BCP/BCE/ED difficulty

[Anonymous]

In April once Freedom's 5% grocery is over I'm going to app for a grocery card, ideally one of AMEX's. Questions:

1. Are the BCP/BCE/ED all equally hard to get? 

2. If I app for one, get declined (SP since I'm already AMEX member), can I app for one of the others or will I get automatically rejected? Should I app for the one I want most or that one I think I'm most likely to get?

I have clean but newish history (oldest card is 4 years, but others are ~6mo old) and I have 8 inqs on EX. My scores are ~708 on TU and EQ where I have 1 and 2 inqs respectively, not sure about my EX score but with those inqs I would guess around 690?

I would prefer the BCP to the other two, not sure where I stand on the other two. ED is probably better rewards, and would let me not rush to spend my PRG's rewards before I close it in the fall, but I don't travel a lot (maybe fly once a year) so would prefer cash to MR.

[Anonymous]

I had a 23 year old green card and was denied in August 2014 for an ED card with a 678 score and several late payments and other issues.  If you have a clean payment history you should have no problem.  I heard BCE was the easiest to get., though they are tough I guess  I thought about reapplying for a revolver, having just PC'd to senior gold (no MR points) to save money and keep connection with AMEX but just closed two cap 1 accounts and opened NFCU and CSP in January.  AMEX likes no new accounts (6 mos) at time of application.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

In April once Freedom's 5% grocery is over I'm going to app for a grocery card, ideally one of AMEX's. Questions:

1. Are the BCP/BCE/ED all equally hard to get? 

2. If I app for one, get declined (SP since I'm already AMEX member), can I app for one of the others or will I get automatically rejected? Should I app for the one I want most or that one I think I'm most likely to get?

I have clean but newish history (oldest card is 4 years, but others are ~6mo old) and I have 8 inqs on EX. My scores are ~708 on TU and EQ where I have 1 and 2 inqs respectively, not sure about my EX score but with those inqs I would guess around 690?

I would prefer the BCP to the other two, not sure where I stand on the other two. ED is probably better rewards, and would let me not rush to spend my PRG's rewards before I close it in the fall, but I don't travel a lot (maybe fly once a year) so would prefer cash to MR.

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I think the belief here is that BCP/BCE are the same UW, much like Green/Gold/Plat are the same.   However, I remember one post where an Amex CSR said BCE was easier, but that might not have been based on anything much.

Potentially, ED might be easier as it is still faiirly new and they want to get it out there, but probably not much.     Just go for the one you think you really want.

Or, better, app for the Sallie Mae instead!

[kdm31091]

I'd echo apping for what you really want. I don't work for Amex, but I assume the underwriting for BCE/ ED is going to be roughly similar because they offer similar benefits just given in different ways. BCP could be different as it is an AF card but I doubt it is a huge difference.

Apply for what you actually want.

[Anonymous]

it seems like u need a min 700 score for bce

[Anonymous]

I was just approved this morning for a BCP. Was hesitant about apping because I didn't think I would be approved. Was given a low CL of 1k but that's ok because I have my foot in the door.

My scores were EQ 698 TU 694 EX 677

[Santi78342]

Personally, I would apply for the BCP for the better sign-up bonus over the BCE. If it wasn't fitting with my spend to justify the annual fee I would downgrade to BCE after a year. I would also apply for the ED to keep your MR points so you don't have to rush to use them.

I would app BCP first, and if approved go for ED too.

This is assuming you've done your homework and the BCP would be better for you over the Sallie Mae.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:
I was just approved this morning for a BCP. Was hesitant about apping because I didn't think I would be approved. Was given a low CL of 1k but that's ok because I have my foot in the door.

My scores were EQ 698 TU 694 EX 677

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That $1000 will turn into $3000 in 61 days. 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the responses! I've thought about the Sallie Mae, but I'd been leaning towards the AMEXs becuase:

1. They will get backdated

2. Better signon bonuses

3. No HP if I get rejected

Although the Sallie Mae does have in its favor:

1. Barclaycard pulls TU (I think?) which won't have the 8 inqs (just 1), although they will still see the new accounts

2. If during the summer we do a farm share or something and our spending drops to more around $250/mo at grocery stores, it would have better rewards.

At our current grocery rate of $350-400/mo the BCP has Sallie Mae slightly beat by $1-2/mo rewards, so nothing lifechanging. Really the signon bonus difference is more significant. Thoughts on if I should be considering the Sallie Mae? Do I have a reasonable chance of getting it? I currently have no barclaycards, and if they pulled EX and rejected me it would hurt.

[kdm31091]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Thanks for the responses! I've thought about the Sallie Mae, but I'd been leaning towards the AMEXs becuase:

1. They will get backdated

2. Better signon bonuses

3. No HP if I get rejected

Although the Sallie Mae does have in its favor:

1. Barclaycard pulls TU (I think?) which won't have the 8 inqs (just 1), although they will still see the new accounts

2. If during the summer we do a farm share or something and our spending drops to more around $250/mo at grocery stores, it would have better rewards.

At our current grocery rate of $350-400/mo the BCP has Sallie Mae slightly beat by $1-2/mo rewards, so nothing lifechanging. Really the signon bonus difference is more significant. Thoughts on if I should be considering the Sallie Mae? Do I have a reasonable chance of getting it? I currently have no barclaycards, and if they pulled EX and rejected me it would hurt.

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While it sounds like you can justify the BCP and it has a slight advantage, does your calculation include the fact that you only get 5% on the first $250 of that $350 with Sallie? If not, BCP advantage will be more than a dollar or two.

If that answer is still yes and the benefit is only $1-2, it's up to you. I'd prefer BCP to Sallie. Yes, the signup bonus is there for BCP but that's not the only reason. I dunno how you plan to redeem your rewards, but Sallie really only does statement credit unless you have a loan with them. If that's what you want with BCP, it is the same, but BCP gives you more redemptions options if that matters to you. Barclay usually pulls TU, not EX.

I'd lean towards BCP in your situation, with your spend.