Amex Declined My Application

[amdm2013]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this forum and I would really like some advice.

I am a non-US citizen, and I've been in the US for 4 years. I do not have an SSN or ITN. I have a valid checking account with Bank of America for over two years, and this year I got approved for 4 credit cards with BofA after one year of having a secured card with them. In addition, I also got approved for a Macy's credit card. I have six credit cards in total.

In May this year, I applied and got approved instantly for the Gold, Platinum and Blue within a period of three days. At that time, I only had two credit cards with BofA.Within ten days, I received a call from the Financial Review Team and were asking for my bank statements. During that time, my income did not appear in my bank statements, so Amex decided to cancel all three cards, and offered me to re-apply after 30 days.

During these last few months, I have sorted out my bank statements and decided to call Amex and apply for the Gold Premier Rewards card. I was surprised that my application was denied. I called Amex after the letter arrived and they said they would review my application after I faxed them my credit report. A week later, they said that they would stand by their original decison (please read below) and would not be able to approve my application.

My FICO score was 701

They said that I had too many 'trades' which I understand to mean 'accounts'

One credit card which had already reached to the max (I have paid off half of it by now)

Accounts where I have paid off the total amounts in a short period of time

Too many inquiries in 12 months

I spoke to Experian and Amex several times, in vain. I used to be a Centurion Card member from the Middle East before arriving to the US. I had an exceptional credit history but Amex were asking for a bank guarantee when I resigned from my job, which I refused to provide, but they kept my account 'blocked' until they decided to cancel the card in 2012. I was a card member since 2001 and began with the Green, Gold, Platinum all the way up to the Black.

I didn't mention this to Amex here, since I did not know how it would effect my application even further.

I am very keen on getting the Amex card, and I a planning on re-applying towards end of October. I was also thinking of faxing my latest credit report to the Financial Review Team, alongwith my 3-month bank statements.

Apologies for my long post. I would really appreciate any advice.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Welcome to the forum. Sorry for the situation you are in but Amex can and will close accounts if documents are asked for and not received by FR. Amex uses an internal risk score and I would guess that's yours is high. The new accts/inq's , high util , concerns on the funds you have access to and 3accounts they closed 4 mos ago is hard to recon.

Only time is going to help in your situation. Amex finds your behavior risky and they are not interested in giving you a second chance now. I am going to assume that 6 new cc's on an extremely thin file didn't help and your AAOA . Applying in October or anytime soon would be a waste of inquiry IMO.

Good luck if you decide to app.

[azguy13]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Welcome to the forum. Sorry for the situation you are in but Amex can and will close accounts if documents are asked for and not received by FR. Amex uses an internal risk score and I would guess that's yours is high. The new accts/inq's , high util , concerns on the funds you have access to and 3accounts they closed 4 mos ago is hard to recon.

Only time is going to help in your situation. Amex finds your behavior risky and they are not interested in giving you a second chance now. I am going to assume that 6 new cc's on an extremely thin file didn't help and your AAOA . Applying in October or anytime soon would be a waste of inquiry IMO.

Good luck if you decide to app.

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I agree completely with the highlighted portion. IMO, I think you should at least a year before applying again. You need that AAoA to increase as well as give your new TLs some time. Also, next time you apply you should make sure all your cards are paid down to an acceptable level so your UTI does not hurt you. 

Amex is definitely one of those lenders that you need to have all your ducks in a row before applying. 

[amdm2013]

Thank you 09Lexie. I totally agree with you and I think I'll wait for some time. I'm in no hurry, but, I just wanted to get it done and over with it. But, it's worth the wait!

[Anonymous]

Are you able to open another card in the middle east? Or Maybe an IDC card? That way you could global transfer into the US and establish history in the US with Amex.

[amdm2013]

Thanks azguy13. I'll definately wait. But, what I don't understand is how I got approved for 3 cards in May, when I only had one Visa card (for 18 months) and a

new BofA Amex card, with limited credit hisory. And now, with 6 six cards, and some movement in my card usage and payment history, and still cannot get approved.                     

[amdm2013]

Actually, I have contacted Amex Bahrain, where I am from and where the Amex ME is based. They said they will review my case and let me know if I can

get my card re-instated. They will definately ask for a bank or cash guarantee for any amount I want to use my card. I think that would be the only option. The membership fee for the Centurion card in the Middle East is $3,000 only. In the US, its $2,500, with a $7,500 initial joining fee. Will see how things work out. Thanks.

[sjt]

How were you able to get credit cards without a SS or TIN number?

[amdm2013]

BofA has this program since 2007 for non-ummigrant as long as you have a valid foreign passport and Id and a US address. Amex allows any person who has the same requirements but should show proof of income such as bank statements.

[mnavas]

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@amdm2013 wrote:
BofA has this program since 2007 for non-ummigrant as long as you have a valid foreign passport and Id and a US address. Amex allows any person who has the same requirements but should show proof of income such as bank statements.

I know that AMEX lets you apply for any of its cards with an ITIN (if you don't have SSN) but you need to send the original page that IRS gives it to you through the Mail  and actually, i contact them about this issue a few months ago and they told me they weren't able to approve anyone without SSN or ITN