American Express Membership Rewards - Delta AmEx for challenged/novice credit?

Anyone here a little credit challenged, but managed to (eventually) secure the Delta SkyMiles AmEx???

(That one specifically, I'm not interested in any other mileage earning cards)


******************


Okay, so I made the teenage booboo of going buckwild with a credit card or three, and took years of hard-earned cash and the associated credit admonitions to make up for it.... who hasn't?

Finally done paying... well into the process of rebuilding.

In the half-decade or so since then... I've purchased and faithfully paid on a vehicle, personal loan, college loan, and gotten my credit score up to decency (high 600s and low 700s for Equifax and TransUnion, respectively).

My Experian score, the main point of contention here, remains in the low 500s due to the previously described transgression. I've gotten a credit-repairing unsecured card, as well as a high-balance secured card, that I've paid faithfully on for months.

So intimidated against trying for the DL card (and being told no, with only a generic explanation to explain it) that I almost don't want to give it any consideration :(


What's been some of you guys/gals' experiences? Any of you with a few glitches here and there (eventually) get the card?

Amex almost always pulls Equifax - they don't usually pull Experian, sometimes they do Transunion for some of the green charge cards.

And since your scores on those two both are high 600s - low 700s is a good enough score to get the amex easily.. A friend of mine got the DL amex with I think a 640 or 650ish score - I don't remeber the exact #. You'd be better off researching this at creditboards.com though.

Amex almost always pulls Equifax - they don't usually pull Experian, sometimes they do Transunion
Well that's certainly good to know! I thought credit card companies almost religiously pulled Experian.

And since your scores on those two both are high 600s - low 700s is a good enough score to get the amex easily.
Though the FICO scores are up, the bureau still shows those charge-offs (though paid), and according to other sources of credit counselling: it'll stay that way for the next 5-7yrs.

You'd be better off researching this at creditboards.com though.
really appreciate the information!

While we're on this subject, something I'm curious of--- what's the difference between the SkyPoints AmEx and the SkyMiles AmEx.

The only distinguishing characteristics I can see between the two are annual fee and a limit (on the SP card) on how many miles that can be earned.

2 days ago I'm minding my business when I get an email to ACTIVATE my new AMEX DLSM Card. HUH? I check my mail (was traveling a week) and lo and behold there it was. I had applied for it cause I was sure I'd be denied and then I could pull my credit report. Nope. Actually approved with a small limit, but thats all I wanted. And I know that the employee thing means nothing in getting approved. Try. I was really really shocked. I may be able to earn a free ticket with bonus miles and current mileage by the end of the year!

I'd really be curious to know what their standards are. I've been denied for this card in the past.

Folks, this is really a Amex credit card question and not a DL issue as such. Therefore I am moving this discussion over to the Amex board.

Rssrsvp - Moderator

It is important to note that while it's almost guaranteed AMEX will pull Equifax for the application, they do monthly Account Reviews on Experian. The Delta card is one of their easiest cards to get though.

Credit card companies pull Equifax more than the other two. Unless you live in the west, then there is a chance that they will put Experian. About the only people that pull Transunion are Discover, Capital One and Mortgage companies.

The SkyMiles card earns miles which are automatically added to your Delta account at the end of every billing cycle.

The SkyPoints card earns points, not miles, that can be redeemed for rebates on purchased Delta tickets, "up to 75% off the first $500 of an eligible ticket price." This mean maximum rebate is $350 on a ticket which cost $500 or more, and requires redemption of 20,000 points. Optionally, SkyPoints can be exchanged for SkyMiles. Details here...

https://www124.americanexpress.com/cards/cda/dynamic.jsp?name=BenefitsDetail_DeltaSkyPoints&type=intBenefitDetail

If you typically buy $500+ DL tickets and were to claim the maximum rebates this would yield $0.0175 per point. If you used the card only at merchants earning double points this would be a respectable 3.5% rebate on charge volume.


While we're on this subject, something I'm curious of--- what's the difference between the SkyPoints AmEx and the SkyMiles AmEx.

The only distinguishing characteristics I can see between the two are annual fee and a limit (on the SP card) on how many miles that can be earned.

Credit card companies pull Equifax more than the other two. Unless you live in the west, then there is a chance that they will put Experian. About the only people that pull Transunion are Discover, Capital One and Mortgage companies.

I show a Transunion pull for my Blue Cash card from
AMEX
Banks and S&Ls
8/17/2005

My only other Transunion pulls are from Discover, Capital One (who pulls all three), Washington Mutural (Providian - long storry, embarased about this) and Bank of America (opening a checking account).

My recent HHonors app got a pull on Equifax, however.

And, the majority of my creditcard pulls are on Experian. And I live in the East (MA).

Not saying you are wrong - just that its hard to predict who will pull with who, other than Capital One who usually pulls all 3.