Ok, so I called back to Centurion Applications today now that it's July. I qualify on the spending in 12 months ($300k+) and the 1 year mark now. The lady on the phone was really nice and walked me through the application.

Then she says "I just need to run your credit report to see if you're approved. This will take 1 minute." About 20 seconds later she says "I'm sorry sir, but at this time it's telling me that you don't meet the credit profile of American Express. I'm going to submit your application to our credit department for a review to see if they will overturn it. I can't guarantee you that it will get overturned, but as soon as I hear back from them I will give you a call on your cell phone. It will be in the next 24 hours. Is that OK?" Of course I said yes.

Here's what my online application status shows (click to see image): http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/88/centurioncp8.jpg

Now, I'm not surprised by the denial of any credit/charge card for me right now. I have a very high debt-to-credit ratio because I maxed out many of my cards to fund my business. My FICO credit scores are in the low 600's, but I have no late payments, no collections, no charge-offs, no baddies, nothing. All on time and everything, just high debt. I think Amex is just being really strict because of the credit crunch right now.

But... I do spend $40k-$50k with Amex a month, I have multiple cards with them, and am a great customer. I have my personal cards and two of my businesses with them. I really hope they can do a manual review of my application and approve me so they can keep me a happy and loyal customer. After all, if I am charging $40k-$50k a month with Platinum, what harm does it do them to move me to Centurion?

Any thoughts on this? Has this ever happened with anyone before when trying to get Centurion? Maybe I am the first on FlyerTalk where this has happened.

Ethan