Amex Green Card

[mattayy]

I know it's riidculous but I really want the amex green card but I know right now my scores are too low and I have some CO's from 2008 that don't come off until 2015. I was wondering when it would be a good time to apply? How long should I wait and what should my scores be around? 

[traveler2005]

how many charge offs? Are they paid?

[traveler2005]

What positive things do you have on your report?

How long have you had credit?  AAOA

[mattayy]

Here's what I have.

-Applied Bank Secured Card $500 limit with $0 balance since 2010.

-Capital One Card $700 limit with $0 balance since 2010 as well. 

- Fingerhut $1200 limit from April of this year. 

- Credit one $500 limit from April of this year. 

- Barclay Rewards $500 limit from August of this year. 

-B of A secured card $500 limit from September of this year. I only did this one because I bank with b of a and wanted to get on their good side with credit. 

The 3 CO's are paid. I do have 4 inquiries though showing. 

What do you think? I know it's not the best but I have never been late on any of these cards and I only carry a balance with Barclay between $50-$150 every month. 

[Revelate]

I don't know about those scores being too low.  If you don't mind checking, it's worthwhile pulling the EX score here as that's pretty close to Amex's traditional score model as we understand it.  I'm hesitant to credit a FAKO like CS as being an appropriate measure, but for a lot of people it seems to be relatively decent and I got my Zync well lower than that.

Minimum underwriting for a Green is in the 640-650 range, and you have enough revolving history.  If it were me, and my EX FICO '08 here looked reasonable, I'd take the shot right now, and if denied, apply again after 31 days.  I'd probably even do it if my income was decent and my score borderline.

Reason for this is backdating: in a building phase still if you have nothing serious coming up (mortgage or maybe auto loan) it's worth getting that membership date established in 2013 rather than 2014 in my opinion.  Doesn't matter long term, may matter though in the 3-4 year time frame.

[traveler2005]

I think I would wait for 6 mo -12 mo, you have opened 4 accounts within the past 7 months which has brought you AAOA down. Let your current cards age a little more, make payments on time, Have you tried to good will the paid charge offs?

[Bleu]

i just got my amex last month. Experian was 691.

[mattayy]

Yeah credit sesame was definitely a FAKO. myfico.com says my experian is only 605  looks like i'll have to wait till next year. 

[mattayy]

**update**

I got denied the green card  oh well guess i'll try again next year  

[newmomnewme]

---

@mattayy wrote:

**update**

I got denied the green card  oh well guess i'll try again next year  

---

Its ok, get back in the garden for about 6 months....keep GWing the baddies, keep your util low, and you will have your amex green this time next year. You can do it. FYI, I just got denied for DiscoverIt (I wanted the 5% cash back) two days after I went to the garden....uugh!