Great Customer Service from American Express

Post subject: Great Customer Service from American Express
Guest: escapedconvict
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 1:19 pm

I have recently applied for a Optima Platinum Card with AMEX.

well, I have the Gold Rewards & the Blue Cash but I only got these this year so when I applied for the Optima I was denied.

I called executive offices and talked to James S. one of the reps there and he was very nice ijn submiting a reconsideration request for my application.

Long story short, he calls me back today, after few days, explaining to me that he could not get that application approved for me for a few good reasons the main one being I had to much "activity" in a short amount of time in my "amex file" and my application for the Optima followed to close to my Blue Cash one ( aprox 1 week a few days). I undesrtood he did his best and we concluded that I would give it another shot in 6 months.

Well, I thought the "amex chapter" of my day closed just to come home and have a pretty nice surprise.

while spending some quality time with my wife someone knocks at our door. I open up and outside a guy holding a nice house plant in his hands...on the note: my name.
I took it thinking (not out loud--remember i'm married) that I might have just discovered that I have a secret admirer.

To my big surprise the note said: "Thank you for contacting the Executive Offices with your concern. Sincerely James S.- Executive Assistant, AMERICAN EXPRESS."

W00T? WOW...now that is some customer service. anyone experienced anything similar.

now I know it's just a plant, tho a very nice and not cheap on, but come one who sends you house plants and thank you notes just for calling them with a complaint? ....well the answer is, i guess: American Express.

DW loves the plant.

the plant: http://www.teamimg.com/Images/products/HWE_34691.jpg

Guest: Board Monitor
Post subject: Great Customer Service from American Express
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 6:24 pm

Wow! New one on me. Everyone always talks about their customer service, but have never heard of anything quite this extreme.

Curtis Arnold
Board Monitor
http://www.cardratings.com
(501) 663-0314

Guest: guessindigo
Post subject: Great Customer Service from American Express
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 10:56 pm

Never heard of such a thing.

Good for you though!

Providian and Patelo Credit Cards

Post subject: Providian and Patelo Credit Cards
Guest: MedSchoolGirl
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 1:21 pm

I have seen on several occasions people after BK and with low scores get these cards. From what I have heard these cards have high credit limits and generally no fees. I want to apply for one of these so I can close my other accounts, because they all have low limits and some of them monthly fees. Does anyone have any idea of the scores required for one of these cards?

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Guest: kanjoy
Post subject: Providian and Patelo Credit Cards
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 3:46 pm

I have a Providian and I am pretty satisfied with it. They gave me 0% APR for one year and increased my limit too when I paid the balance in bulk. Also they give you free FICO score n your account.

I think you can get it with score > 650.

Guest: MedSchoolGirl
Post subject: Providian and Patelo Credit Cards
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 5:17 pm

Do you happen to know how different scores are between FICO and MCK scores?

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Guest: guessindigo
Post subject: Providian and Patelo Credit Cards
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 10:57 pm

FAKO aka MCK is junk, not even remotely close to FICO. My suggestion is ignore it, and get FICO scores instead.

Guest: Tigerdad101
Post subject: Providian and Patelo Credit Cards
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 4:39 pm

Just FYI, as far as I can tell the Providian "FICO" score is actually provided by TransUnion and is at best an approximation of the actual Equifax (MyFICO) score. In fact, my score with Providian doesn't even match up with the score I got yesterday directly from TransUnion. Providian shows my FICO (provided by TransUnion) to be 725. The score direct from TransUnion is 757. The actual FICO score from Equifax was returned as 708.

Closing and Activating Credit Card Accounts

Post Subject: Closing and Activating Credit Card Accounts
Guest: jmcelb
Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 4:30 pm

I have a a citi bank card I openned in 2003 for a O% bal transfer rate. I paid it off and never use the card. I just received a new card in the mail from them to activate ( old card is going to expire). I have 5 revolving accounts, all in great standing, one Bank of America card with a balance that I am steadily working down and hope to pay off this year. I looked at my score the other day and it was good but that I had too many revolving accounts. I would like to improve this score but I know closing accounts can hurt it too. Will not activating this new card help me to get rid of a card without hurting my credit score? I would like to close 2 or 3 that I never use but afraid of the neg. feedback, is there anyway around it? Any help would be great!!! Thanks

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Guest: mouse
SENIOR MEMBER (Member for 2 yrs.+)
Post subject: Closing and Activating Credit Card Accounts
Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 5:28 pm

"TOO MANY BANK CARDS" IS A LIE

Ignore it...

DON'T EVER CLOSE A POSITIVE ACCOUNT (unless they charge an annual fee and you get no rewards for the fee) IT WILL HURT MORE THAN HELP!!!

Guest: Alexis Rios
Post subject: Closing and Activating Credit Card Accounts
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 2:45 pm

it depends for the creditor . I make an application for Target Visa , they denied it because i have "too much revolving accounts".

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Guest: guessindigo
Post subject: Closing and Activating Credit Card Accounts
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 11:02 pm

Honestly, I wouldn't get to upset over it. Target Visa is nothing to be proud to carry anyways.

Guest: Ira
SENIOR MEMBER (Member for 2 yrs.+)
Post subject: Closing and Activating Credit Card Accounts
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 1:52 pm

Understand that "activating" a "card" is merely a security feature and has nothing at all to do with activating the related account. For example, you could destroy the plastic without ever activating it and still continue to use the account for on-line, telephone, mail order, and other non over-the-counter purchases with no problem.

Mouse, whereas you might not be pinged for "too many bank cards," you can be zapped for "too much available revolving credit." I've had it happen. For instance, if it is important for someone to apply for a number of low interest cards in order to transfer $$$ from high interest cards, at some point you have to close some cards in order to get others. There's no "right" answer to the question. It depends on the individual situation.

Activating New Credit Card Accounts and Closing New Ones

Post subject: Activating New Credit Card Accounts and Closing New Ones
Guest: jmcelb
Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 4:30 pm

I have a a citi bank card I openned in 2003 for a O% bal transfer rate. I paid it off and never use the card. I just received a new card in the mail from them to activate ( old card is going to expire). I have 5 revolving accounts, all in great standing, one Bank of America card with a balance that I am steadily working down and hope to pay off this year. I looked at my score the other day and it was good but that I had too many revolving accounts. I would like to improve this score but I know closing accounts can hurt it too. Will not activating this new card help me to get rid of a card without hurting my credit score? I would like to close 2 or 3 that I never use but afraid of the neg. feedback, is there anyway around it? Any help would be great!!! Thanks

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CardRatings.com is the most comprehensive source for comparing credit card offers. Please visit CardRatings.com to view the best rated credit cards!

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Guest: mouse
SENIOR MEMBER (Member for 2 yrs.+)
Post subject: Activating New Credit Card Accounts and Closing New Ones
Posted: Thu May 26, 2005 5:28 pm

"TOO MANY BANK CARDS" IS A LIE

Ignore it...

DON'T EVER CLOSE A POSITIVE ACCOUNT (unless they charge an annual fee and you get no rewards for the fee) IT WILL HURT MORE THAN HELP!!!

Guest: Alexis Rios
Post subject: Activating New Credit Card Accounts and Closing New Ones
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 2:45 pm

it depends for the creditor . I make an application for Target Visa , they denied it because i have "too much revolving accounts".

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CardRatings.com is the most comprehensive source for comparing credit card offers. Please visit CardRatings.com to view the best rated credit cards!

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Guest: guessindigo
Post subject: Activating New Credit Card Accounts and Closing New Ones
Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2005 11:02 pm

Honestly, I wouldn't get to upset over it. Target Visa is nothing to be proud to carry anyways.

Guest: Ira
SENIOR MEMBER (Member for 2 yrs.+)
Post subject: Activating New Credit Card Accounts and Closing New Ones
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2005 1:52 pm

Understand that "activating" a "card" is merely a security feature and has nothing at all to do with activating the related account. For example, you could destroy the plastic without ever activating it and still continue to use the account for on-line, telephone, mail order, and other non over-the-counter purchases with no problem.

Mouse, whereas you might not be pinged for "too many bank cards," you can be zapped for "too much available revolving credit." I've had it happen. For instance, if it is important for someone to apply for a number of low interest cards in order to transfer $$$ from high interest cards, at some point you have to close some cards in order to get others. There's no "right" answer to the question. It depends on the individual situation.