BCP as First Amex Card

[kshurika]

I had a couple of Amex cards back in the late 80s and I closed them with no harm to my credit. Now, I'm pondering cold apping for the BCP.

First question, is cold apping from my computer the way to go, or should I speak with a CSR? Second, as an almost first-timer with Amex, do I even have a shot at BCP? In your opinions, would you go for BCP before or after Citi DC? Here are my scores:
Ex = 743 (6)
TU = 695 (1)
EQ = 769 (1)
Income = 82K

No Amex prequals. Fed tax lien on TU (going through the process of making them remove it), which is why TU has never let my score get into the 700s.. Otherwise, no lates or other baddies.

What do you think? Wait until after my upcoming two-year vacation in the garden, or make BCP my last hurrah?

[Gmood1]

On scores alone, you'll easily secure both. I started with the BCP with an EX score less than yours.
You'll be fine. They'll probably back date to your original membership date. Which would be awesome!
That should be one heck of a credit age boost!

[kshurika]

Yes, when I got back into the credit game after a decades-long period of cash only, the fact that TU listed my credit age at 29 years helped me immensely. I'm a baby at the other CRAs.

My original plan was to do my first (and probably only) spree, by going into my Chase branch next week and apping for both CSP and Freedom. Then, I planned to walk outside, sit on the bench outside Chase and app for BCP. I'm not noted for being reckless, however, and I hate denials.

[Anonymous]

BCP was my first Amex card back in like 2014. I don't recall exactly how I applied but I paid no heed to the precautions you present. I think you have a good to great shot of getting it.

I'd personally go for the Paypal Cash Back CC over the Citi DC - the Paypal card is actually the 8th and final card in my application queue as it stands. The main reason being is you can get the Paypal business debit card (you don't need a business account for this - it originally required a business or premier account, but the premier and basic accounts were merged so now it doesn't matter at all) and set the Paypal Cash Back CC as the 'back up funding' so when there's no money in your Paypal account, the debit card will charge the CC. The debit card gets 1% cash back when ran as credit. So for credit transactions you actually get 1% back from the debit card and 2% back from the credit card, so you effectively get 3% back on all credit purchases. and on all debit transactions, not only do you get 2% back from the credit card (the 1% from the debit card only works on credit transactions), but your debit transactions are run through a credit card so you have the protections a credit card offers over a checking account.

The Paypal card is issued by Synchrony so should be less stringent than Citi. You could apply for the BCP before or after the all category card, I don't think Amex will be too picky either way.

Also, I'm not sure if apping for two Chase cards in branch will combine hard inquiries - I believe I've read that it may generate two separate hard inquiries. I applied for the CSP I think in an incognito tab then a few minutes later applied for the Amazon Visa in another incognito tab, that only generated one inquiry.  But definitely apply for the Chase cards first.

[Gmood1]

Well, depending on where you live. Chase will pull EX alone, EX and EQ or EX and TU.
Amex IME has always pulled EX.
Sounds like a good plan!

What's the difference between going in or doing it from home? You should receive the same results. It's a computer spitting out the approval or denial after all.

[kshurika]

Well, it's been said that if I apply for the cards from the branch there is a possibility that I'll get 60k points rather than 50K for the CSP and I might get $300 SUB for the Freedom. My only qualm is that I have green check prequals on my Chase page for both cards, but neither lists a firm APR, only a spread.

Oh, yeah, in California Chase pulls EX.

[Anonymous]

The terms of the sign up bonus will be presented to you and clearly visible on the paperwork in branch. I'd confirm that it says 60,000 before you sign anything, and if it doesn't pursue it with a calm line of questioning. I tried getting them to match me to 60k, and they told me no several times (I apped in late January), saying it was only for Chase private banking clients - you need like $200k or something with Chase. It may be possible to get 60k otherwise, but I would anticipate it requiring some negotiating. I even sent them screenshots of the 60k application page I was able to find and fill out, they still denied me saying it wasn't an offer that was available to me -_-.

[MrDisco99]

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@Gmood1wrote:
On scores alone, you'll easily secure both. I started with the BCP with an EX score less than yours.
You'll be fine. They'll probably back date to your original membership date. Which would be awesome!
That should be one heck of a credit age boost!

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I agree you should be good to go with those scores.  Amex does not backdate account open dates when they report to the bureaus, however.  At least not anymore.  Must have been nice when they did.

[lexrjSD]

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@kshurikawrote:
I had a couple of Amex cards back in the late 80s and I closed them with no harm to my credit. Now, I'm pondering cold apping for the BCP.

First question, is cold apping from my computer the way to go, or should I speak with a CSR? Second, as an almost first-timer with Amex, do I even have a shot at BCP? In your opinions, would you go for BCP before or after Citi DC? Here are my scores:
Ex = 743 (6)
TU = 695 (1)
EQ = 769 (1)
Income = 82K

No Amex prequals. Fed tax lien on TU (going through the process of making them remove it), which is why TU has never let my score get into the 700s.. Otherwise, no lates or other baddies.

What do you think? Wait until after my upcoming two-year vacation in the garden, or make BCP my last hurrah?

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Definetely go for it.

BCP was my first real card when I moved to the US and it was a great choice. My scores were lower than yours and I had a super thin file (1 cap one and 1 yr of credit history) so I would guess you will get it.

Look at the credit card pull database to check which bureau they pull in your state, most likely EX.

<mod edit>  Sorry, we can't suggest that here.  --UB

Here are the best 2 reasons for the card:

6% groceries (plus gift cards) - I easily max out every year at $6k returning $360.

As an Amex revolver you can quickly grow your limit (3x rule), I went from $1K limit to $25K in under 2 yrs, which absolutely helped me when applying for new cards. Having high CLs help you get higher CLs on new cards.

[Anonymous]

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@kshurikawrote:
I had a couple of Amex cards back in the late 80s and I closed them with no harm to my credit. Now, I'm pondering cold apping for the BCP.

First question, is cold apping from my computer the way to go, or should I speak with a CSR? Second, as an almost first-timer with Amex, do I even have a shot at BCP? In your opinions, would you go for BCP before or after Citi DC? Here are my scores:
Ex = 743 (6)
TU = 695 (1)
EQ = 769 (1)
Income = 82K

No Amex prequals. Fed tax lien on TU (going through the process of making them remove it), which is why TU has never let my score get into the 700s.. Otherwise, no lates or other baddies.

What do you think? Wait until after my upcoming two-year vacation in the garden, or make BCP my last hurrah?

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Don't forget to factor in the $25 at a time redemption requirement and the additional statement lag to get your rewards. If you don't want either of those issues - apply for a different cash back card not with AMEX.