AMEX Jail - application frequency
 

So, wondering if anyone has thoughts / experience with how often might be too often to be applying / checking to see if you have gotten out of the AMEX popup jail. Over the years I have gotten approved for a couple of cards, 2 back in 2017/18 and 2 in 2020. I have closed the 2 from 2017/18. But there have been numerous times recently when I have applied for the green, platinum, gold etc. where I've gotten the pop up. Guess I'm wondering if there might be a penalty or drawback to applying but not proceeding with the application so frequently. I've started to try and put some extra spend on my AMEX cards, especially the business card I have, but was hoping to get approved for another personal card. As you can see from the pics I attached, I've applied 6 times in the last 3 months. My wife in a similar situation, not quite as many tries recently, but 3 in the last 3 months and then 5 times in the course of a week back in May.

Both of us have 800 score and have opened and closed a number of cards in the past 3-4 years. Probably more than most but less than others.

Anyway, just trying to see if anyone has thoughts on if AMEX frowns on the trying of the applications so frequently.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...124f357134.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3d2bf170a9.jpg

We have anecdotal evidence that bonus disqualification standards for co-branded cards (Delta, Hilton, Marriott) are different than the standard for American Express' proprietary cards (Platinum, Gold, Green, Blue, Everyday). If this is accurate, approval or disqualification in one category may not tell us much about the other, and they may need to be regarded as two separate data pools.

I assume American Express would track abandoned applications, and abandonment would be evidence that the applicant is primarily interested in the bonus.

I was (am) in Marriott jail but have gotten bonuses on Green and Schwab Plat. I abandoned the Marriott apps.

I am also in Schwab 1.5% card jail but got it anyway to have an Amex in case I don't get retention offers on other cards and have to cancel them.

I'm fickle and they know it.

While that would seem obvious enough, I actually never thought of that. It's a good point. Plus I like your info about cobranded cards. Guess my strategy might be to really focus on adding spend for a few months, apply for a cobranded card and hope for approval. Then if I play nice for a bit hopefully jail break in time to be aproved for a Plat before a planed trip late 2022.

thanks!

I assume they track everything.

Tagging off this thread, i also have been trying for the AMEX platinum here in the US, I have UK platinum used global transfer and when i moved over got AMEX gold because the pandemic just started and didnt think i could use the travel benefits. Now when i apply for the platinum it doesnt approve me. However when I get an 'request to upgrade offer' link but when i click through and enter my details it says no possible, please call the number on the back of your card and speak to a representative to upgrade. So my question is, will customer service tell me something different?
guess theres nothing for me to lose right?

You will not be able to upgrade until the account has been open for a full year.

When you say standards are different from cobrands, does that include the Schwab-branded card?

I've been rejected for signup bonuses recently, probably because I got a gold card a few years ago but cancelled it right before the annual fee was due (or perhaps I downgraded to another card; can't remember now). If and when I start to travel for work again, I was thinking the platinum might make sense, but obviously a bonus would be better than no bonus.

My impression is that co-branded cards which earn Membership Rewards (Schwab, Morgan Stanley) have the same requirements as the proprietary Platinum, Gold and Green cards.

Thanks. That was what I would have assumed, but it's good to get corroboration.

I am not sure what a "popup jail" is but I have a similar question regarding the frequency of AMEX applications.

I currently have 2 Amex credit cards (Marriott and DL) and 1 business card (Blue Plus) and would like to apply for an AMEX Platinum Card. I would also like to apply for an AMEX Business Marriott card. The Blue card is <12 months, though I have 1 Chase and 1 Citi app during the past year.

If I apply for the Plat card will I have to wait months to apply for the business card? I am aware of the 2/90 rule and the 4 card max rule for credit cards.
Thanks

It refers to American Express policy of not offering new account bonuses to those (as determined by an algorithm) who have a history of opening cards primarily for the bonus. Discussion here:

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...ne-2018-a.html

It's correlated, but I think the distinction is between charge cards (generally the unaffiliated ones) and credit cards (most of the affiliated ones).

BTW, as is pointed out here frequently, AMEX seems to put a lot of weight on an individual's history with AMEX. Beyond the simple numbers/formulas/algorithms, a history of opening and closing cards, requesting retention bonuses, and not using AMEX cards much after the first sign up bonus has been earned would be expected to be held against an applicant. Even a history of doing chargebacks more than average could be taken to be a negative factor.

I have a friend who opened an Amex card with no AF two times and closed it after 1 year, and basically no spend after bonus. 1 hilton + 1 blue cash everyday card. She closed the hilton 2 years ago, blue cash 2 years before that one. She is now in pop up jail. I have read to spend money on your amex cards and it might help. She has no cards. So would it be worthwhile to open a card (like blue everyday cash?) without a bonus and put spend on it for 6 months or a year? has anyone tried that? Thank you for any suggestions!!

Good. Nobody benefits from churning except the churners. If you like Amex use their cards where it makes sense and retain the no AF and low AF cards that provide good value. If you churn and cancel, you feel the burn.