Appeal results with Amex after decline?

Legacy_user

Hello guys,

I would like to ask you if anyone has got a successful appeal after a decline with Amex cards? I applied recently for the British Airways card and I called this morning to find out if accepted and the agent told me due to internal scoring I was declined. At the moment I have two current accounts (Lloyds&Barclays)...one with £400 overdraft which I never use and 3 credit cards....Lloyds Avios (£1000) with £250 balance at the moment and two Barclaycards (£1200 & £800) with 0£ balance on both of them. I do have some credit searches on my file and the last time I applied for an Amex was in September. This time though I decided to sent a lengthy letter with bank and credit card statements to provide them with my financial situation and of course my salary (~£20,000). I have never had late or missed payments or anything else wrong. I also sent them a certified copy of my passport.

Do you think their decision can be overturned? Have anyone had any success appealing to American Express?

Thank you

Rich7111

You can but try, sometimes it's worth just trying elsewhere, they obviously have considered your application but you haven't even waited 6 months (which I would say is pretty standard). Amex are not the hardest card to get, but they can be a little picky, why not just wait 6-12 months and try one more time. Appeals can work, it could be worth a try, but in all honesty, they are pretty thorough when checking the applications, if you have already sent them through proofs, they basically know more about you than most applicants. Not trying to put you off, but you would need to appeal to them on some grounds which you believe they are reading into or missing. Your current credit limits are pretty low, so it maybe that they are put off by, they may not want to take the risk, or maybe it's your age or time in work or even time with your current credit providers. If it were me, I'd wait 6-12 months, but do let us know how you get on if you do appeal. It's only a small cost to try

System

Rich7111 wrote: »

You can but try, sometimes it's worth just trying elsewhere, they obviously have considered your application but you haven't even waited 6 months (which I would say is pretty standard). Amex are not the hardest card to get, but they can be a little picky, why not just wait 6-12 months and try one more time. Appeals can work, it could be worth a try, but in all honesty, they are pretty thorough when checking the applications, if you have already sent them through proofs, they basically know more about you than most applicants. Not trying to put you off, but you would need to appeal to them on some grounds which you believe they are reading into or missing. Your current credit limits are pretty low, so it maybe that they are put off by, they may not want to take the risk, or maybe it's your age or time in work or even time with your current credit providers. If it were me, I'd wait 6-12 months, but do let us know how you get on if you do appeal. It's only a small cost to try

I did sent a letter today through post and I expect them to receive it tomorrow. I have included loads of information and of course statements to prove that I am always paying off my credit card balances and I even explained about rent and any other commitments to help them make a thorough decision and affordability. I hope they reconsider...otherwise as you said I will wait 12 months to apply again.

theburningcat

My first application to Amex was declined. They told me that it was declined because I put my occupation as "student" - which is an automatic refusal. In fact, I was a postgraduate student being paid fairly well to study - and had some outside income. I called them and explained it. IIRC they did consider my application properly after that. But I was declined again with internal scoring.

I applied 6 months later, putting the job title from my other income source (on their advice), and got the card.

I would say appeal if you think they're missing key information, for example, that I was a "student" but was being paid, which most students are not.

It sounds like you're sending them what they already have, so I guess you have nothing to lose but it's seems a bit futile to me.