Card for
Bad Credit

PsychDoc · #21 (**permalink**) 05.30.2002, 13:35

MP$40, thanks for the response and for the kind word there.

Doc

SisterGirl · #22 (**permalink**) 05.30.2002, 13:37

Remember now.......~Peace,Love,& Happy Valley~ .

Sister Girl

dogman · #23 (**permalink**) 05.30.2002, 13:41

Actually, Happy Valley Ranch Dressing on a cold green salad would be great with the buffalo....

aarrfffff - dogman

SisterGirl · #24 (**permalink**) 05.30.2002, 13:50

What?....no Grey Poupon ?

Sister Girl

MP$40 · #25 (**permalink**) 05.30.2002, 13:58

Hey...I'm real hot at AMEX for doggin Dogman. He spends BANK on their card....BANK! But if they have policies (i.e. no Platinum w/ BK on record) then so be it (their card, their rules). But over there in the retention (is that the MORE department?) they need to get on the ball with their rules and policies and stop selling wolf cookies over there (i.e. making empty promises even if they don't know that the promises are empty at the time).

The only reason why I didn't take my funk up w/ Exec. offices, amexsux.com, etc. is because I didn't have the time or the energy for that sort of thing at the time. More Power to Dog if he does decided to burn them at the stake. It's F'd up...

~Peace,Love,& Happy Valley~ --> There will always be this on Creditnet, one way or another! LOL...

MP$40 · #26 (**permalink**) 05.30.2002, 14:01

We keep replying on this post and I know Dogman is wishing it would get to the second page already....Ha! :))

SisterGirl · #27 (**permalink**) 05.30.2002, 14:04

You are so right, but "Who loves you,baby?"

Sister Girl

King · #28 (**permalink**) 05.30.2002, 14:47

Dogman,

When the smoke clears, you may be happy to have saved the cost of the Platinum card. Spend the money on lifes pleasures. My wife and I have no intention of ever applying for AmEx. Especially after what happened to you.

Diners Club may be a different matter later on. We are BKer's from '97 with 13 credit cards between us.

joe · #29 (**permalink**) 05.30.2002, 15:44

Quote:

Originally posted by PsychDoc

Oh, I agree with you entirely. Practically every credit card company has its naysayers and website. Where we disagree is simply where I was offering my personal opinion (to which I, like you, am certainly entitled), and my personal opinion is this:

American Express customer service is far worse than most. Its major benefit -- its status -- is a house of cards built on excellent marketing rather than excellent service. Its cost-to-benefit ratio is ridiculous.

Now, that said, MP$40, I fully understand that others may disagree. However, please don't tell me how I should word my postings. We may have differing opinions, but I hardly think either of us has the right to suggest how we should go about expressing those opinions. Thanks.

Psych "AmExSux" Doc

Doc,

The "AmExSux" quote in your name is almost funny but not really your style... really now... :) You are rarely, if ever, crass....but this may have pissed you off a bit... hehe

dogman · #30 (**permalink**) 05.30.2002, 15:54

thx again all! Joe - that is correct, I have purchased everything from my high def TV to 1400 ladybugs on my Green Card. I have never been stopped - even at the $9K level in Australia.

thx all for your comments.

aarrfff - dogman

PsychDoc · #31 (**permalink**) 05.30.2002, 16:19

Quote:

Originally posted by joe
the "no spending limit" on the charge cards is REAL if you pay your bills on time like Dogman

Sorry, Joe, they don't offer "no spending limit" and never have. What they do offer is a "no pre-set spending limit" which is a bit different. With the "no pre-set spending limit" there is what they call a "spending cap" whose value is known only to American Express. I called the application number just now (1-800-THE-CARD) and asked them to elaborate that, but the fellow gave a bit of a rambling answer. He did acknowledge the spending cap but said only that it depends upon your pattern of previous usage. When I asked what the cap would be with a brand new card, he said that he didn't know and that the answer to that was privileged AmEx corporate information regardless. I then called the application escalations ("status") department at 1-800-962-7227 and did receive more forthright answers. The woman I spoke with said that the initial spending cap is based upon annual income, credit score, and the average lines of credit the customer has with other cards. Direct quote: "Your credit report must support the kind of spending you attempt to do." So, I asked, what happens if the secret cap on my charge card is $10,000, but I try to spend $15,000, to which she replied: "The most likely thing that will happen is that the merchant will receive a code instructing them to have you contact customer service. At that point, we will either explain that this purchase is out of line with your past spending history and deny the charge, or we will authorize the cap increase if it's relatively close to your historical cap."

So, Joe, "no pre-set spending limit" means this: American Express keeps your line of credit ("spending cap") a secret.

Doc

luxury4me · #32 (**permalink**) 05.30.2002, 16:36

This is a little off the topic, but I wonder if anyone has ever pushed that button on the amex site for intended spending in the future and seen whether they would actually approve fairly large amounts?

dogman · #33 (**permalink**) 05.30.2002, 17:31

Breeze - I definitely admit GEICO has never treated with me anything but ASTONISHINGLY GREAT service.

Later - dogman

Saar · #34 (**permalink**) 05.30.2002, 17:46

Quote:

Originally posted by PsychDoc

So, Joe, "no pre-set spending limit" means this: American Express keeps your line of credit ("spending cap") a secret.

That is a gross over-simplification of the no pre-set spending limit feature. It cannot be regarded as a credit limit in the traditional sense, because it is flexible, dynamic and easily overriden. Also, placing "holds" on such account does not reduce your available credit.

BTW, Amex's term for no pre-set spending limit is "Exposure Limit".

As for the above web site, allegedly proving Amex's inferority to Citibank and Capital One:

www.citiaction.org
www.shitibank.com/oldmessages/toc.htm
www.capital1card.com

Someone of Flyertalk.com once said about Amex: "When they're bad they're the worst, but when they're good they're the best". I agree.

True, I've had my share of disappointments with them. But they are overall my best credit card issuer and the first to take me to Primeland. They've given me an Optima Platinum when my best card was a secured Capital One and when Citi wouldn't even consider me for a Classic.

Go Dog!!!

Saar

sam · #35 (**permalink**) 05.30.2002, 18:37

don't do the "will i be approved" i did once, thanks hard inquiry.

dogman · #36 (**permalink**) 05.30.2002, 19:01

thx saar / sam - appreciate it.
aroo - dogman

joe · #37 (**permalink**) 05.30.2002, 19:39

Quote:

Originally posted by PsychDoc

Sorry, Joe, they don't offer "no spending limit" and never have. What they do offer is a "no pre-set spending limit" which is a bit different. With the "no pre-set spending limit" there is what they call a "spending cap" whose value is known only to American Express. I called the application number just now (1-800-THE-CARD) and asked them to elaborate that, but the fellow gave a bit of a rambling answer. He did acknowledge the spending cap but said only that it depends upon your pattern of previous usage. When I asked what the cap would be with a brand new card, he said that he didn't know and that the answer to that was privileged AmEx corporate information regardless. I then called the application escalations ("status") department at 1-800-962-7227 and did receive more forthright answers. The woman I spoke with said that the initial spending cap is based upon annual income, credit score, and the average lines of credit the customer has with other cards. Direct quote: "Your credit report must support the kind of spending you attempt to do." So, I asked, what happens if the secret cap on my charge card is $10,000, but I try to spend $15,000, to which she replied: "The most likely thing that will happen is that the merchant will receive a code instructing them to have you contact customer service. At that point, we will either explain that this purchase is out of line with your past spending history and deny the charge, or we will authorize the cap increase if it's relatively close to your historical cap."

So, Joe, "no pre-set spending limit" means this: American Express keeps your line of credit ("spending cap") a secret.

Doc

Doc,

Thanks for making me look stupid. OF COUSRE there is no real "NO LIMIT." I have never had a problem...if you need to spend over what they will give, a little banking info will set things right. For example, a $10K CD in your own bank, they verify and then things are OK. Hell, Citi will NOT bump your limit to match your bank account balance no matter what. They just won't. AMEX will bump your secret, let's piss Doc off, internal, whatever marketing thing it is...they will move it up. This suits the "charge card" world. I mean, come on.

But, it seems like AMEX just plain pisses you off and that's that. I can deal with that. But you seem angry at AMEX and that is funny.

I should not have ued the word "REAL." But, AMEX does hold clout and our bickering back and forth just proves it. Look at Dog...BK, everything, can charge $10k no prob. If you have a $30K CD, your "exposure limit" will be bumped up upon request. I love being talked down to. Maybe if I agreed with everyone, then it would be cool. I find myself agreeing with MP$40's feelings here. AMEX ROCKS. I don't LOVE paying fees, but what the hell.

Saar..thanks for helping me out there. I mean, when someone hates something....it is full bore tilt :) Your balanced comments are great. Good and Bad...just like most cards except CCB. Amex has been awesome for many.

joe · #38 (**permalink**) 05.30.2002, 19:50

Quote:

Originally posted by sam
don't do the "will i be approved" i did once, thanks hard inquiry.

Do it every other day it seems like. Never a hard on Gold or Green. You bet I checked to be sure! Just regular AR's every few months on EFX. I can even see what my "exposure limit" is just by entering various amounts...not very secret anymore :)

Hey Dog, have you tried to guess your "cap" by doing the numbers? $25K hmmmm? hehe

PsychDoc · #39 (**permalink**) 05.30.2002, 20:15

Joe's right. I hate AmEx. But I don't hate Joe. So, Joe, I hope you'll accept my apology for being just too-fired-up regarding this topic. I hated reading that I made you feel stupid. Just take heart: anybody reading this thread today probably thought, "Whoa, what the %#@ is up with Doc today?" and they almost certainly didn't think anything bad about you. This was Doc running amok, pure and simple.

Moreover, MP$40 was nothing but gracious with me -- despite the obvious fact that my emotions were doing the talking today. I'm a long-time MP$40 fan, as a few people know here. MP$40: please accept my apology (even though I certainly understand if you don't) for all the reactivity, some of which spilled on you today. :(

I'm usually paper-trained, but today I definitely needed to be kennelled.

Doc

P.S. I'll get back to normal quickly.

P.P.S. A reasonable question for me would be: Gee, Doc, if you hate AmEx so much, why the hell do you carry one of their cards? Hypocrisy? Hyperbole? Lunacy? I deserve all those labels tonight.

goldengate · #40 (**permalink**) 05.30.2002, 20:37

Why should you have to "guess" at how much you will be allowed to spend on a card? With Visa or Mastercard or Discover, you can tell exactly how much you have to spend. Nothing sucks worse than trying to use AMEX card in front of a customer at a restaurant and then find out they have to call in to get authorization. The first time that happened to me I cancelled.

I'll use this analogy to describe the Amex card. I'll sell you a car but unfortunately the gas gage doesn't work and I modified the gas tank so the tank holds somewhere between 1 and 10 gallons. Now lets see how long it takes for you to accidentaly run out of gas.

This is exactly what the AMEX card is. You'll run out of gas eventually; you just hope it isn't at a bad time.