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Fear of AMEX FR

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Fear of AMEX FR

So just opened new amex cards this month I was initially approved for Green and closed it like a week after because I app for PRG and got approved been using PRG for gas and dining out and had a big account come through and just feel been using the card a lot any ways a new outlet mall has opened up took the girls their and have ran it to 802 as of yesterday. Have stopped using the card this is not out of range of my normal spending but just feel the card will decline any time.

Do I have a good chance of FR?
Message 1 of 10
9 REPLIES 9
enharu
Super Contributor

Re: Fear of AMEX FR


@acewinningspade wrote:
So just opened new amex cards this month I was initially approved for Green and closed it like a week after because I app for PRG and got approved been using PRG for gas and dining out and had a big account come through and just feel been using the card a lot any ways a new outlet mall has opened up took the girls their and have ran it to 802 as of yesterday. Have stopped using the card this is not out of range of my normal spending but just feel the card will decline any time.

Do I have a good chance of FR?

No.

Don't worry about FR. Just use the card as per normal....

 

JPMorgan Palladium (100k), AmEx Platinum (NPSL), AmEx SPG (46k), AmEx BCP (42k), Chase Sapphire Preferred (47k), Citi Prestige (31k), Citi Thank You Preferred (27k), Citi Executive AAdvantage (25k), JPMorgan Ritz-Carlton (21k), Merrill+ (15k), US Bank Cash+ (22.5k), Wells Fargo (12k), Bloomingdale’s (12.4k), Chase Freedom (5k), Discover IT (5k).
Message 2 of 10
wHiTeSoL
Valued Contributor

Re: Fear of AMEX FR


@acewinningspade wrote:
So just opened new amex cards this month I was initially approved for Green and closed it like a week after because I app for PRG and got approved been using PRG for gas and dining out and had a big account come through and just feel been using the card a lot any ways a new outlet mall has opened up took the girls their and have ran it to 802 as of yesterday. Have stopped using the card this is not out of range of my normal spending but just feel the card will decline any time.

Do I have a good chance of FR?

No. (although no one can say for sure) I think you are worrying too much about this. 

Message 3 of 10
Revelate
Moderator Emeritus

Re: Fear of AMEX FR


@acewinningspade wrote:
So just opened new amex cards this month I was initially approved for Green and closed it like a week after because I app for PRG and got approved been using PRG for gas and dining out and had a big account come through and just feel been using the card a lot any ways a new outlet mall has opened up took the girls their and have ran it to 802 as of yesterday. Have stopped using the card this is not out of range of my normal spending but just feel the card will decline any time.

Do I have a good chance of FR?

Near 0% chance.

 

An FR is almost always only when your spend outstrips your reported income and assets by a substantial margin.  The fear of it is overblown massively on this forum as frankly members here are extreme outliers when it comes to their credit / charge card usage in some respects.  In this case, what you're doing isn't outlier behavior at all (e.g. running 40K worth of business expenses through it in a month when reported income was 120K, that'll raise Amex's eyebrows).

 

Amex has pretty tight internal limits and controls on their first month or two anyway of a new charge card, you'll likely hit this (certainly in first month) rather than any FR chance.  If you're curious use the Amex web interface check spending bit, put something reasonable like 2k or 3k in there and see if it approves or not.  Think my first was ~3K on my old Zync and I ran 2800ish through it without issue.

 

Amex likes spenders (as does everyone) but you're not going to get subjected to the proctological exam with what you're doing.




        
Message 4 of 10
Jutz
Valued Contributor

Re: Fear of AMEX FR

I think people are a bit too worried about FR.  FR is more based on spending patterns, not anomalies, from what I've read.  If your financial profile as a whole is a bit risky and you start spending erratically, then maybe you'll flag.  I'd say you're probably fine.  I was running about 500-1000 on average through my charge for 8-10 months, then dropped to 250-500, then randomly charged $3k for my girlfriend's tuition (money was coming in but was delayed a few days).  No issues at all.

  • Current: EQ FICO 706, TU FICO 701, EX FICO 706 | Starting Score: 525 (05/2012)
  • Starting total revolving credit: $1100 | Current total revolving credit: $36,700
  • Inquiries (12 Months): EQ 2 TU 1 EX 1 | Most Recent: 1/21/2014
Chase Freedom $9500
DCU Visa $10000
Capital One QS $2000
AMEX BCE $3000
Lowe's CC $8500
WalMart CC $3100
BOA Platinum $600
AMEX Gold NPSL
Message 5 of 10
cashnocredit
Valued Contributor

Re: Fear of AMEX FR


@Jutz wrote:

I think people are a bit too worried about FR.  FR is more based on spending patterns, not anomalies, from what I've read.  If your financial profile as a whole is a bit risky and you start spending erratically, then maybe you'll flag.  I'd say you're probably fine.  I was running about 500-1000 on average through my charge for 8-10 months, then dropped to 250-500, then randomly charged $3k for my girlfriend's tuition (money was coming in but was delayed a few days).  No issues at all.


Yeah, you worry too much about it. Unless you start buying everything at Wallys and the Salvation army thrift shop or going to casinos for a cash advance, that is.


I have reestablished credit over the last couple years
so my moniker is, well, rather out of date.

WM Discover $1800, WF Plat 12k, Chase Freedom Siggy18k, Amex Plat (60k H/B), Citi AA EWMC 25k
Message 6 of 10
Creditaddict
Legendary Contributor

Re: Fear of AMEX FR

I think any card you stop using because you are afraid of them asking for financial documents is pretty pointless to carry??

can you proof your income?

 

what's the problem?

Message 7 of 10
snowkitty
Established Contributor

Re: Fear of AMEX FR

I've worried about Amex since I got mine in January. I was spending between 500-1000 on one of them and then barely used it while I was getting my spend on csp. Then this past weekend, I went on a trip 2 states away and used it for everything and spent 1k with no problems. I think the fear will pass as you have the card longer, mine did Smiley Happy
TU Fico 714 | Sesame 742 | Credit Karma 762 | Wal-Mart FICO 734 | EX FICO 695 (1/28/13) | EQ 740 (3-21-13)

Amex Blue Sky 7.2k | Amex BCE 13.1k | Citi Diamond Preferred 10.2k | CSP 5k | Bofa Cash 9k | Boa Travel 10k | Discover More 3k | Chase SW 5k | Wal-Mart 3.3k | Amazon 5k | Old Navy Visa 5k | Shell 1200 | BP 400 | VS 1500 | Sam's Discover 8.5k | FNBO Amex 16k | Chase Freedom 1.3k | Home Depot 5k | Brylane Homes 1600 | BML 2820

App free since 12/11/13*
Message 8 of 10

Re: Fear of AMEX FR

Everything is accurate just don't want to get under the radar too early because eventually i want to apply for some blue cash cards in the future I guess I might of been worrying too much lol
Message 9 of 10
Revelate
Moderator Emeritus

Re: Fear of AMEX FR


@acewinningspade wrote:
Everything is accurate just don't want to get under the radar too early because eventually i want to apply for some blue cash cards in the future I guess I might of been worrying too much lol

I used the heck out of my Zync and was approved for a BCP when pretty much everyone would've objectively said I had no chance on it.

 

Don't sweat it, just spend as you typically would; set your pattern early, and Amex is looking not only at volume but also what transactions are and a whole slew of other things most likely.  Fact is you're doing exactly what they want from their customers using the card heavily for discretionary spending: keep doing that, you'll be fine.




        
Message 10 of 10
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