American Express Membership Rewards - AMEX Charge Card Spending Limits

Long time lurker first time poster here.

I thought Id share a tip for finding out the limit on your Amercian Express Charge card. Every now and then there is a thread about AMEX cutting off spending for seemingly no reason.

Call the number on the back of the card, dont bother asking about a credit limit because they will spew a scripted 'no spending limit' line. Tell them you want to know your exposure limit and ask to be transferred to the credit dept. They will give you the exact dollar figure that you can spend up until. You can also try a test charge with them by giving them a dollar value and spending category.

Exposure is somewhat based on spending category but mostly its payment history and prior balances. The color card doesnt seem to matter.

Your mileage may vary but when I first picked up a green card my exposure was $5000 for a few months and then ramped up very fast. After 8 or so months of being safe and doing the test charge thing it is now up to an actual unlimited figure. The training wheels is probably due to the fact that I reported virtually no income on the application and refused to provide any documentation. I let my payment history speak for itself and dont give copies of my ITR or pay stubs to anyone.

How would they handle the whole pay stub situation if the person they wanted the info. from was 19 and has never been employed?

they would just have to deal with whatever the person could give them..

if the spending power is there, thats all they care about. (at least in the US)

both heirs and entrepeneurs would not have pay stubs, and heirs might not have ever had a job.

In the UK and maybe elsewhere also, credit reference agencies are the most important thing. They do a search and can see what else you have in terms of credit - even down to your mobile phone account.

Even if you have nothing, the lack of negative information (ie no court judgments against you) combined with confirmation of your address from the electoral roll is a good thing. Also they do a statistical analysis on your post code - some areas are better known for bad payers than others.

In fact people change their jobs so often that employment history is not such a good guide these days.

How would they handle the whole pay stub situation if the person they wanted the info. from was 19 and has never been employed?

Make sure the person in question has a reasonable FICO score before applying. 650+ for the green is what I would say but look at creditboards to be sure. They dont ask for income verification usually to approve, just to make exposure limit numbers if there is no payment history.

Payment history beats all. As far as AMEX is concerned, Im unemployed. They dont care because I beat the hell out of the card and pay my bill on time.

I completely agree. I trippled my charges within the last 3 months and am now in mid 5figures per month and AMEX is still not declining charges. The only problem is that I'd rather have "good" airline miles as I want to redeem on *A C/F awards.

The only problem is that I'd rather have "good" airline miles as I want to redeem on *A C/F awards.between AC and NH whats the problem?

-oneworld(other than AA via mexicana)
-SQ new classes
-etihad
are pretty much the only major airlines missing, with CO adding emirates sometime this year.



wow. milemaven is worthless now, no FFP info, only bonuses... :( :td:

I thought Id share a tip for finding out the limit on your Amercian Express Charge card. Every now and then there is a thread about AMEX cutting off spending for seemingly no reason.

...
The training wheels is probably due to the fact that I reported virtually no income on the application and refused to provide any documentation. I let my payment history speak for itself and dont give copies of my ITR or pay stubs to anyone.

I learn something new every day, thanks. Until now based on this thread and another one going here, I never knew that Amex would commonly cut off spending for someone based on a spending limit (or whatever euphemism they want to call it), and this is one reason for me to carry the card around--as an "insurance policy".

When does Amex ask for pay stubs? I don't recall that as ever being part of the application process.

When does Amex ask for pay stubs? I don't recall that as ever being part of the application process. i believe he was referring to when amex does a financial review (freeze your account and request all sorts of personal/business financials)

You can check your spending ability om americanexpress.com Under account services choose credit management and then check your spending ability.

You can check your spending ability om americanexpress.com Under account services choose credit management and then check your spending ability.

thats only status.

Your account is in good standing. Future charges will be approved as long as the status of your account does not change.

What would cause a change of status? Your account status is based on many factors. For instance, your account status would change if your Card is lost or stolen, if your Card is expired, if a payment is past due, or if there is a sudden change in your regular spending pattern.

heh @
We're Sorry...

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funny how theyre ALWAYS upgrading, just like that centurion card :p

Same here. Tells me account is in good standing but does not provide spending limits. I tried an AMEX charge card and an AMEX credit card with the same results.

Amex charge cards have a "maximum exposure" which sometimes you can get an agent to tell you. (The easiest way is to call and ask them if a charge for $X would be approved. If they say they'll require some financial info, then it is above your "maximum exposure".)

The Amex credit cards (Delta, Starwood, Hilton, etc) have real credit limits, and you can see those online.

Amex charge cards have a "maximum exposure" which sometimes you can get an agent to tell you. (The easiest way is to call and ask them if a charge for $X would be approved. If they say they'll require some financial info, then it is above your "maximum exposure".)

The Amex credit cards (Delta, Starwood, Hilton, etc) have real credit limits, and you can see those online.

AMEX charge products are funny animals. If you dont follow procedure (whichis never stated to you) things dont go right with their CSRs. Ask for CREDIT LIMIT and you will be brushed off with a script about no pre-set. Ask for EXPOSURE LIMIT and the same CSR will say "of course, ill run a test charge" if you ask for the Credit Dept you will always get your high limit number.

account services is also staffed with competent people (at least in my experience so far compared to customer service, where i seem to typically get india first :p)