AMERICAN EXPRESS ONLINE APP

mgr1970

Can anyone help with amex online application process i applied last week online i was told i would get paperwork in the post. They search experian last week today i got an email asking me to sign and return the attachment which was a consumer credit page is this how they normaly operate and have i been lucky or is this just there normal practice, any advice would be great thanks.

Mr_Nick_3

Can anyone help with amex online application process i applied last week online i was told i would get paperwork in the post. They search experian last week today i got an email asking me to sign and return the attachment which was a consumer credit page is this how they normaly operate and have i been lucky or is this just there normal practice, any advice would be great thanks.

I applied online, and they also emailed a form to sign, which I printed and sent off. But they also posted the same form, which I ignored because i'd already sent the other copy.

Then they rang and asked to check some personal details. I was wary of this call, so I said that I would call them back. I was just being careful, but it was a genuine call, not a scammer.

But a week after the call i'm still waiting for the card.

mgr1970

Thaks Nick i called them as well as the email attachment didn't look to good,but was assured it was there T&C's to accept by signiture they also told me that an original had been sent but to ignore it as they now operated by email.
Did you ask if this meant you had been accepted as when i asked they said they could not say yes or no but they then went on to say why would we ask for your signiture if it was no, verry confusing.

Mr_Nick_3

I did ask if I'd been accepted, but they couldn't answer.

It does seem very convaluted.

I just tried ringing new accounts, but a message on the phone says: "the office is closed for essential business contingency". ie, someone's gone sick.

This is at 3pm on a Friday!

mark_jones13

American Express always take 4-5 weeks to process applications because they are a responsible lender. I have a British Airways American Express Premium Plus Credit Card and an American Express Gold Chargecard.

They do not give out credit at a whim like Egg and Barclaycard, that's why you don't get an instant online decision. They take weeks to assess your limit, check your employer, fraud records and get references from your bank.

That's also the reason why Amex credit limits are higher than other lenders and why there is no limit on their Chargecards. They've done thorough checks to make sure you have as much money as you say you have and know that you're a good risk.

mgr1970

Thanks Mark i am also applied for the BA card one thing i can't understand is that they did the credit search the same day last monday,  thursday they email a credit agreement and tell you to ignore the one they have sent out in the post to save time which is a good idea.

But i have read the T&C's and know where do you give permission to get bank references the only permission you seem to give them is to look at your American Express Investment Account (the old sharepeope a/c) as well as the credit ref's & fraud etc. Have i missed this some where not that i have a problem with that.

Also would they email a credit agreement and ask you to sign it after they have done the checks if they where going to reject you that was what confused me,thanks.

mark_jones13

Taken from the American Express website

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Before submitting this Application, it is important that you read this paragraph and the paragraph set out overleaf entitled "Use of Personal Information", which sets out how we collect and use information about you for the purpose of providing you with the Card service and other appropriate products and services.

By submitting this Application, you agree that for the purpose of processing it, American Express will:-

(a) carry out credit checks with credit reference agencies by disclosing the information provided by you to such agencies, who will retain records of such checks, which records may be used by other organisations in assessing applications from you and members of your household for credit or other facilities and for preventing fraud and tracing debtors;
(b) check your details with a fraud prevention agency/cies and if you give us false or inaccurate information and we suspect fraud, this will be recorded, which records may be used by us and other organisations to help make decisions about credit and credit-related services for you and members of your household, help make decisions on motor, household, credit, life and other insurance proposals and insurance claims for you and members of your household, trace debtors, recover debt, prevent fraud and manage your accounts or insurance policies;
(c) check your identity to prevent money laundering, unless you furnish us with other satisfactory proof of identity
(d) use various statistical methods (including the results of any credit checks made) to assist in evaluating your creditworthiness in deciding whether to issue a Card to you; and
(e) contact your employer, bank, building society or any referee approved by you to obtain any information required to assess this Application.

The fact that they emailed you the T&C means nothing I'm afraid.  As you might have seen on the website at the end of the application, you can actually print out the T&C signiture form there and then and send to them.

When I applied for the BA Prem Plus CC (the first card I applied for) I called them after 3 weeks and they said that they'd received the signed T&C but were still doing employer and bank checks.

By the way, which of the Executive Club Amex cards did you apply for?

mgr1970

Thanks for that it shows you should read the really small print i must admit i missed this one.
I applied for the Classic card mostly for use with BA itself to build up the miles faster.