@TheCreditKid wrote:Welcome
The chances of you getting approved for AMEX platinum is zero to none, unless the criteria requirements changed. Try getting approved for a securd card, then move on from there. Good luck.
Really think it's that low? The OP's main issue seems to be no credit cards. There isn't a mention of negatives. I don't know if it's that out of reach.
OP, did you have a prior relationship with Amex? If you had one of their cards before and closed it in good standing, I'd think that would go a long way toward you being able to open a new card with them even if you don't have any other open cards.
Do you have any negative items, late payments, etc.? If so, how old?
Have you tried Amex's pre-approval page. See if anything comes up for you. One thing though that might help is to open another card before applying for the Amex. If you have no other credit cards, you'll probably see a score bump once you add at least one card.
Also, if you're really interested in the Amex Plat, and you don't care about an inquiry, you could just apply and see what happens. It's really not that big of a deal in my opinion to take an inquiry to see what happens if you don't already have a lot of inquiries and you don't plan on buying a house or car anytime soon. And from your post, it doesn't sound like you've been applying for a lot of credit lately, so you likely have few inquiries.
ETA: Where did you get that 657 score and for which CRA?
Starting Score: ~500 (12/01/2008)According to what you will read here, the AMEX Zync is the "entry level" card and, some folks have found it difficult to qualify for on their first try. Read through the posts that talk about the AMEX Zync and go from there.
I wish you the best as you re-enter credit-card land. I'm right there with you in making the mistake of going "all cash" for too many years. I hope you got your score directly from FICO, otherwise, you may find yourself like me -- with NO FICO score at all. 
Just for comparison's sake, Amex approved me for the PR Gold card in October 2010 with a 645 EQ FICO. Now, Amex pulls EX, and I didn't know it at the time, but my EX FICO is about 50 points higher than my EQ score, so I am sure that was a factor. But, I had 7 accounts with major late payments, ranging from 60 days up to 150 days on the worst account. At time of application, my most recent late payment was not quite 2 years old, about 22 months old. Compensating factors were that I had a previous relationship with Amex, and the card was closed in good standing, never late. I had decent income. I did have one open CC when I applied wheras you have none.
If i were you i would start off small and work your way up, Amex is a pain to get approved for especially if you have no credit card history. I would try Barclays or the Amex Zync.
I am pretty sure you will get a instant denial if you try the Platinum and their reason will be not enough credit card history.
Barclays has a really good recon system if you get an instant denial.
GOOD LUCK!
