American Express Membership Rewards - Next round of Amex apps, see any concerns?

Credit is great
Payment history, etc is perfect
All utilization combined is approx <1%

Current Amex batting lineup is:
Amex PRG acquired Aug '11 - cancelling when annual hits
Amex Plat acquired Nov '11
Amex Biz PRG acquired Feb '12

For the next draft, looking to acquire:
SPG personal - because of the transfer partners
SPG biz - because you cant stop at one ;)
MSSB Plat - the other Plat needs a playmate

~ Any Amex method to be able to reduce CR pulls, i.e. same day apps, etc?
~ Does proctologist doctors at Amex use just one finger for inspection or really like to get in there with all three?
~ How is Amex on having 5-6 players at once?
~ Also have 3 Citi, 6 Chase, 1 Barclays, 1 USBank, and some forgotten; is addiction counciling in order?

Hilarious comments re: proctologist. Needed a good laugh this morning. Sorry, nothing insightful to respond with regarding your churning.

IME, as long as your net utilization rates are lower than 30%, you shouldn't have any issues with getting reloaded on your desired cards.

pcharles,

I think you and I came around FT about the same time. I'm assuming our credit/income/etc are relatively similar. In the last year (actually since last July), I've never been denied any Am Ex card. I have been a member since 2005. I've applied and gotten SPG Personal, SPG Biz, PRG, Biz Gold, and DL Reserve.

To answer your questions.

~ Any Amex method to be able to reduce CR pulls, i.e. same day apps, etc? I haven't experience this
~ Does proctologist doctors at Amex use just one finger for inspection or really like to get in there with all three? On the Biz cards they have gently asked me about the Biz, which is a legitimate Biz, but they didn't beat me up about the Biz cards.
~ How is Amex on having 5-6 players at once? I currently have 3 personal and 3 Biz cards
~ Also have 3 Citi, 6 Chase, 1 Barclays, 1 USBank, and some forgotten; is addiction counciling in order? Anyone on FT thinks your normal, it's all the other crazy people out there :)

I don't even think I've had to call the reconsideration line once. So I think you should be fine, but YMMV.

Thanks Guys.


BankerMan, cant be serious all the time. As a guy ages, I learned that haunting sound now all so familiar *snap* of the glove being donned during the annual exam at the doctor's office. No, its not a pleasant sound. And to top it off, my doc has the personality of stone, so I try to lighten the mood (for my benefit). I always throw one out at him, "hey doc, lose the glove, I like it natural and rough"; "hey doc, I think we're ready for two this time"; "hey doc, dont mind if I back up on ya a bit"... etc. Then, out of the blue, my doc grows a personality. This time I throw out, "hey doc, what's with the thumb?" and he replies, "that's not my thumb, look! no hands!.... ta dah"

So, if one applies for both the amex personal and biz at the same time, its still a double shot across the report bow?

So, if one applies for both the amex personal and biz at the same time, its still a double shot across the report bow?

Yes it's 2 inquiries at the Credit Bureau. I tried to apply at the same time in 2 separate browsers, I pressed Send at the same time. It didn't work, I got 2 hits and Amex asked me to call-in. They wanted to make sure I needed both cards, apparently applying for 2 cards on the same day triggers this.

At one point I had 2 charge and 3 credit amex cards, all personal. I'm now down to 1 charge and 3 credit cards.