American Express Membership Rewards - AMEX Green Rejection?!!?

I applied for the Green Amex the other day and got a rejection notice through the post today citing a low credit score.

How the hell low is my credit if I can't obtain a Green card? I'm a trainee solicitor with a major US law firm in London earning well above the minimum required. I do have loans from law school and have been late once or twice on my Mastercard payments (when I say late, I'm talking a day as the payment hasn't cleared in time).

What the hell is wrong? I'm very surprised by this. If I were to call them tomorrow will they be able to divulge any reasons why I've been rejected? I only started work 2 months ago and moved into my address in London at the same time. Could this have played a factor? I did give them my previous address when requested (at which I lived for 10+ years with my parents).

I applied for the Green Amex the other day and got a rejection notice through the post today citing a low credit score.

How the hell low is my credit if I can't obtain a Green card? I'm a trainee solicitor with a major US law firm in London earning well above the minimum required. I do have loans from law school and have been late once or twice on my Mastercard payments (when I say late, I'm talking a day as the payment hasn't cleared in time).

What the hell is wrong? I'm very surprised by this. If I were to call them tomorrow will they be able to divulge any reasons why I've been rejected? I only started work 2 months ago and moved into my address in London at the same time. Could this have played a factor? I did give them my previous address when requested (at which I lived for 10+ years with my parents).

Im not sure if you applied for a UK or US card, but I would get a copy of your credit report to see what is on your report. I doubt any "lates" would show up, because they only usally report it if you are 60 days past due. I would also call or write them to ask for reconsideration and high light your employment and income, as well as your educational background. Also, state the reason you are applying for the card, i.e. for business or travel and let them know how the card would be beneficial.

In the US, I think Amex has a program for folks that have little or no credit.

I thought AMEX just looked at spending power?

Maybe they're looking at salary vs loans + high cost of living in London?

Thanks for the replies. It is a UK card I applied for. I did one of those free credit scoring tests and it had me listed as '1 star' for creditworthiness mainly due to the fact that I had stated that I didn't have a home phone (use my cellphone) and hadn't been employed or lived at my address for very long. My age is, apparently, also a factor (I'm 25).

I think I'll pay for the premium report - £10.

Do you have any other Amex credit cards with high credit limits? That could be a factor.

Also my father got rejected for an Amex once (in the UK), despite an excellent credit history. He couldn't understand why so got a copy of his credit report and turned out their mortgage provider had the date of birth the wrong way round (American style). For some reason this threw a major wobbly. Was quite a palava to get it all sorted.

<<only started work 2 months ago and moved into my address in London at the same time>>

Did you live with your parents in the UK, or in the US?

If you have a decent US credit score, apply for a Green Amex in the US, transfer out to the UK, and close your US card. Easy as pie, assuming a decent US credit score.

[QUOTE=Vitriol01]Thanks for the replies. It is a UK card I applied for. I did one of those free credit scoring tests and it had me listed as '1 star' for creditworthiness mainly due to the fact that I had stated that I didn't have a home phone (use my cellphone) and hadn't been employed or lived at my address for very long. My age is, apparently, also a factor (I'm 25).QUOTE]

I believe that UK CC cards check voting registration - to verify that you really exist. UK does not have credit reports like the US. If you have just arrived it will be tough.

When I immigrated to US from UK, I could get a mortgage right away, but not a credit card with a useful limit until I had been here 2 years. I was saved by Amex who will transfer your account with a simple phone call. I was then able to get other Amex cards (eg costco).

Best bet is get a US Amex card and transfer as the other poster suggested.

In the US, I think Amex has a program for folks that have little or no credit.
They have not had the limited credit program in over 7 years.

uh get a landline phone at your flat.

you may prevent brain cancer and at the very least you'll appear to have some roots and stability.

Some creditors want to be able to find you. They are funny like that.

a considerable number of people are giving up landlines in the US, i would think its much more prevalent in europe and asia, where cell phone technology is that much better.

a considerable number of people are giving up landlines in the US, i would think its much more prevalent in europe and asia, where cell phone technology is that much better.

What you have to keep in mind though is that it costs a fortune to call a mobile phone in Europe. In Europe you don't pay minutes for received calls, but the caller pays much more than they would pay for an international non-mobile call.

If I were issuing you a card, I would want to make sure that I could reach you and not pay these high telecom fees to communicate and that you had some sort of stability.

In the US, it's a much different system. Credit is based on the person, social security number is the key. In the UK, it's all based on address. I got a credit card in the UK due to a relationship my company had with a bank. If you have a good relationship with a branch of your bank in the UK, I would recommend speaking to them, as they authorization to give you a credit card. Having that and paying on time would certainly show credit worthiness to Amex.

[QUOTE=dgwright99
I believe that UK CC cards check voting registration - to verify that you really exist. UK does not have credit reports like the US. If you have just arrived it will be tough.

[/QUOTE]

Yep, if you're not on the electoral register and have no record of borrowing in the UK you're gonna have problems with getting a credit card. You'd have a better chance if you have a UK bank account and applying for one of their cards instead.

i had only had 1 credit card and no loans before getting gold and upgrading to platinum in US.

young business owners and celebrities get platinum/centurion when very young and have even less credit history..

is US the only country where amex cares more about spending power than credit history?

Don't forget there are two credit companies, Experian and Equifax. You can get a free copy of your Experian one online with a free 30 day trial of their service (You just have to remember to cancel it to avoid being charged).

As mentioned above, being registered to vote is essential, although if you only moved in 2 months ago that won't be an issue as they will check you against your previous address.

Missed payments DO matter if they show up on your credit report, as do any other applications you have made to any other companies. If you have applied for any other credit cards in the past 6 months they get funny, if you have made more than 3 applications then you will probably get refused.

The colour of the card means nothing when they do a credit score. They will take into account your salary, your current loans and credit cards to make a decision, so if you have a large loan that may impact their decision.

Of course there may be something else sinister on your report that you do not know about, like identify theft etc, so make sure you check BOTH reports.

I don't think Amex will let you re-apply for 6 months from refusal.

Experian and Equifax and TransUnion

Don't forget there are two credit companies, Experian and Equifax. You can get a free copy of your Experian one online with a free 30 day trial of their service (You just have to remember to cancel it to avoid being charged).


The colour of the card means nothing when they do a credit score. They will take into account your salary, your current loans and credit cards to make a decision, so if you have a large loan that may impact their decision.



Just to add to that you can always do an advanced search on www.moneysupermarket.com they do the credit check for you.

As for the credit score, if you've got a good history with someone they'll pretty much give you what you want.

[QUOTE=MattUK]Don't forget there are two credit companies, Experian and Equifax. You can get a free copy of your Experian one online with a free 30 day trial of their service (You just have to remember to cancel it to avoid being charged).

Three,,, you left out trans union.... but OP applied for UK credit card I dont think this applies.

After you get a clean credit report, and from the turn down you will see from which one they pulled your credit, just send it to the person who mailed you the turn down letter. Likely you will get positive response.