Credit Tips: Does American Express Pull Hard Inquiries of Soft Ones?

Posted On: May 1, 2006

Author: rapjunkie
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 1:53 pm
Post subject: AMEX question…

Does AMEX pull a hard inquiry when current cardholders apply for a second AMEX card (on a new account, not one for an additional cardholder) using the “short” application?

Author: creditnewbie
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:41 pm
Post subject:

They do pull a hard inquery. I applied for the platinum card 2 days ago and they pulled my report. I’m not sure if they pulled all three or just one. They pulled a few months ago, when I applied for the blue card, Transunion. Now they pulled Equifax. Haven’t checked my other reports.

Author: rapjunkie
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 3:36 pm
Post subject: Does American Express Pull Hard Inquiries of Soft Ones?

Did you get approved for the platinum card? I’m really just trying to figure out whether they’re more likely to give additional cards with good credit lines to existing cardholders - it would make good sense if they did, based on the relationship.

Author: creditnewbie
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 3:47 pm
Post subject: Does American Express Pull Hard Inquiries of Soft Ones?

Yes, I got approved. My blue amex has $25,000 limit and the lowest limit I have on one card is $20,000. I think they can figure out how much you make by looking at the report–I guess. To qualify for the platinum, your income has to be more than $150,000 (household income.) My equifax score was 723. I should get the card sometime next week. I read somewhere that only 1% of amex customers qualify for the platinum and 1% of platinum customers qualify for the black card.
If it has been less than 30 days since you applied for the other amex card, I think they might not pull another report. The only way to know for sure is to call and ask.