American Express - Application Question

SammenForLivet2

Hello there

I've applied (although I don't think that I have too much of a chance) for an American Express (solo) Card, and I completed the application on-line on Wens.

I called them for an update on Saturday, and they have tolled me that they have received my information from The Credit Bureau's, and they now want me to sign a copy of the terms and conditions, which they have sent to me by post (on Friday).

I wasn't presented with an 'e-sign' option during the application, so I presume this is the reason, but does anyone know if the 'approved in principle/decline' part of the application stage has been completed, or is this only done on receipt of the terms and conditions, by them?

I asked the agent, and she said 'it's looking like it's going to be approved', but obviously, I presume they have to complete more final fraud checks, so can't provide an definitive answer.

Has anyone had experience of this and been declined/accepted, after returning the conditions?

InsideInsurance

macfamilyent wrote: »

Has anyone had experience of this and been declined/accepted, after returning the conditions?

AmEx's website wont accept my address so was forced to apply for an additional card over the phone. Due to that paper T&Cs were sent and the card arrived a week or so after signing the forms.

Haven't heard of them needing a wet signature for an application on their website before though.

SammenForLivet2

InsideInsurance wrote: »

AmEx's website wont accept my address so was forced to apply for an additional card over the phone. Due to that paper T&Cs were sent and the card arrived a week or so after signing the forms.

Haven't heard of them needing a wet signature for an application on their website before though.

Thanks for your advice.

That doesn't sound that good,I'll just have to wait, I presume - but thank you for your help!

This said, I know M&S do require 'Wet Signatures', but that's considered outdated, with 'E-Signing' and all.

InsideInsurance

macfamilyent wrote: »

This said, I know M&S do require 'Wet Signatures', but that's considered outdated, with 'E-Signing' and all.

My other cards over time with them were all done online hence having a digital signature. Only my latest one had to have a wet signature due to it being done on the phone.

"Wet" because you actually have to put ink to paper rather than an email saying you agree or printing the paperwork pre signed/ image of your signature etc. Deal with approvals and governance a lot at work and its just a short way of saying that I need a physically signed copy rather than some other way to say its agreed.

SammenForLivet2

Sure, I understand you - InsideInsurance, and we work in Similar Areas of the Corporate World.

To confirm, my understanding is even though M&S can provide an decision on-line automatically for their credit card applications, they still require people to 'put pen to paper' and sign a hard copy of their terms and conditions, when applying, for all applications, regardless of their outcome. I believe for the majority of approvals for these type of products, 'e-signing' is still the way, even if applications are referred. Sorry, if this was too off topic.

Quick Question, but off topic again - Just how far can you go with 'E-Signing', could you get to the stage where a morthgage or product, could be 'E-Signed' (I presume Mortgage Market Reform won't let on-line applications anymore). In my organization, it's any credit line over £15,000.

According to the lady at American Express, this happens when the on-line system 'mucks up' and doesn't know what APR to give.

thebritishbloke

Under the Electronic Communication Act 2000 and the Electronic Signatures Act 2002, E-Signatures have just as much a legal standpoint as a physical signature does. I think it's just up to the provider as to what they prefer, I'm guessing that you could 'prove' a wet signature was legitimate a bit easier than an E-sig.

InsideInsurance

In theory unless you are talking about deeds or certain other contract types that require witnesses etc then in theory, to my knowledge, anything can be done electronically.

Of cause some companies may not have the comfort that they are willing to put that much money on the line on the basis of a click of a mouse button. There may also be some concerns that judges typically being of an older generation may not be as comfortable with a digital signature as a wet one.

I dont know of any case law where there is a dispute on what terms were actually signed. The advantage of the traditional method is that you have a physical copy in your possession before agreeing to it. With e-signing you only get the copy afterwards and inevitably at some point someone is going to say what the company produces is not what they agreed to.

user1168934

It does not match with my recent experience.
I applied for an AMEX platimum cashback card earlier this month. I just did the online thing, no papers to sign or anything like that. The email I got right after the application said that they need to do a couple of more checks and will get in touch. No contact after that but about 10 days later I received my card and the pin and it's in use now.

All I can say is, if any of the details you have provided are incorrect then don't sign it. I know some credit card companies ask for signatures if they feel that some info is not accurate so that in case of a problem later they have a signed declaration ......... you know what I am saying :-)
If the details you have provided are all correct and accurate then by all means sign and send it back. I think AMEX is one of the easily available cards at the moment so chances are you will get it easily.