American Express Basic Card ?

TzarJay

Ive had my first credit card for 6 months now, and ive been trying to build up a good credit rating for myself. In about 6-8 months time I want to try and get a more prime credit card instead of my capital one progress card, who don't seem to give credit increases.

I was looking at the American Express Basic Charge Card, as it seems to be the entry stage for American Express in the UK. Ive always wanted a charge card rather than a credit card as I always pay my balance off in full each month.

In 8 months time or so I should have had my credit card for over a year, be on the electoral role, have a personal income of over £20000, have no history of debt and have basically no searches on my credit file.

Should I be able to get this card ? As ive never had an American Express card or known anyone who has one, so im not too sure of how strict they are. The card also seems to stick out with the strange written application, which seems odd in this day and age.

Thanks

http://www.americanexpress.com/uk/basic-card/

BugsyBrowne

I think you are looking at the basic bit of the American express card the wrong way.
If I was you concentrate on a MasterCard or visa credit card.

qwerty123456

I agree with BugsyBrown that you are looking at the American Express Basic card in the wrong way.

It is basic in the sense that it comes without any features and is the most basic card that they offer. It still comes with no pre set spending limit and will have the same lending criteria as the Gold Card.

I got my first Amex when I was 19 so they will give cards to people with only a little history but not to people with a history of bad debt.

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

The other thing to remember about AmEx is that it is less widely accepted than either Visa or MasterCard so you'd probably want to hold on to your Cap 1 card as a backup.

I'd recommend looking for a card which gives cashback or some other benefit for using it, rather than the AmEx Basic which appears to give nothing tangible in return.

SnowTiger

qwerty123456 wrote: »

I agree with BugsyBrown that you are looking at the American Express Basic card in the wrong way.

It is basic in the sense that it comes without any features and is the most basic card that they offer. It still comes with no pre set spending limit and will have the same lending criteria as the Gold Card.

Perhaps OP sees Amex as a status symbol. Twenty years ago, maybe it was, but I don't think it's viewed that way now. And thanks to Chip and PIN we don't get much of a chance to flash our fancy cards at poor, low-paid, shop workers any more.

InsideInsurance

qwerty123456 wrote: »

It is basic in the sense that it comes without any features and is the most basic card that they offer.

Even their basic card has access to their standard partner offers/"rewards" which personally I have always found to be fairly good in terms of free nights at hotels, fairly decent discounts with no blackout dates etc. With a higher card you'll then also get room upgrades etc on top of the standard offer.