AMEX Cancelled/Closed Account Removal

[Anonymous]

Is it possible to remove a closed account from a CR? The account was an AMEX Platinum that was cancelled, and I have reopened a new AMEX Platinum since.

Thank you.

[dursty87]

Is it a positive trade line ? If so it will remain as a positive closed account on your CR for up to 10 years.

[tufa4311]

Why do you want it removed? If it is a positve line then you would not want to loose that credit history - even if there was a late or two, depending on how bad they are, you still may want to keep the history.

[RobertEG]

There clearly can be benefit from having accounts deleted if they had prior, reported derogs, particularly if the derogs were major, even after the derogs have been excluded from one's credit report.

Credit report exclusion is not absolute, and does not actually delete the info from your credit file.

Under certain, albiet rare, conditions, a creditor can request and receive a full-file credit report that includes all reported derogs.  See FCRA 605(b).

Voluntary account deletion wipes out all reporting.

A prior account is not necessarily "positive" once all derogs have normally been excluded.  If the debt remains unpaid, while your CR may not show show a prior derog indicating delinquent debt, it may be reason for one to either ask what happened to a debt that does not show paid or to order a full file credit report if, for example, you are requesting credit in the amount of $150K or more.

A pottential hit under AAoA might, in some cases, be worth it to get all information about an account actually deleted.

The rub is getting the creditor to voluntarily report deletion......

[emd0007]

Same crap happened to me. Utilization got in the upper 90's over the summer, missed a payment, and Amex shut her down without a warning. Despite the fact that I've paid on it so that I can get the Optima card, they don't update the balance and all that shows on my report is a maxed out card that is overdue.

[Imperfectfuture]

Amex is generous, and conservative at the same time. If you couldn't pay the full amount (and you miss a payment, showing you can't even make the minimum), then they shut it down. Treat amex right, and they will reward you.

[emd0007]

I used to think they were the greatest thing since sliced bread. First card I ever applied for and got a great rate and credit limit at 19 years of age. But should you ever have any hardship occur in your life that puts your in a financial bind, you may as well be getting your legs broken by the mafia because AMEX will blindside you and ruin you before you even get a hint of what's going on. They get mean really quickly and will accept nothing but every dime owed in addition to a new exorbitant interest rate. And if you're lucky they may let you back on the island with their Optima Card, which is little more than a payday loan in the form of a credit card.

[Imperfectfuture]

You shouldn't be living above your means. Rewards cards are not for those that can't pay their bill in full. Hard times, you should have an emergency fund set up for that PRIOR to getting credit (I lived cash only for 6 years, maybe you should do that too, learn how to SAVE UP for big expenses, rule of thumb, don't buy anything that is over 10% of your savings).

Just because your unemployment, overspending whatever got your card shut down, doesn't make Amex a bad company, since millions of people use it quite well. As long as you lay the blame where it doesn't belong, and use your.credit cards as emergency funds to the tune of over 80% util (you have bad Fico, and they don't think you can pay it off, with good reason), then you haven't learned the lessons offered by this forum, and credit is something not everyone can handle (that was me too once).

[emd0007]

I understand what you're saying, but the situation that happened was entirely out of my control and I just think its a tad ridiculous for a company that makes as much money as AMEX to come after you like a schoolyard bully with no warning and not even giving you a chance to get back on track (which I have in terms of income). It's just a flaw within the entire credit system. Yes, some people are irresponsible and abuse credit. But for a lot of people, myself included, a temporary setback can wipe out years of otherwise flawless financial habits. 

By their logic, the Chicago Bulls should have moved Michael Jordan to the development leagues for two years if he had a few consecutive subpar games. I don't think it's too outrageous to suggest that everyone be given a 2-3 month mulligan in the event of a temporary financial setback. But then again, why would billion dollar companies want to change the policies that turned them into billion dollar companies?