Amex F/R Master Thread

[shulem92]

I got notices in the mail that Amex needs SSNs for several cards, so I called, and my call went to the FR dept. I asked if I am under FR, and she said yes, but I have full access to my cards online. What's going on here?
Also, is it better to call back and provide the SSNs, or to ignore it? (I didn't have them when I called...)
Thanks.

People usually ignore them, but I have heard of being FR'd because of missing SSN's

[Iz]

i ignore them

People usually ignore them, but I have heard of being FR'd because of missing SSN's

Thanks. But there's certainly no downside in providing it, right?

ETA: Any downside to canceling those cards?

[mochjas]

Thanks. But there's certainly no downside in providing it, right?

ETA: Any downside to canceling those cards?

the downside is that it will count against 5/24

[Iz]

the downside is that it will count against 5/24

For the AU, not for the primary (me), right?

[shulem92]

Thanks. But there's certainly no downside in providing it, right?

ETA: Any downside to canceling those cards?

The downside is the waste of time, IF you can't provide all. I know someone who got shut down because they couldn't provide 1/100

If already under FR, idk how much help it wud be to cancel

[Iz]

The downside is the waste of time, IF you can't provide all. I know someone who got shut down because they couldn't provide 1/100

If already under FR, idk how much help it wud be to cancel

[yoshi]

It all depends on what your full story was. Did you fail
 Did you get shut down . Did u shut it down . Etc. ... tell more

I got f/r'd, I shut down all my accounts.

[emjee]

I got f/r'd, I shut down all my accounts.

then you will most probably be flagged again when you apply. if you got something, anything to show then you should be fine, once you pass its usually smooth from then on IME

[yoshi]

then you will most probably be flagged again when you apply. if you got something, anything to show then you should be fine, once you pass its usually smooth from then on IME

I was under the impression that id you wait long enough it tends to go away....
Is that incorrect?

[mmgfarb]

I was under the impression that id you wait long enough it tends to go away....
Is that incorrect?

You'll still have to provide some sort of info to get approved, you can try to get away with bank statements but that's a huge YMMV.

[yoshi]

I know people that were able to get approved for new AMEX cards a few months after a F/R when they preemptively closed down their accounts.

The key thing to avoid AMEX F/R's is to keep each card under a 25K credit limit, and try to use under 33% of the credit line on each card.

Same question for Citi and Chase cardholders-have you been able to reopen cards after being shut down?

You'll still have to provide some sort of info to get approved, you can try to get away with bank statements but that's a huge YMMV.

so Dans post from waaay back in 2008 is old data?

[LoLo]

so Dans post from waaay back in 2008 is old data?

it's all ymmv, some people get through, and some are asked for financials.

[LoLo]

If you got a FR, but didn't complete it, then your account is still flagged. I haven't seen any datapoints of out-waiting a FR, but would guess it would be 7+ years.
If you were cleared, then there is no reason to wait.
It's best to be honest and cooperate.

your guess is incorrect.

[David Smith]

so Dans post from waaay back in 2008 is old data?

Only 8 years. Not so old. I don't think amex has really changed much since then.

[mgarfin]

Coming out of an F/R, I just got an email


We have assigned a Preset Limit of $5,000.00 to your account. If at any time your total balance, plus any charges not yet posted to your account, exceeds this Preset Limit, we may decline additional charges. This applies to charges made by you and any additional Card Members on your account.


Is this per card or across the board?

[mmgfarb]

Coming out of an F/R, I just got an email


We have assigned a Preset Limit of $5,000.00 to your account. If at any time your total balance, plus any charges not yet posted to your account, exceeds this Preset Limit, we may decline additional charges. This applies to charges made by you and any additional Card Members on your account.


Is this per card or across the board?

Check which card that email was for, it's probably a charge card.

[mgarfin]

Check which card that email was for, it's probably a charge card.

Got 6 emails for 6 charge cards!

[mmgfarb]

Got 6 emails for 6 charge cards!

Yep, each one will have wtvr limit it says in the email. Many times you can go over the limit by a certain amount but they'll decline the charge at some point unlike before.

[mgarfin]

Yep, each one will have wtvr limit it says in the email. Many times you can go over the limit by a certain amount but they'll decline the charge at some point unlike before.

But going over will not tiger a new F/R?

[mmgfarb]

But going over will not tiger a new F/R?

using a lot of credit on charge cards is always a trigger for FR's so it's best to be careful. On CC's it's best to keep your utilization under 33% of your CL, I would try to do the same with the charge cards although I don't think it's as big of an issue (someone please CMIIW)