Applying for AMEX in January for Backdating?

[Jungook]

From my understanding, wouldn't it be better to apply before New Years for backdating purposes? Assuming you have equal chances of getting an Amex card, wouldn't it be better for later Amex cards to read 2013 rather than January of 2014?

[myjourney]

If you already have an Amex its better to wait until 2014 so the new card shows 2013 2012 2011 etc 

If you don't have an Amex its better to app now to lock in one for 2013 then next year get another for backdating to 2013 2012 2011 etc

Hope this makes sense 

[takeshi74]

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@myjourney wrote:

If you already have an Amex its better to wait until 2014 so the new card shows 2013 2012 2011 etc 

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I'm not sure I understand that statement and I understand backdating.

If you have already established membership with AmEx, apping in January 2014 means that the new card is backdated to January of your MSD (whatever year you established membership).  Apping in December 2013 means that the new card is backdated to December of your MSD.  The former addes 11 more months to the card when calculating your AAoA versus the latter.

If you haven't already established membership then the apping in January recommendation isn't relevant and sooner is better for establishing an earlier MSD when potentially crossing over a calendar year.  Backdating to 2013 would be preferable to backdating to 2014 for AAoA purposes.

[kkapdolee]

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@myjourney wrote:

If you already have an Amex its better to wait until 2014 so the new card shows 2013 2012 2011 etc 

If you don't have an Amex its better to app now to lock in one for 2013 then next year get another for backdating to 2013 2012 2011 etc

Hope this makes sense 

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+1

If you already have Amex or previously had one that you can backdate to, then wait till Jan 2014.

If you don't have Amex and never had one, app now to get Dec 2013.

In the first case, if you have an account that you can backdate to say 2012, then opening the new card in Jan 2014 will allow you to back date that one to Jan 2012.

In the lattter case, you can backdate your future Amex accounts to year 2013.

[Walt_K]

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@takeshi74 wrote:

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@myjourney wrote:

If you already have an Amex its better to wait until 2014 so the new card shows 2013 2012 2011 etc 

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I'm not sure I understand that statement and I understand backdating.

If you have already established membership with AmEx, apping in January 2014 means that the new card is backdated to January of your MSD (whatever year you established membership).  Apping in December 2013 means that the new card is backdated to December of your MSD.  The former addes 11 more months to the card when calculating your AAoA versus the latter.

If you haven't already established membership then the apping in January recommendation isn't relevant and sooner is better for establishing an earlier MSD when potentially crossing over a calendar year.  Backdating to 2013 would be preferable to backdating to 2014 for AAoA purposes.

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You're both saying the same thing.  Myjourney is saying "If you already have an Amex it is better to wait until 2014 so the new card shows [January of your MSD whether that be] 2013, 2012, 2011 etc. "

[Luscher]

so consider this example. I got approved for my first card august of 2011. I am now wanted a new card, it is december 2013. It would benefit me to wait until january of 2014 because my backdating date would now be january 2011. So all cards you have that are issued by centurion bank from amex will be january 2011, same thing will happen in the future to new cards you apply for from amex

edit: so technically that first card i got in august of 2011 i gain like 8 or so months of aaoa. and for that new card that would normally read 2014 now reads 2011 boosting your AAOA instead of hurting it

[Anonymous]

If you can't get approved for your first AmEx card this year, but want to do it for future backdating purposes, see if you can get your parents or a friend to add you as an ACM on their card. AmEx will let you backdate to the year you become an ACM. It used to be that they would backdate the ACM to the MSD of the primarily AmEx cardmember, which opened open all kinds of interesting situations, but that was taken away a year or so ago.

If your parents or friends balk at adding you as an ACM, explain how it helps your credit score and let them know you don't even need the physical credit card; they can keep it and never even show it to you, that way they're not at risk for you blowing up their balance. Then, in 2016 or so when your credit improives and you get your first AmEx card, your MSD will be 2013.

[jamesdwi]

yes, if you are an AMEX card holder apply in January for best results.

My 11th oldest card reports as my 3rd oldest card... 

First AMEX card  (App date 12/2011) December/2011

Second AMEX card (Applied January 2012)  January/2011  11 months of back dating goodness.

Third AMEX card  (Applied  May 2013)   May/2011     2 years of back dating goodness, Hilton Surpass needed it for work couldn't wait till January.

[Cdnewmanpac]

Keep in mind that this whole december vs january thing is only really relevant for those with a thin or recent credit history. If you have an AAoA of 1 year, then the extra 11 months you get from applying in January (or the extra 1 month if your first card with Amex by applying in December) makes a big impact. With time, though, the impact decreases. My Amex cards backdate to 1988 and I have a "thick" file, so there is no difference to me between 12/88 and 1/88 for another card. Ten years from now, whether you got your first card in 2013 or 2014 won't matter either.

[elleng81]

I was recently approved for the Amex BCE. I had previously had a corporate card from AMEX from 2006 - 2012. I called a number from the forum and asked about backdating and they had no idea what I was talking about. Any idea of the right # to call or the proper way to ask about backdating? I recently was approved for quite a few CC's this week after closing on a new house and I know my AAoA is going to tumble a bit... i would really like it to backdate to 2006 for sure!!