Amex and Discover - Which app first?

[CreditScholar]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Wow - Thanks for the great input.

When my last baddie falls off, I think my FICO will be in the upper 700's.  (It temporarily dropped off earlier, but came back, and this was where my score was without it.)

Cap One has me blacklisted.  If they ever forgive me, I'd like to try for their Venture card.

I'm currently a Delta Platinum Medallion member, so I'm really hoping AmEx Delta will take me. 

So, I'll shoot for the AmEx Delta first.  If I don't get in, I'll try for a charge.  Then I'll app for Discover same day.

Have got to do some homework to decipher which Discover will work best.....still not sure how much charging I'll be able to do in China.

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With scores in the 700s, I highly doubt Amex would reject you. Approval won't be your problem, but there are other things you should factor into your decision:

As someone who spends most of his time in the Asia-Pacific region, be aware that many places still don't accept Amex. Depending on where you go, you might find it difficult to use your card at smaller and non-metropolitan merchants. I think you should seriously consider getting a Visa or MC, and with an EMV chip (if possible).

Also depending on how much you charge, the forex fee can a killer. The Amex Delta has a 2.7% fee attached to it, so if you push a lot of money through it'll add up very quickly.

[Anonymous]

I applied for the Zync then a few hours later applied for the discover more, was approved for both! Amex pulled EQ and softed EX for me while discover pulled TU

[LS2982]

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@CreditScholar wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Wow - Thanks for the great input.

When my last baddie falls off, I think my FICO will be in the upper 700's.  (It temporarily dropped off earlier, but came back, and this was where my score was without it.)

Cap One has me blacklisted.  If they ever forgive me, I'd like to try for their Venture card.

I'm currently a Delta Platinum Medallion member, so I'm really hoping AmEx Delta will take me. 

So, I'll shoot for the AmEx Delta first.  If I don't get in, I'll try for a charge.  Then I'll app for Discover same day.

Have got to do some homework to decipher which Discover will work best.....still not sure how much charging I'll be able to do in China.

---

With scores in the 700s, I highly doubt Amex would reject you. Approval won't be your problem, but there are other things you should factor into your decision:

As someone who spends most of his time in the Asia-Pacific region, be aware that many places still don't accept Amex. Depending on where you go, you might find it difficult to use your card at smaller and non-metropolitan merchants. I think you should seriously consider getting a Visa or MC, and with an EMV chip (if possible).

Also depending on how much you charge, the forex fee can a killer. The Amex Delta has a 2.7% fee attached to it, so if you push a lot of money through it'll add up very quickly.

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+1

[espnjunkie]

The one thing that irks me about amex is that they cater to customers who are frequent travelers, yet also charge a really high 2.7% foreign fee on most (except plat and cent) of their cards. I know they make money from this, but charging so much makes their cards less travel friendly. That being said a Discover card is pretty useless in Europe.

[webhopper]

I would app for both at same time cause discover and amex pull diff bureaus. Discover pulls TU and EQ, amex pulls EX. But, as always YMMV

[Anonymous]

Thanks - very helpful.  

I don't plan on using the Amex much while there.  Just wanted to get my foot in the door with Amex for backdating purposes, and the Delta seems like the best fit for me.  I will keep it active, but due to their fees, and the difficulty in using them, I'm not planning on putting much on 'em. 

I don't know how much I'll be able to put on the Discover, either.  I won't be able to put most of my monthly expenses on cards (then PIF), which is what I typically do here in the states.  But I like the idea of no foreign transaction fees with Discover.  And another poster indicated they're probably the most accepted card where I'm headed.  (Gotta love these forums!)   I have Visa's and MC's but no Discover yet.  

As far as EMV - none of my cards have it - I didn't even know what it was and had to google it.

It's going to be an interesting transition card-wise.

[LS2982]

@Jimmy Don't know if you just got those but CONGRATS!! Nice CL too on DM!

[jamesdwi]

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@boomhower wrote:

Amex, they are far and away a lot pickier than Discover.  If your looking for something to use overseas and your credit is up to snuff the Capitol One Venture is worth a look.  Pretty decent rewards and no foreign transaction fees.

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Have never heard that, I see Zync approvals left and right with 650's,  I was presected for AMEX they were practically begging me to take Green, Blue or Zync, App'd for Blue then zync.   I check my pre-approvals with Discover and they say I have no pre-approvals. I currently have enough new credit no need to rock the boat and ask for more. Of course citi is said to be easier to get than chase, and Chase gave me a freedom card and Citi denied be for the dividend card, but I did get approval for a $500 Home Depot card then increased to $4000 CL because I asked, said I was interesting in getting a Steam Washing Machine and Drier and didn't want to max out the card. 

[LS2982]

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@jamesdwi wrote:

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@boomhower wrote:

Amex, they are far and away a lot pickier than Discover.  If your looking for something to use overseas and your credit is up to snuff the Capitol One Venture is worth a look.  Pretty decent rewards and no foreign transaction fees.

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Have never heard that, I see Zync approvals left and right with 650's,  I was presected for AMEX they were practically begging me to take Green, Blue or Zync, App'd for Blue then zync.   I check my pre-approvals with Discover and they say I have no pre-approvals. I currently have enough new credit no need to rock the boat and ask for more. Of course citi is said to be easier to get than chase, and Chase gave me a freedom card and Citi denied be for the dividend card, but I did get approval for a $500 Home Depot card then increased to $4000 CL because I asked, said I was interesting in getting a Steam Washing Machine and Drier and didn't want to max out the card. 

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Personally I think AMEX and Discover have about the same approval guidelines. Both are conservative.