upgrade/downgrade cycle on BCE/BCP and ED/EDP. No lifetime restrictions there.

[FinStar]

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@OmarGB9 wrote:

Hello everyone,

I'll preface my question by saying that I tried running some searches, but couldn't find any recent DPs on my question, so I figured I'd go ahead and ask.

What is the current consensus on Amex's "once in a lifetime" SUB rule? I ask because I'm looking to get back in with them after having a PRG from 2015-2017. I closed my card with them in December 2017 in good standing. This was just before my credit imploded. Since then, I've gotten all collections removed and only have 8 COs, but they are all paid/most of them aged at least 2 years. Amex was NOT one of the COs, as I said, I closed that account in good standing. I recently ran the prequal, and I saw that I prequalified for Delta Gold and Blue, as well as Amex Green. Now I know the charge cards all have the same UW, so I was hoping to maybe apply for the new Gold instead of the Green, but if I'm not eligible for a SUB, then maybe I'll just go ahead and take them up on the Green card for I believe 60k MRs.

Thanks in advance for any and all advice!

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The "once in a lifetime" rule will vary for different folks.  I'm not sure how they enforce it today vs previous years. But, I can honestly tell you that in my experience, I was eligible for the PRG SUB again in July 2018 when I applied for it (eventually PC'd on Oct 2018 into the current version of the Gold Card). I was approved for the previous PRG toward the end of 2009 (IIRC) and I think I closed it or downgraded it around the early part of 2011.

Since we don't know if you'd be eleigible for the SUB, the best approach is to take the Green Card and then if you're offered a very nice SUB to upgrade to the Gold Card, then you can try that route.  Incentives can vary of course, but AENB has dangled so many carrots lately wanting me to upgrade my ZYNC card to the Platinum Card (100K MRs), but I play dumb and would rather apply for the Schwab Platinum outright at another time.  They'll have to pry that ZYNC card from my cold dead hands 😜 

Bottom line, you have some options if you want to play it safe and depending on your goals.

[Otto77]

The nice thing about Amex is you will get a pop up warning if you are not eligible for the SUB before they fully submit the app and run your credit.

[OmarGB9]

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@Otto77 wrote:

The nice thing about Amex is you will get a pop up warning if you are not eligible for the SUB before they fully submit the app and run your credit.

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True, but as mentioned above, sometimes people still get it even after getting that popup, so I'm not sure how reliable said pop up is. 🤷‍♂️

Thanks for the advice so far everyone!

[wasCB14]

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@OmarGB9 wrote:

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@Otto77 wrote:

The nice thing about Amex is you will get a pop up warning if you are not eligible for the SUB before they fully submit the app and run your credit.

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True, but as mentioned above, sometimes people still get it even after getting that popup, so I'm not sure how reliable said pop up is. 🤷‍♂️

Thanks for the advice so far everyone!

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I'm confused. There are people who get the "No SUB for you" pop-up, proceed with the application, and still get the SUB? I reread the previous messages in this thread and that's not how I interpret what people are saying.

[FinStar]

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@wasCB14 wrote:

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@OmarGB9 wrote:

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@Otto77 wrote:

The nice thing about Amex is you will get a pop up warning if you are not eligible for the SUB before they fully submit the app and run your credit.

---

True, but as mentioned above, sometimes people still get it even after getting that popup, so I'm not sure how reliable said pop up is. 🤷‍♂️

Thanks for the advice so far everyone!

---

I'm confused. There are people who get the "No SUB for you" pop-up, proceed with the application, and still get the SUB? I reread the previous messages in this thread and that's not how I interpret what people are saying.

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Yes.

But, it really depends, sometimes it can be a system glitch on the AENB side (these are fairly rare instances), especially once the account is established and the promotional offer is linked to the account. It would have to be confirmed with an agent after the account is approved.

In most cases, if an account is truly ineligible for the SUB (based on the AENB disclaimer), the pop-up will definitely be indicative that no SUB will be awarded, though.

[Anonymous]

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@FinStar wrote:

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@wasCB14 wrote:

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@OmarGB9 wrote:

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@Otto77 wrote:

The nice thing about Amex is you will get a pop up warning if you are not eligible for the SUB before they fully submit the app and run your credit.

---

True, but as mentioned above, sometimes people still get it even after getting that popup, so I'm not sure how reliable said pop up is. 🤷‍♂️

Thanks for the advice so far everyone!

---

I'm confused. There are people who get the "No SUB for you" pop-up, proceed with the application, and still get the SUB? I reread the previous messages in this thread and that's not how I interpret what people are saying.

---

Yes.

But, it really depends, sometimes it can be a system glitch on the AENB side (these are fairly rare instances), especially once the account is established and the promotional offer is linked to the account. It would have to be confirmed with an agent after the account is approved.

In most cases, if an account is truly ineligible for the SUB (based on the AENB disclaimer), the pop-up will definitely be indicative that no SUB will be awarded, though.

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What about the other way, no popup but eventually denied SUB?   Of course, that was the way it was pre popup, but if people are relying on the popup....

[FinStar]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@FinStar wrote:

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@wasCB14 wrote:

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@OmarGB9 wrote:

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@Otto77 wrote:

The nice thing about Amex is you will get a pop up warning if you are not eligible for the SUB before they fully submit the app and run your credit.

---

True, but as mentioned above, sometimes people still get it even after getting that popup, so I'm not sure how reliable said pop up is. 🤷‍♂️

Thanks for the advice so far everyone!

---

I'm confused. There are people who get the "No SUB for you" pop-up, proceed with the application, and still get the SUB? I reread the previous messages in this thread and that's not how I interpret what people are saying.

---

Yes.

But, it really depends, sometimes it can be a system glitch on the AENB side (these are fairly rare instances), especially once the account is established and the promotional offer is linked to the account. It would have to be confirmed with an agent after the account is approved.

In most cases, if an account is truly ineligible for the SUB (based on the AENB disclaimer), the pop-up will definitely be indicative that no SUB will be awarded, though.

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What about the other way, no popup but eventually denied SUB?   Of course, that was the way it was pre popup, but if people are relying on the popup....

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I'm sure those could still be possible, but there haven't been any recent DPs on those particular situations, not like in the past where quite a few threads (w/grievances) were reported on here, FT and TPG, IIRC. 

[shalimarcat]

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@FinStar wrote:

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@wasCB14 wrote:

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@OmarGB9 wrote:

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@Otto77 wrote:

The nice thing about Amex is you will get a pop up warning if you are not eligible for the SUB before they fully submit the app and run your credit.

---

True, but as mentioned above, sometimes people still get it even after getting that popup, so I'm not sure how reliable said pop up is. 🤷‍♂️

Thanks for the advice so far everyone!

---

I'm confused. There are people who get the "No SUB for you" pop-up, proceed with the application, and still get the SUB? I reread the previous messages in this thread and that's not how I interpret what people are saying.

---

Yes.

But, it really depends, sometimes it can be a system glitch on the AENB side (these are fairly rare instances), especially once the account is established and the promotional offer is linked to the account. It would have to be confirmed with an agent after the account is approved.

In most cases, if an account is truly ineligible for the SUB (based on the AENB disclaimer), the pop-up will definitely be indicative that no SUB will be awarded, though.

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    Interesting. I have a question about this: I was nto offered a signup bonus when I was offered the Green. If I get it again, would I be eligible for a signup bonus?  They would be able to verify this, wouldn't they?