Any issues with American Express?

[s0ssos]

ok, for the most rewards:
if you're a college kid, or go to school (grad school): citi mtvu card. 5 thankyou points for $1 on restaurants/fast food, movies, books.
travel-citi premier pass if you fly effectively doubles your points (note you have to match flightpoints with spend points).
aaa-gives you 2% off their travel services. dunno how good that is.

 

[monk3y]

Originally posted by: George P Burdell
Do you need another credit card?

I don't NEED one... but I want to improve my credit. Right now I have a card that i have hardly ever used and has no balance. So I want to try to get another card.

 

[monk3y]

Anyone else have any comments or suggestions...

 

[Mill]

Amex has great products and services -- until they do a "financial review" and refuse to tell your their reasoning. I had to close all my accounts because I wasn't going to give them tax records and bank statements. I always paid my bills on time, so why worry 2 years after I had perfect payment history?

 

[Slew Foot]

Fry's is the only large retailer that wont take AMEX that Ive seen.

 

[monk3y]

Originally posted by: Mill
Amex has great products and services -- until they do a "financial review" and refuse to tell your their reasoning. I had to close all my accounts because I wasn't going to give them tax records and bank statements. I always paid my bills on time, so why worry 2 years after I had perfect payment history?

What is this 'financial review' you're talking about? They ask for records after they've given you a credit card?

 

[KarenMarie]

i read somewhere that american express will only forbid extra charges in stores that also accept visa/mastercard.

i have encountered stores that do not take amex. especially abroad.

i think i just got a letter in the mail saying that they are gonna raise my annual fees... so they can continue to provide me with the top notch special offers.... none of which i have ever used.

 

[LS20]

still not as widely accepted as V/MC. do what i do -- carry a V, MC, DISC, and AMEX; never get denied anywhere!

plus, more cards (higher total credit limit, lower revolving balance:limit ratio [assuming ur not dumb]) helps in the long run. if you dont already have these cards, it hurts in the short-run to apply for a bunch of cards at once.

 

[toant103]

some restaraunt won't take Amex.

 

[Mill]

Originally posted by: monk3y

Originally posted by: Mill
Amex has great products and services -- until they do a "financial review" and refuse to tell your their reasoning. I had to close all my accounts because I wasn't going to give them tax records and bank statements. I always paid my bills on time, so why worry 2 years after I had perfect payment history?

What is this 'financial review' you're talking about? They ask for records after they've given you a credit card?

Pretty much. After having their card for 3 years (I said 2, but it was 3) or rather cards (I had several accounts), they decided to do a financial review on me. I had sent them bank account records when I opened the account to justify a high credit line, but I didn't feel very good about sending them my tax records and statements again.

Perhaps I was just being contrary, but if I haven't missed a payment, then why all of a sudden get worried and ask for all this personal information? Well, that's their right if they choose, but it is also my right to close the accounts. Which I did.

Besides if you don't "pass" their financial review they will close all your accounts and have them marked as "closed by credit grantor" which is a nasty thing to have on your credit report.