Should I or shouldn't I??

[BobbyJ]

Hello armymom, I had a Green Amex opened in 1985 when I was very young.  The account was charged off with at least a $1000 balance  in 1985 and was never paid.  I was recently approved for a PR Gold and Zync on the same day and they backdated both accounts to 1986.  I think after a certain time they dont hold the debt over your head but you are still in their system somewhere.  Very happy to be back into the family and will never do anything to ruin my new found relationship.

[armymom]

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@BobbyJ wrote:

Hello armymom, I had a Green Amex opened in 1985 when I was very young.  The account was charged off with at least a $1000 balance  in 1985 and was never paid.  I was recently approved for a PR Gold and Zync on the same day and they backdated both accounts to 1986.  I think after a certain time they dont hold the debt over your head but you are still in their system somewhere.  Very happy to be back into the family and will never do anything to ruin my new found relationship.

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How was yours backdated? Did they locate your first account? 

[Anonymous]

I opened my 1st in 1991 and charged off 16k. Last year they approved me for a green and updated to Gold. I rocked the boat by applying for a Gold Business charge card and they brought up the fact that I still owed 16k. What's in the dark will eventually see the light. Lol I ended up paying the 16k. "Give me FREE!"

[Anonymous]

I would personally not awaken the sleeping giant that is AMEX. I try to stay under the radar with them as much as possible...I don't want to draw any unnecessary attention to me. 

But I'm the paranoid type, so it's up to you. 

[Open123]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I would personally not awaken the sleeping giant that is AMEX. I try to stay under the radar with them as much as possible...I don't want to draw any unnecessary attention to me. 

But I'm the paranoid type, so it's up to you. 

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With Amex, this is good advice!  

[Anonymous]

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@Open123 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

I would personally not awaken the sleeping giant that is AMEX. I try to stay under the radar with them as much as possible...I don't want to draw any unnecessary attention to me. 

But I'm the paranoid type, so it's up to you. 

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With Amex, this is good advice!  

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I agree, reading this post has brough up some interesting replies, some have said they have defaulted with AmEx and never paid them back and still were able to get back in with them years later, I really was under the impression that if you burned AmEx and did not pay them back, you were thrown out of the "family" and not let back in,

As one replier said, he owed 16K, apped years later and was approved, he then "rocked the boat" and AmEx showed their teeth and said, uhmm remember that 16K you owe us?

armymom, I honestly think it would be a good idea to wait at the very least a year if you feel you must try for the backdating, but by then, the account really won't be considered "New" on your reports anymore anyway, so maybe just be happy you're back in with AmEx and not wake the sleeping giant??

Either way, I Wish you the Very Best.

[armymom]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Open123 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

I would personally not awaken the sleeping giant that is AMEX. I try to stay under the radar with them as much as possible...I don't want to draw any unnecessary attention to me. 

But I'm the paranoid type, so it's up to you. 

---

With Amex, this is good advice!  

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I agree, reading this post has brough up some interesting replies, some have said they have defaulted with AmEx and never paid them back and still were able to get back in with them years later, I really was under the impression that if you burned AmEx and did not pay them back, you were thrown out of the "family" and not let back in,

As one replier said, he owed 16K, apped years later and was approved, he then "rocked the boat" and AmEx showed their teeth and said, uhmm remember that 16K you owe us?

armymom, I honestly think it would be a good idea to wait at the very least a year if you feel you must try for the backdating, but by then, the account really won't be considered "New" on your reports anymore anyway, so maybe just be happy you're back in with AmEx and not wake the sleeping giant??

Either way, I Wish you the Very Best.

That is exactly what my gut feeling tells me.  Give it another year or two then maybe look into backdating. 

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[pizzadude]

How much do you think was charged off ??  If it wasn't a large amount, I wouldn't feel bad about making a backdate attempt now.  

Based on other's experiences with really old COs, they will probably work with you to pay it back, some have even reported not being charged interest. 

I'd rather have it resolved than hanging over my head as something that I might get dinged or shutdown for out of the blue.

[CS800]

Out of curiosity i wonder who has the ealiest backdating on here. I see a lot of 80's. Do we have 70's or earlier?

[Anonymous]

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@BobbyJ wrote:

Hello armymom, I had a Green Amex opened in 1985 when I was very young.  The account was charged off with at least a $1000 balance  in 1985 and was never paid.  I was recently approved for a PR Gold and Zync on the same day and they backdated both accounts to 1986.  I think after a certain time they dont hold the debt over your head but you are still in their system somewhere.  Very happy to be back into the family and will never do anything to ruin my new found relationship.

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Same situation here. Young and foolish, my Amex got charged off with a balance of a few hundred $$$ and was never paid. That was 20, going on 21 years ago. Last May, they sent me an offer to apply for Green. I assumed that I was blacklisted, but based on the advice of this forum I went ahead and gave it a shot. Much to my surprise, I was approved! Like you, I'm also very happy to be back in the family and am determined to keep this account in excellent standing.

ETA: And yes, they backdated it to 1987. I didn't even need to ask. When I logged into the website for the first time, it showed Member Since 1987.