Good point, outside of drastic credit changes or risky patterns, the FR should be done prior to approval. Of course highly unlikely because I expect most people would simply reject the card, especially when most other lenders don't require it. If AmEx FR me, the accounts are instantly closed and I won't blink. AmEx doesn't offer me anything I can't get elsewhere and has even less acceptance than my Visa/MC so I wouldn't even bother anymore.
I just got a Plat Amex. It's my first unsecured card though my secured cards unsecured within the last year. Like a dummy I had switched to debit cards and paying cash for everything over 10 years ago then realized my mistake when looking into reasons why car rentals and hotels didn't want to take debit cards.* So I have a very short history and was half expecting an FR before the app was approved but it was instantly approved. I don't mind an FR but really don't like the idea of suddenly not being able to use the card. It would be nice if Amex would allow people to post a prepayment or temporarily secure savings in the online Centurion Bank so there would be no interruptions. Then folks could still use their card while Amex does it's verifications.
*Back when this was happening the car rentals and hotels would give some vague explanation about not wanting to inadvertantly overdraw, blah, blah, blah., while I had plenty of money in my checking. It was only after I learned about credit reporting and how it was used that I realized these businesses were using credit cards as a sort of proxy you weren't going to trash their hotel or steal their cars.
sorry but i looked through the thread and couldnt for the life of me figure out what FR meant???
Starting Score: 575 (As Of Early 2011)
oh ok, thanks. i thought it meant they closed his account.
Happened to my sister about a year ago, she had her amex blue card for about a year, she paid the balance off and the next month they closed her account with no explanation.
@Anonymous wrote:I'm really worried AMEX may FR me next. I've opened 5 new accounts (including the AMEX) recently and I'm worried they're going to flip because of all the inquiries and new accounts and either cancel or FR me. I'm babying the card...running less than $100/month through it, and of course PIF every month (Zync card).
I got something in the mail today from AMEX and nearly had a heart attack...I have paperless statements and all that so there's really no reason to get anything in the mail from them. Turns out it was an introduction to their membership points thing. But I swear as soon as I saw that little AMEX logo on the corner of the envelope my heart sunk.
Yours is an attitude I've seen alot concerning AMEX cards and (less often) with Barclay's. The day I become fearful of a silly piece of plastic that I use to buy things I need and want is the day I stop using it - period. Wrapping up my emotional well being in fretting over whether somone will "approve" of my purchases or how much I spend of the credit limit they granted me is something I won't do. The importance I place on having this-or-that kind of a credit card has to be - as all things in life - kept in perspective. 