I applied for the Zync and was declined but offered the 500 hard limit Zync with autodraft or a 200 Hard limit without autodraft. I went to "OK" the 500 with draft and page popped up "session timed out" etc (was idle while I read details, 5minutes) and couldn't get back to it. I had AMEX (green) from 1989 to 1992, never a late, usually 3 grand a month PIF.
I DID finally get an email stating my reason for decline was too low of a score (650 area) EX Fako 700. No lates etc. They stated I had a collection that my report says doesn't matter (it must), they never would validate it and it's DOFD is claimed early 2005 (before that hit my score was 840 in 2007, I didn't see it til about a year ago, oops, then checked an older printed report and the DOFD has changed). My utilization is also way to high at around 80%. I have a 4.5 year average history (22 actually). I was hoping to backdate an AMEX to show a longer average, guess I'll be waiting on that LOL.
I don't know if the Zync with the hard limit of 500, 250 or 200 (none come with perks from what I read before site blanked btw) does the backdate deal or not, if so, I may apply again in the future at some point. If anyone knows, please post.
PS: I've been looking at Fico forums for a long time and finally decided to join. I will say I'm VERy glad my house is paid for and I paid cash for my car and truck (I recommend the Ford Fusion btw lol). So I don't have to worry about applying for a mortgage or auto loan (I usually pay cash for cars anyway, haven't had an auto loan in over 20 years). So I'm very relieved I don't have to worry about a high score for a roof or wheels in this economy.
@RyVision wrote:I applied for the Zync and was declined but offered the 500 hard limit Zync with autodraft or a 200 Hard limit without autodraft. I went to "OK" the 500 with draft and page popped up "session timed out" etc (was idle while I read details, 5minutes) and couldn't get back to it. I had AMEX (green) from 1989 to 1992, never a late, usually 3 grand a month PIF.
I DID finally get an email stating my reason for decline was too low of a score (650 area) EX Fako 700. No lates etc. They stated I had a collection that my report says doesn't matter (it must), they never would validate it and it's DOFD is claimed early 2005 (before that hit my score was 840 in 2007, I didn't see it til about a year ago, oops, then checked an older printed report and the DOFD has changed). My utilization is also way to high at around 80%. I have a 4.5 year average history (22 actually). I was hoping to backdate an AMEX to show a longer average, guess I'll be waiting on that LOL.
I don't know if the Zync with the hard limit of 500, 250 or 200 (none come with perks from what I read before site blanked btw) does the backdate deal or not, if so, I may apply again in the future at some point. If anyone knows, please post.
PS: I've been looking at Fico forums for a long time and finally decided to join. I will say I'm VERy glad my house is paid for and I paid cash for my car and truck (I recommend the Ford Fusion btw lol). So I don't have to worry about applying for a mortgage or auto loan (I usually pay cash for cars anyway, haven't had an auto loan in over 20 years). So I'm very relieved I don't have to worry about a high score for a roof or wheels in this economy.
yes it does, i got the amex zync( 500 hard limit) about 3 days ago. didnt know about the backdating thing, so i asked my father to add me as an AU on his, called this morning and had me backdated on his account, then had my own account backdated. The csr made the whole thing painless
Starting Score: 570
@minerva wrote:
@RyVision wrote:I applied for the Zync and was declined but offered the 500 hard limit Zync with autodraft or a 200 Hard limit without autodraft. I went to "OK" the 500 with draft and page popped up "session timed out" etc (was idle while I read details, 5minutes) and couldn't get back to it. I had AMEX (green) from 1989 to 1992, never a late, usually 3 grand a month PIF.
I DID finally get an email stating my reason for decline was too low of a score (650 area) EX Fako 700. No lates etc. They stated I had a collection that my report says doesn't matter (it must), they never would validate it and it's DOFD is claimed early 2005 (before that hit my score was 840 in 2007, I didn't see it til about a year ago, oops, then checked an older printed report and the DOFD has changed). My utilization is also way to high at around 80%. I have a 4.5 year average history (22 actually). I was hoping to backdate an AMEX to show a longer average, guess I'll be waiting on that LOL.
I don't know if the Zync with the hard limit of 500, 250 or 200 (none come with perks from what I read before site blanked btw) does the backdate deal or not, if so, I may apply again in the future at some point. If anyone knows, please post.
PS: I've been looking at Fico forums for a long time and finally decided to join. I will say I'm VERy glad my house is paid for and I paid cash for my car and truck (I recommend the Ford Fusion btw lol). So I don't have to worry about applying for a mortgage or auto loan (I usually pay cash for cars anyway, haven't had an auto loan in over 20 years). So I'm very relieved I don't have to worry about a high score for a roof or wheels in this economy.
yes it does, i got the amex zync( 500 hard limit) about 3 days ago. didnt know about the backdating thing, so i asked my father to add me as an AU on his, called this morning and had me backdated on his account, then had my own account backdated. The csr made the whole thing painless
Thank you Minerva!
If backdating worked in your situation, and I'm thrilled for you that it did! I feel fairly sure it'd work for me, being I was the original card holder "Member" etc. Now I just have to wait for info in the mail to see if I can still go that route, I hope it wasn't only available online. I hate when a browser or something messes something up. If it's not included in the mail they're sending, I'll try calling them. I tried to get back to info somewhere on their site, but no go, could only try to apply etc, after checking the possible pre-approved section (I hoped the hard limit offer would come up, it didn't). I would guess if the backdating works like I've heard, it would boost my scores again.
I still don't see any newer inq in my alerts on the Experian trial, I think they inform you with that, not sure. I'm still at 3 total. Including 2nd Cap1 which I learned was approved and CreditOne (website said approved then timed out) which unless they give me at least 2\3ds of the 1500 their mailer stated, I'm calling and closing when it gets here. I so hope applying for that wasn't a big mistake. Discover and Chase don't come up on INQ's yet. After this I think my INQ's will total 6 possibly 7 at most and I don't want to add any (although I got a pre-qualified offer for JC penny Rewards in the mail, good until May 20th, so I have to see where that INQ thing ends up). It says in small print it's backed by GEMB, I think my walmart (800) and PayPal (300) are both backed by that. My Kohls (300) is backed by Chase (all according to CR).
I'll update when I have more info, hopefully with good news!
Thanks again for the info, it was a relief to find that out! 
BTW: My 500 hard limit for Zync was ONLY if I allowed them to auto draft payment each month, the 200 didn't have that condition (came up in 2 boxes, I went to check the 500 auto draft and that's when it timed out. Did your 500 require the auto draft?
@RyVision wrote:
BTW: My 500 hard limit for Zync was ONLY if I allowed them to auto draft payment each month, the 200 didn't have that condition (came up in 2 boxes, I went to check the 500 auto draft and that's when it timed out. Did your 500 require the auto draft?
happy to help!
yes it did make me do the auto draft. after you accept, it will take you to a screen that asks you to put in the auto-draft information, then you agree to all the legal stuff and you're done.
after getting the card i was also able to change the auto draft bank info once i had my account set up on-line.
good luck with the app have you tried calling amex about it ?
Thanks so much again Minerva!
Just what I was hoping to hear. I remember when I had my AMEX Green (it went so well with the dinosaurs roaming around at the time lol) they were kind of hard to get (at least that's what I believed and still kinda do). Back then I had 1 maybe 2 higher limit cards (in my opinion, not as high as I see some now) under 10k and AMEX sent (something not done in 20 years I think) an invitation to a guaranteed acceptance offer, something like that, not an invitation to apply. Of course at my young age in 89 I thought no way they're gonna ok if I call, I'm no millionaire. Well, I called, they asked a few questions to be sure I was who they sent the offer to, like birthday, SS number, income. A split second after my answers, the person said "ok, that's what we show, you should receive your card and membership information within 30 days, if you don't, call us back at the number on your offer". I wish I had video of myself on the phone at that moment, I know I looked shocked. In the few years I had it, I don't remember it ever being declined (sometimes the amount can trigger that). When I closed it I actually held on to it for "posterity", still have it somewhere in a file lol.
I did call Discover (sunday after 6pm), was on hold a while (recon number) talked to them, asked me a couple questions, he reviewed some more stuff in front of him and said they were unable to approve at this time. Told me to apply again in about 6 months, was actually more positive than I expected LOL. He said they'd send a letter with more info. Was explaining the perks until he got to the deep view and very polite.
Also called Chase, woman asked me a few ID questions and said it would be more reviewed by another dept, don't know if that's a good sign or not. I'm not expecting any approvals considering my report is iffy even with no lates etc. I'm not really bothered by lack of approval LOL if I can get my AMEX membership back and backdated in some way. I feel it would age my AAoA (if that's right) to be more in line with my age and actual history. Only thing I think MIGHT help me get in with Chase again over Discover, is my 2+ year old Kohls card through them. No idea how the Chase I PIFd and closed will look to them. They could say "welcome back!" OR "no, you fired us before!"
Minerva, I also read your thank you post. Makes me even more happy for you and your wife on your success with this effort, also want to say Thank You for your service regardless of branch or politics today; my father was a WWII vet and I have friends and relatives that were and are in our military, I feel they all earn our thanks by joining. Being my father was a retired commissioned officer, I've considered checking into that USAA credit union (I think it's the one, not sure), he never belonged that I know of but I think Mom would qualify, then I could through her. If that's the right CU, it seems to be decent, dunno. I'm just 90% sure I'd never be near any of their branches though.
All the above considered, I'll be happy to just get my membership back with AMEX if nothing else and maybe consider the JCP I got the offer for (they can Kohls tend to have sales and promos I can use, esp with the discounts the cards bring).
Thanks again and if your wife is still in Japan, remind her everyone there is in our thoughts and prayers, what they're dealing with in that country really makes some plastic cards, scores and all the credit issue seem really insignificant in comparison. FSFF (food, shelter, friends, family) is the truly important score.
I did just call AMEX, CSR wasn't sure what I was talking about on the 500 with autodraft. He checked with the internet dept. came back, they told him it was a one time offer that comes up at times and no way to get back into it, I could "try applying again and "see what happens" . I guess they HAVE gone down hill a bit since 20 years ago LOL. The CSR had a slight southern accent which shocked me though (NOT the accent one usually hears lol). I asked him, being after the time out I got an email stating (only company I got an email from btw) I could check online to see the reason for the original decline by clicking on a link. I went through that and the site basically said: "You're consumer credit bureau score from Experian is too low, see below:"; Reasons below were: "a derog filed (the one I' have disputed no doubt, so I'll wait for that to fall off or something), no recent installment loans, and of course, utilization."
I don't know if they can get that much info from a soft pull or not.
So far, no inq has been alerted on experian (for any of the CRAs). I'll probably try for the Zync later, right now I'm a little less than impressed with their CSR dept. They were LIGHT YEARS more knowledgeable 20 years ago and would dig into things to get an answer or do something for you, now, they're a little more like "all of em". Which is a bit sad. Frankly, after that call and what I know of Zync and Amex, other than the backdating history perk, I would have little to no reason to get the card. I'll try some time down the road and "see what happens" LOL. I don't know how many inquires are "too many" for most, that didn't show as a reason why they didn't approve, for past 6 months it might go up to 10 inq's, for two years it may list 13 after my activity (add one for JCPenny if I decide to accept their pre-approved mailer and try for it).
Hope this gives others some insight into applying with Amex as well.