American Express Membership Rewards - application declined because of too many cards

Hi everyone,

This is one I had not heard yet. I was just applying online for the American Express Hilton Honors card. The application was declined and here is the response:
******
Dear Ferd57:

Thank you for your recent application for the Hilton HHonors Platinum Credit Card from American Express. It is our pleasure to service your request for an American Express card.

Regrettably, we are canceling this application. You currently have the maximum number and type of American Express products we allow.

An important notice concerning your rights is included. The creditor is American Express Bank, FSB.

Thank you for your interest in our service.

Sincerely,

Robert Garinger

Business Leader New Accounts

RG/ag

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So I have a Platinum, Starwood, Blue, and Delta Platinum. They don't allow someone to have 5 cards? I find that hard to believe. I am single and make long six figures, have no mortgage, and carry no balance in my cards. It would have been fine if they had declined because I had too many lines of credit, but too many cards???? That seems odd. When I called (three times) none of the representative had ever heard of this. Any one out there seen this before?

I've seen something posted here before that sounds similar to this. I believe the solution was to have some of the cards as "business cards". That, and AMEX is certainly trying to reduce its exposure, so it shouldn't be a complete shock.

Cancel the SPG and apply again next year for another bonus, perhaps???

This may be a stupid question (I tried search but failed), but do you get the sign up bonus for each of these accounts (Starwood, Delta, etc)? Or is it only one sign up bonus per person.

Also, if I have an AMEX card through Citi, does that affect my application process through AMEX's website at all?

You would get all of the bonuses.

You would get all of the bonuses.

Thank you. Sorry OP for hijacking your thread with that question.

I would call and find out what, if anything, you can do to get approved. They might be willing to give you the card if you cancel another, or reduce a credit line, or loan them $20 billion to fund the rest of their operations. ;)

Amex is getting tight on everyone, so it is a big YMMV. Calling could even be a risk though - if shopping at Walmart is a trigger for a line cut, no telling how they would receive actually wanting to talk to a CSR.

I would call and find out what, if anything, you can do to get approved. They might be willing to give you the card if you cancel another, or reduce a credit line, or loan them $20 billion to fund the rest of their operations. ;)

Amex is getting tight on everyone, so it is a big YMMV. Calling could even be a risk though - if shopping at Walmart is a trigger for a line cut, no telling how they would receive actually wanting to talk to a CSR.

How is not allowing more then 5 personal cards getting tight? Personally I have a personal amex, debit card, and one mastercard and I think its an insanely excessive amount. How in the world do you guys keep track of all these cards? What is the purpose of having so many? Is it just for the sign on bonus? Seems like a rather big hassle not to mention what it could do to your credit report just for 25k or 50k points.

I currently have 4 personal accounts and 2 business with Amex. That includes SPG Business card that I just got 1.5 months ago. You should call and see if they can do a manual review of your application.

I have 2 US Amex CC, one UK Amex charge card, with one (used to be two) UK Amex CC, as well as an Amex-branded UK CC. Whenever I call Amex, either US or UK, they know about all the accounts that I have (except the AMex-branded card from another bank), so they definitely allow 5 cards...seems v. odd to me.

However, recent posts on this forum do show odd behaviour from Amex. The main reason I have more than 1 US card is to build up my credit history, and to get a larger limit: I applied to extend my parltry limit ($5k) on my first card (SPG) but was denied, but my application for HH card was approved. Oddly enough, shortly after that, Amex increased my credit limit on the SPG card, unasked.

It all seems v. unpredictable right now.

tb

Don't be surprised if you get hit with a financial review soon, they'll probably want justifcation as to why you want so many cards.

Don't be surprised if you get hit with a financial review soon, they'll probably want justifcation as to why you want so many cards.

I would not scare OP. I would just call and see if they can reconsider your application.

I would not scare OP. I would just call and see if they can reconsider your application.

Well I'm not trying to scare him, but that's the reason I was given for my financial review by AMEX.

Well I'm not trying to scare him, but that's the reason I was given for my financial review by AMEX.

Did you go through FR?

How is not allowing more then 5 personal cards getting tight? Personally I have a personal amex, debit card, and one mastercard and I think its an insanely excessive amount. How in the world do you guys keep track of all these cards? What is the purpose of having so many? Is it just for the sign on bonus? Seems like a rather big hassle not to mention what it could do to your credit report just for 25k or 50k points.


Tell me which card combines all the benefits that Amex offers and I'll use that one! In the mean time I have and use different Amex cards for different reasons, Hilton Amex for Hilton stays, SPG for airline points transfer, Plat card for lounge access, Simply Cash Biz card for Hertz discount and cash back, and all the other stuff that only available on singular cards. [That leaves out all the other cards available from Amex that I dont have]

Tell me which card combines all the benefits that Amex offers and I'll use that one! In the mean time I have and use different Amex cards for different reasons, Hilton Amex for Hilton stays, SPG for airline points transfer, Plat card for lounge access, Simply Cash Biz card for Hertz discount and cash back, and all the other stuff that only available on singular cards. [That leaves out all the other cards available from Amex that I dont have]

I see. Plat seems to cover plenty of benefits and higher coverage limits than any other avg card. Still seems a little silly to have that many cards. It's also a sign of financial instability. Not saying you or anyone specific is financially instable but having that many cards is most def a sign. It would also be rather obvious justification for an amex FR. If one of my clients requested multiple lines of credit from me I would def be quite concerned so wouldn't blame and in fact would expect it from amex.

I carry a Visa, MC and an American Express Gold. So three lines of credits from different sources. The max I would expect myself to get from Amex is two cards (a charge and a credit card).

I think the Platinum Charge has 90% of the benefits Amex has to offer (if you exclude Cent. Card). You'll be able to collect more points if you concentrate on one type of benefits/rewards program.

Personally, I like the MR so thats why I load up my Amex and keep the Visa/MC for the places that do not accept Amex.

Unless you really travel ALOT, having both SPG and HH Amex in addition to Platinum might not be worth while. But thats just my opinion, I nowhere travel as much as some of you guys around here so you might find use of them.

This is flyertalk where people fly from LAX to SFO via NYC just to get miles, so it is no surprise that this community will exploit credit cards the same way we do frequent flier mile programs. I have three Amex cards - blue cash, gold charge and Starwood. The blue cash was my primary purchase card, the starwood was used for travel and the gold was only to get a 25K MR signup. I've also got the Citi platinum Amex.

Overall I have 15 active cards, most with 0% offers, a few for purchases, a couple more as emergency backup cards, and a couple close to cancellation. I do use a spreadsheet to track everything. The main hit against my credit report at the high balances at 0%, but since I'm not worried about getting a mortgage now, making a profit from 0% money and points bonuses are more important than my credit score being 725 instead of 800.