What happens after a year with Optima?

[Anonymous]

I'm supposed to be gardening but this came up today so I need to see if I can at least answer a few questions. I tried searching but one other thread asking my first question was posted and no one answered. Let's see if I have some better luck.

1) Is there a chance to PC the Optima upon completing 12 months? Or do you have to app for another Amex and close the Optima, thus winding up with a different but new account?

2) I suspect this might be difficult to answer, but I wonder if anyone knows; Optima says you cannot carry any other Amex product while having the Optima (at least for the first 12 months I believe). Does this include being an AU on someone else's Amex?

[Anonymous]

It's been a few years since my brother did the oasis program but after his year was up he had to close the card and to be able to apply for a new account. I believe he did try to change the Optima to something else and it was a no. I guess since this card is the red-headed stepchild at Amex its will never be more than a chance to get back into Amex good graces. 

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

It's been a few years since my brother did the oasis program but after his year was up he had to close the card and to be able to apply for a new account. I believe he did try to change the Optima to something else and it was a no. I guess since this card is the red-headed stepchild at Amex its will never be more than a chance to get back into Amex good graces. 

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Thanks! Sounds like it's being phased out, according to the four or five (six?) people I talked to this morning trying to see if I was eligible (after being told I was a few days ago).

Works for me, I should've been focused on gardening anyways. I'll wait six months until I hit my goal and see if I can get a different card with them.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

It's been a few years since my brother did the oasis program but after his year was up he had to close the card and to be able to apply for a new account. I believe he did try to change the Optima to something else and it was a no. I guess since this card is the red-headed stepchild at Amex its will never be more than a chance to get back into Amex good graces. 

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Thanks! Sounds like it's being phased out, according to the four or five (six?) people I talked to this morning trying to see if I was eligible (after being told I was a few days ago).

Works for me, I should've been focused on gardening anyways. I'll wait six months until I hit my goal and see if I can get a different card with them.

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I've seen no evidence that the Optima program is being phased out. Instead, it's a great tool to reward (bribe?) those with defaults to make good with AMEX. That said, your experience with little luck obtaining much info about it from AMEX CSRs is par for the course. The Optima program seems to be a mystery to most at AMEX and seems to be handled by a back office group. 

Entrance into the Optima program is solely by invite only. You may not request it. 

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

It's been a few years since my brother did the oasis program but after his year was up he had to close the card and to be able to apply for a new account. I believe he did try to change the Optima to something else and it was a no. I guess since this card is the red-headed stepchild at Amex its will never be more than a chance to get back into Amex good graces. 

---

Thanks! Sounds like it's being phased out, according to the four or five (six?) people I talked to this morning trying to see if I was eligible (after being told I was a few days ago).

Works for me, I should've been focused on gardening anyways. I'll wait six months until I hit my goal and see if I can get a different card with them.

---

I've seen no evidence that the Optima program is being phased out. Instead, it's a great tool to reward (bribe?) those with defaults to make good with AMEX. That said, your experience with little luck obtaining much info about it from AMEX CSRs is par for the course. The Optima program seems to be a mystery to most at AMEX and seems to be handled by a back office group. 

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Sounds about right. I was bounced between multiple departments today. All of them very helpful and polite, but no one was able to make any progress. I updated my contact information in case anything changes and bid them adieu.

It probably would've been in my better interest to get something more solid from them then the verbal "I see here you have an offer on your account for Optima". The first number I called, the one they told me to call when I was ready, acted like I discovered a secret underground bunker and did their best to quickly get me off the line and calling someone else.

[Red1Blue]

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@Anonymous wrote:

1) Is there a chance to PC the Optima upon completing 12 months? Or do you have to app for another Amex and close the Optima, thus winding up with a different but new account?

2) I suspect this might be difficult to answer, but I wonder if anyone knows; Optima says you cannot carry any other Amex product while having the Optima (at least for the first 12 months I believe). Does this include being an AU on someone else's Amex?

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With Amex you keep the same account number even if you do PC. They do not give you a new account number when you do PC. I had Optima about 12-14 years ago and after 1 year, I was able to PC from Optima to Amex Platinum with out any problems. I do not know what their policy is now.

I have no idea if you can be an AU. I beleive when you apply for Optima they do not want you to have another Amex product. Not sure about AU. You have to ask Amex about it.

[sjt]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I'm supposed to be gardening but this came up today so I need to see if I can at least answer a few questions. I tried searching but one other thread asking my first question was posted and no one answered. Let's see if I have some better luck.

1) Is there a chance to PC the Optima upon completing 12 months? Or do you have to app for another Amex and close the Optima, thus winding up with a different but new account?

2) I suspect this might be difficult to answer, but I wonder if anyone knows; Optima says you cannot carry any other Amex product while having the Optima (at least for the first 12 months I believe). Does this include being an AU on someone else's Amex?

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After 12 months of good history with the Optima Card, you are eligible to apply for other Amex products without having to close the Optima Account. You cant product change the Optima Card, but I have heard that some folks get product change offers.