Amex F/R Master Thread

[ydf]

Ask them to transfer you to cs

they do it gladly for me, but I'm just concerned why this happens it started after I spoke to the fr dep does it mean anything or its just a system glitch?

[David Smith]

they do it gladly for me, but I'm just concerned why this happens it started after I spoke to the fr dep does it mean anything or its just a system glitch?

So don't give your card number, just press 0 until you get a person.

[ydf]

So don't give your card number, just press 0 until you get a person.

thats not my problem I can get thru to cs, I'm just scared if that has to do with the fr dep I spoke today?

[leeboy]

My wife had 4 separate FR's. Each time they brought my accounts on the table and put them on hold as well. The last triggered FR's for my entire extended family, about 10 family members in total.


Interesting to note that one of the reps told me here is different types of full blown FR's.
Here's the history, hope it helps...

1. When we first signed up for an amex card abt 8 years ago (many cards I should say) we got approved for all of them but was immediately fr'd a few days later. Rep had said that there was an account in bad standing from a few years back which caused the review. Turned out that my wife was an authorized user on one of her former employers account which had late payments. After removing her from that account we were asked for pay stubs (no tax returns) and after two weeks we were good to go.

2. A week after we get our first card and did all the spending, we returned a large purchase of $8k to an amex card from another purchase and got the unwanted "restricted" call again. We apologized and said it was an honest mistake. No financials were requested and they put our account back in good standing.

3. Few years later we opened 4 cards and spent all the money swiping at a relatives terminal. A big no no for amex. We got a call from the dreaded "restricted" number. The rep asked many details about our connection to the business I was told that this is a "different type" of FR so they wont need any pay stubs or tax returns, just bank statements and based on the liquid sitting in the account they may limit some of our lines of credit.
We passed without having anything limited.

3. about 5 months ago we opened 7 cards and we did, I guess, "too much" spending. We were doing the Iphone thing and bought 10 phones per card. I called in each card to make sure we were okay for all the purchases and the rep in the credit department said we are fine. BAM Mr. "restricted" calls us again. The rep said that purchasing iphones in considered risky business and if we would have made the exact purchase on other items our account wouldn't have ended up on her desk. She  said her office is overloaded with iphone purchases and she has no clue what one person would do with 100 iphones. We were asked to provide tax returns which for various reasons I didnt want to give i to them, I explained to them that my personal returns are much lower my business makes. I got out of having to give them the returns and gave them other documentation instead. After 2 weeks we were back in business with just two cards limited to $10k.

I wont tell you what my tax returns say but I will tell you that one of my family members returns were very similar to ours and decided to take the "I am going to sue you" and "I will put amex out of business" route and got shut down



Some pointers from my experience
1. Be nice. Extremely nice! These guys are the police and its totally up to them to keep you open or closed. They judge you not only by your financials but also by how you deal with them.
2. Dont try the "can i speak to your supervisor" trick. I heard all of the supervisors first name (though, it seemed that many of them sounded like the same person) and like the good ol mafia they stick up for each other.
3. If they ask for a some docs that you cant provide (because you haven't made a penny in your life, or you dont plan on making money) be nice, explain to them why your tax returns show nothing and ask them if you can provide other documentation to prove that you have the ability and the will to keep your cards in good standing (please dont MSG me for ideas how to avoid sending in tax returns, you got to be creative)
4. One of the factors they determine is your payment history. So if you have been making large purchases and paying it up ask the rep to look at your payment history together with your paystubs to make their decision.




 

 

[yochiek93]

thank you @leeboy

[maxie m]

After dw's recent fr which she passed albeit with slashed cl, I applied for the biz plat and the charge limit wasn't capped

[leeboy]

A friend of mine was fr'd right after applying for multiple cards before any spending. They requested a 4506T and he didnt give it.
How soon can he reapply and will they fr him again?

[Marko Rubio]

I'm still shvitzing.... Had this story called in regular cs to ask something about my account, a rep picks up and asks me very nice hi how can I help u? I told her my question she tells me oh for this I have to transfer you to the cs deportment, I asked her is this not cs she answerd me no this is the FR dep, I started shvitzing I asked her whats going on why am I routed to the fr dep she told me 1 minute let me review your account, after a minute she comes back ok I just wana update your profile and started asking me my phone numbers email address annual income wherei work my position at work etc., after that she tells me ok you are all set now let me tranferr you to cs, she was very nice so I took courage and asked here why did you ask me all this info, whats wrong with my account, dont you have all that info from my app 2 months ago? She told me well we just like to update the profiles once in a while thats it now you are fine if I will need additional info I will call you, now my question is is that a mini fr? Or since my charges was never suspended (I logged in 2 minuted before I called) its not even a mini fr, in other words is that a normal thing or that means that I'm on a review now and I should be very cautious? TIA

[Malachi]

My wife had 4 separate FR's. Each time they brought my accounts on the table and put them on hold as well. The last triggered FR's for my entire extended family, about 10 family members in total.


Interesting to note that one of the reps told me here is different types of full blown FR's.
Here's the history, hope it helps...

1. When we first signed up for an amex card abt 8 years ago (many cards I should say) we got approved for all of them but was immediately fr'd a few days later. Rep had said that there was an account in bad standing from a few years back which caused the review. Turned out that my wife was an authorized user on one of her former employers account which had late payments. After removing her from that account we were asked for pay stubs (no tax returns) and after two weeks we were good to go.

2. A week after we get our first card and did all the spending, we returned a large purchase of $8k to an amex card from another purchase and got the unwanted "restricted" call again. We apologized and said it was an honest mistake. No financials were requested and they put our account back in good standing.

3. Few years later we opened 4 cards and spent all the money swiping at a relatives terminal. A big no no for amex. We got a call from the dreaded "restricted" number. The rep asked many details about our connection to the business I was told that this is a "different type" of FR so they wont need any pay stubs or tax returns, just bank statements and based on the liquid sitting in the account they may limit some of our lines of credit.
We passed without having anything limited.

3. about 5 months ago we opened 7 cards and we did, I guess, "too much" spending. We were doing the Iphone thing and bought 10 phones per card. I called in each card to make sure we were okay for all the purchases and the rep in the credit department said we are fine. BAM Mr. "restricted" calls us again. The rep said that purchasing iphones in considered risky business and if we would have made the exact purchase on other items our account wouldn't have ended up on her desk. She  said her office is overloaded with iphone purchases and she has no clue what one person would do with 100 iphones. We were asked to provide tax returns which for various reasons I didnt want to give i to them, I explained to them that my personal returns are much lower my business makes. I got out of having to give them the returns and gave them other documentation instead. After 2 weeks we were back in business with just two cards limited to $10k.

I wont tell you what my tax returns say but I will tell you that one of my family members returns were very similar to ours and decided to take the "I am going to sue you" and "I will put amex out of business" route and got shut down



Some pointers from my experience
1. Be nice. Extremely nice! These guys are the police and its totally up to them to keep you open or closed. They judge you not only by your financials but also by how you deal with them.
2. Dont try the "can i speak to your supervisor" trick. I heard all of the supervisors first name (though, it seemed that many of them sounded like the same person) and like the good ol mafia they stick up for each other.
3. If they ask for a some docs that you cant provide (because you haven't made a penny in your life, or you dont plan on making money) be nice, explain to them why your tax returns show nothing and ask them if you can provide other documentation to prove that you have the ability and the will to keep your cards in good standing (please dont MSG me for ideas how to avoid sending in tax returns, you got to be creative)
4. One of the factors they determine is your payment history. So if you have been making large purchases and paying it up ask the rep to look at your payment history together with your paystubs to make their decision.




 

 

one of the most insightful posts I've ever read on ddf.

[David Smith]

one of the most insightful posts I've ever read on ddf.

The post was great. You had to quote the whole thing?

[Marko Rubio]

when I tell for the fr dep that I'm working at ..... Business at this..... Address, do they go and check if that business exists on that address?

[D93]

when I tell for the fr dep that I'm working at ..... Business at this..... Address, do they go and check if that business exists on that address?

No

[Marko Rubio]

No

tnx

[ydf]

having the same email address and same cell phone number on my and my wifes account be a problem? Thinking now that maybe thats why we both had to update profile to fr

[youkay]

By sending in a tax return (but not close to what i reported to amex...) would that mean that they'll reactivate my accounts?

[CS91]

having the same email address and same cell phone number on my and my wifes account be a problem? Thinking now that maybe thats why we both had to update profile to fr

I have had same email addresses on mine and wife's account for about 3-4 years now. Haven't had any issues.

[ydf]

I have had same email addresses on mine and wife's account for about 3-4 years now. Haven't had any issues.

tnx, but having the same cell phone number may be different, what do you think?

[CS91]

tnx, but having the same cell phone number may be different, what do you think?

No idea. Wife's number is on the account. Sorry.

[Venilla]

having the same email address and same cell phone number on my and my wifes account be a problem? Thinking now that maybe thats why we both had to update profile to fr

I doubt it.

[yakrot]

By sending in a tax return (but not close to what i reported to amex...) would that mean that they'll reactivate my accounts?

possibly