When AMEX sees some blemishes, they want to give you a chance with the Zync and see how you handle it. true to its reputation, AMEX will then remove the hard limit after your 6th statement cut unless they see a negative change in your credit profile.
@dude11 wrote:
@Denny33142 wrote:I was declined 2 months ago for the AMEX ZYNC, i promised myself i would not reapply until early next year but i just couldn't wait any longer.
So i applied and it told me they could not approve me for the original ZYNC but that i was approved for the following offers:
$200 Credit Limit or $500 credit limit with auto withdraw from my checking account.
I picked the second option and proceeded to put my bank account information, i pressed continue and it was taking long to load, finally it said the page was having technical problems
Do you guys think i got approved? has anyone been told that they are approved for the ZYNC with the hard limit and then get declined?
I was given the same offer as you when I applied and I selected the 500 w/Autopay option and was approved. I'm almost 100% positive if you were presented with the other two options instead of the regular Zync card, then you most likely will be approved even if the system was having technical difficulties.
If I were you I would definitely call Amex and check the status.
Back in April when I applied, something similar happened to me also. Right when I clicked the accept on the 500 side, the page switched to unable to continue, session timed out or something. I did get an email thanking me for applying, with a link to check the status. I tried checking and I don't think it could find anything. I called, talked to a CSR, told him what happened about the page changing at the moment I went to accept the hard limit etc and he said he couldn't do anything. That it was an offer the system would sometimes kick out and was only available during that session (I could try again after 30 days or something).
Later I went back to the link and was able to learn I was declined and could see why if I agreed to online rules etc etc. So I did. The reason given was the erroneous collection I finally called the state AG about who got it removed within 10 days of the call.
I figured I'd just wait and app later. I applied last month and was instantly approved (after waiting nearly 5 months, not thinking about it much, I think the min wait is 30 days) without a hard limit offer, went right to the No pre-set limit after my card arrived and was activated (they let you use your account online if you enroll for online account info etc with a hard limit of 250 until your card arrives and you activate it). The worst part was having 2 inq's added (1 in April, 1 in sept, both for Amex) because I didn't wait to have that one negative cleared on my EX (as well as the other 2 CRAs).
My EX scores (fakos of course) were in the 690+ range for those I was able to check. Spotless 3.5 year history (AAoA) on EX with 12 accounts and 6 inq's over 2 years showing.
I hope this helps others that are curious about the Amex Z application, what they look for and if the hard limit option presents itself. As I've said in other posts, my main objective was the backdating feature and possibly another product with good rewards later through Amex, my original Member date was 1989. Yes, after 3 or 4 calls, they gave me my original membership date as well as overnighted a new Zync with the Member Since date of 89. I have yet to use the card and the last time I checked the balance was still 0 as the membership fee of $40 has not posted (I added an AU) so I haven't linked a bank account to it yet. They offered to link an account when I enrolled and I wasn't sure which one I wanted to use, I was hoping I could put in information for more than one checking account later (some online accounts allow that, some don't).
For those wondering about the backdating issue; From what I was able to find, read, ask Amex about, it seems your own account can be backdated (once they find it, with your help of course) and your AU's account (once yours is backdated) will show your history on their CRs as well, the AU will NOT get a card with the original membership date anymore, only the year they were made a member by you (current year).
Oops, I almost forgot. Once your hard limit (either one) is removed, try to resist clicking that "check your spending limit" button on the online account access page. It is not a toy, ESP when it was somewhat "iffy" getting in with them. As the old saying goes "let sleeping dogs lie" 
You're good to go. Just fax them what they need and after your 6th statement, assuming nothng goes wrong they will remove the hard limit.
@Denny33142 wrote:Just an update i got declined for the original ZYNC but offered the $500 ZYNC with AutoPay, i called AMEX and they said they will be sending me the autopay form which i will have to fax to them.
My EX Fico is 619, The only negative item is a charge off from early this year, AAOA is 8 months and i got 13 INQ's on EX.
Do you have any other CC's?? What is your UTIL?? I'm very interested in the ZYNC and my scores are above yours but I have other cards with a balance. I'm working to reduce them.
