Should I still try and get AmEx?

[honeybrook1]

I want to try and get approved for a home that I am now renting (just posted in general credit issues about trying to get my score up) starting next month.  But at the same time, I want to apply for an AmEx card so bad!  I had one about 10 years ago...got into a little trouble financial, but I eventually made a lump sum payment to pay it off in 2002.  It's showing as a positive closed TL on my TU and EX (not on EQ for some reason).  I know applying for one will hit me with an inquiry that will cost me about 5 points-5 points that I don't really have to spare.  But at the same time, I've been reading on here that some of you are getting your AmEx cards back along with all the rich aging history.  This would be a nice trade-off for the score hit.  What do you think-should I try and apply for the AmEx Delta?

[Anonymous]

Sometimes Amex reopens accounts withthe oldest history.  It reports as if you opened it when the original account was opened.  Call andtalk to a rep about rehab'ing paid off collections with them.

[honeybrook1]

Currently my scores are

    TU  648

    EQ 651

    EX  635

Can I get a Delta with these scores?

[Anonymous]

I hear of approvals for the Delta Sky miles with lower scores.

[honeybrook1]

How much will getting a new card right before I apply to get my house hurt me?

[Anonymous]

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honeybrook1 wrote:

How much will getting a new card right before I apply to get my house hurt me?

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If Amex is going to report the full history, say it looks like it was opened two or more years ago, it shouldn 't hurt you at all unless you've alread gotten your credit pull by the lender.  If so I would do nothing until I closed.

[haulingthescoreup]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@honeybrook1 wrote:
How much will getting a new card right before I apply to get my house hurt me?

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If Amex is going to report the full history, say it looks like it was opened two or more years ago, it should'n't hurt you at all unless you've already gotten your credit pull by the lender. If so I would do nothing until I closed.

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I'd be awfully worried that someone would report it wrong, and it would blow up in my face just as I went to closing. Can you save this reward (getting an AmEx back) until you have your house? (think shiny-card-right-now vs owning your own home)

As a general observation, don't let your cards get control of you. You need to be the boss. Is this perhaps something you can wait on? Sorry, just can't keep the Mom thing down! good luck

[honeybrook1]

You both are right...I can wait.  Reading all of these posts about AmEx and how great it is...the house wins over the shiny new card.  Thanks, guys.  Nothin' like mama steppin' in when you need her.