Today in the mail, I received an offer from Amex Blue. It doesn't say pre-approved any where on it and I know that they haven't pulled my name from TU, EQ or EX. At the bottom, it says "Just fill out and mail the attached acceptance certificate to get Blue". On the back it says "....may not be issued to me if this form is altered, the information on it is not complete, accurate or verifiable or I have responded to another pre-approved offer within the last 90 days....". BUT, it also says "..... I am aware that this information will be used to determine my eligibility for the Card and that, if my application is approved, you may contact these sources......" On the one hand, it sounds like I'm preapproved but there's that one line about "if my application is approved". Has anyone seen this before and am I pre-approved or are they just yankin' my chain? My ONLY baddie is a tax lien from 1996 that I owe about 1,100 on (from $40,000).
"PRE-APPROVED" TO APPLY...BUT AMEX usually picks VERY PRIME CUSTOMERS...to send mail to... If you have a 650+ F.I.C.O. it's pretty good odds for APPROVAL...
That's the thing....while my income is above average, my oldest trade line is only 2.5 years old. I have 2 credit cards, Cap One with 2,700 and Providian with 3,900. I also have Best Buy and Target Guest Card plus an auto loan. All have no lates but CC balances are up there because I've been traveling a lot for work. I pay them off every month but the balance zooms up again. The big question for me is if it is preapproved, where did they get my info from?
I should also add that my FICO is only 633. The credit card balances are killing me. I guess I should pay off the bill before the statement cycles so I show zero balance.
Amex is on a mission to increase it's revolving portfolio -- you may be just what they're looking for (someone who will revolve a balance). I'd advise you to send it in with a BT (if they offer one on the form). If you get it - you're in. If not, call the new accounts folks and explain your situation (I travel a lot, my balances are high but I pay them off - I'll send you some statements if that will help) and I want to BT to your card which will lower the other balances. Good luck, Marc
Houston Guy, I got the same offer a day before you did. I really think it's based on info from a CRA, because my name is printed differently than on the obvious magazine subscription list offers I've been getting from MBNA and AT&T. I noticed the phrase about "other preapproved offers"as well, and also the phrase "if you are approved." Optimistically, I think the doubt about approval could refer to other phrases like "name and adress must be verifiable," or whatever it was. It may not be a credit approval issue at all, just an identification issue. That's the best case. I get good offers in the mail so rarely that I feel I have to return this application, to try to "get my Blue card." I know Discover sends out worthless offers, but AmEx may be different. I have high hopes for this one. By the way, I got Cap One and Providian cards about 2 1/2 years ago as well. I have had more than one card for only that time, with a single Citibank MC being older than that. Best wishes for approval, RichGuy
Usually, AmEx offers are good offers. Maybe they buy info from the companies you use when you travel. That's their specialty. Accept it.
