I want an Amex

[dddewdrop]

     So I can be like that Pirate. What is the best way for me to obtain this goal? I know I need to raise my scores and lower my inquries but what else will help? Should I get an Amex prepaid card in the hopes that establishing a relationship with Amex will help? I will do that if it will help. Should I get an Amex branded product? Will that help? Should I apply for some other cards or credit products that Amex would like to see on my credit reports? I currently have the 4 cards listed on my cig and one baddie that is a closed card from 2010 that had a lot of lates and that was settle for less than the full amount in 2010. How long do I reasonable have to wait to be able to be eligible for an Amex. I applied 2 months ago and was rejected almost before I pressed the apply button on the application. They did offer me a prepaid card after and I know they used to have a prepaid product that they advertised as helping to get you a regular amex charge card...What should I do besides wait?

[NonSufficientFunds]

---

@dddewdrop wrote:

     Should I get an Amex prepaid card in the hopes that establishing a relationship with Amex will help? I will do that if it will help.

---

About a year after I had acquired the AmEx PrePaid card, I began receiving emails from AmEx, (not pre-approvals - but invitations to apply).  I ignored most of them until recently, when I got the invitation to apply for the Gold Card.  The application was approved within a few seconds, and the card arrived a few days later.

I had an AmEx many years ago, but I stiffed them through a bankruptcy, so I was not even expecting that they would ever do business with me again.  However, I have learned that AmEx is very forgiving of past sins, and I was even more delighted to see that my new account shows: member since 1982.  This makes the AAoA look very good.

I don't know if having the PrePaid card has anything to do with getting approved - but at least, it puts you into their marketing database, so you will at least begin to get invitations to apply.  Some think that responding to an invitation is more likely to result in an appoval (as opposed to cold application).  I don't know if it makes any difference in their underwriting algorithm, but I would guess that having at least some kind of relationship with them is better than not.

[dddewdrop]

    That sounds promising. I was thinking of getting a prepaid card to send to my wife who is living in a different state for a little bit.

[dddewdrop]

    i am going to cold call Amex and see what they have to say about how I should go about grooming myself to become a member.

[dddewdrop]

What about getting an Amex savings account or CD? would that help? 

[dodgerslv]

When i applied for the Delta Gold back in August 2012 i got instantly denied. Then a month later i get the same invation to get a prepaid card but instead i opened a savings account with them. Didnt get any invitations or preselected offers to apply for any amex but i tried this past march and got approved instantly for the green followed with approvals for the BCP and Costco. Dont know if opening a savings account helped at all.

[Anonymous]

---

@dddewdrop wrote:

What about getting an Amex savings account or CD? would that help? 

---

It couldn't hurt.

Their savings account has a fairly high 0.85% interest rate, if I'm not mistaken.

[NonSufficientFunds]

---

@dddewdrop wrote:

What about getting an Amex savings account or CD? would that help? 

---

I don't think that the AmEx Bank and Cardmember Services have anything to do with eachother, but again, it would put you on their radar - so you would at least begin to receive offers.

I'll also add - when I was approved for the Gold Card, my FICO scores were similar to yours, so you have nothing to lose by applying now (if you don't mind the inquiry).

[dddewdrop]

I app

---

@NonSufficientFunds wrote:

---

@dddewdrop wrote:

What about getting an Amex savings account or CD? would that help? 

---

I don't think that the AmEx Bank and Cardmember Services have anything to do with eachother, but again, it would put you on their radar - so you would at least begin to receive offers.

I'll also add - when I was approved for the Gold Card, my FICO scores were similar to yours, so you have nothing to lose by applying now (if you don't mind the inquiry).

---

I apped already 2 months ago and got denied. I am going to wait til my scores hit the next level (like 25 pts higher) before even considering.... 

[los_west]

My scores aren't too far from yours...and I was approved for the AMEX/Costco card this morning, instantly online.  I just don't know yet what my credit line is.  

Have you tried to call and find out why they didn't approve you?  I did an online chat with a customer service rep while I was applying....so I don't know if that helped or not.