Well, all of my credit repair work seems to have finally paid off. I achieved my biggest credit-related goal today - I was approved for an AMEX Gold Card. I am in shock and disbelief. I was initially declined for the card back in August, and I pursued the matter aggressively with AMEX Centurion Bank's executive offices. I couldn't get them to override the denial, claiming that I had too many "new accounts" with not enough payment history. So, I waited a little while to give my new accounts a chance to age a bit, and voila - an approval from the executive offices! I am sure that it didn't hurt that I made triple payments on all my new accounts during the intervening period. This achievement would never have been made without the help of this board and its participants. Thank you all. -chriscraft
Thanks, guys and gals. Those of you who hold this card, do you have any "tips" for me? You know, like on how to upgrade the card to platinum, etc? I have never had a card like this, and I don't know the "ins and outs" like I should. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks again, all, for helping me get this far. I hope I can return the favor. -chriscraft
Thanks, Hope! In my experience, the one ingredient which is absolutely essential to successfully cleaning up one's credit is PATIENCE. Followed next by DILIGENCE. Mix that with a bit of ANGER and FRUSTRATION from getting jerked around, and you then have the complete recipe for success. There have been times - and continue to be times- where I run into failure and get so frustrated with the whole darn thing that I just want to quit. And just when I am there...someone on this board posts something to give me the strength to continue. The whole system is frustrating and most of all, bizarre. I mean, go figure -- I have been fighting for months to get a damn Macy's card, and I finally get it and it has a whopping $200 limit. A month earlier I was approved, almost effortlessly, for $19,000 in Citibank cards (thanks to Sam's advice). And this week I squeeze out an American Express Gold Card. Is there any explaining this disparity in treatment? I just don't get it. To those who aren't "there" just yet, hang in there, you will do it. My credit was junk at the beginning of this year; now I am basically prime. If I can do it, anyone can. Just be PATIENT and DILIGENT. And read this board religiously. Don't let them (the CRA's) beat you. You will prevail. -chriscraft
wow, must have not been fully awake when I wrote this. <- tells himself to remember to proof read next time.
Wow! Congratulations......I'm jealous! I've been trying to beat AMEX up out a Gold charge card since earlier this year. I've hit so many brick walls but I finally prevailed with a Gold Delta card (now Optima Platinum card). My advice on how to use the card? Well....I used it in place of my Visa check card (anywhere AMEX was accepted). Then I let that money sit in my account to earn interest. Then I would pay the bill in full when it came. I was spending almost on the average about $2k/mo. I liked the fact of haning a charge card becuase it kept me out of debt. You can't buy what you can't pay for, right? Good Luck!
