Well the mortgage closing soon certainly throws a stick into things! Personally, I would not touch your credit at all, one way or the other (no new credit, no cancellations) until you have closed. Mortgage bankers are super jumpy now and will bite at anything that comes up. It probably wouldn't affect your score much one way or the other, but just the "new" credit line might cause a delay or require some additional documentation. A smooth closing is well worth the $65 SPG annual fee IMO!

I really wish I knew the answer for whether you can just "switch" one Amex into another. Since you have a longstanding relationship with Amex, I would call in and give it a try (or a couple of tries with different reps if the first one denies you). If you can switch from the SPG to the HH with no hard inquiries and no change of credit line then I would go for it. Otherwise I would just wait. I have heard that some people have been successful at getting a statement credit in the amount of the annual fee on cheaper Amexes (i.e., not Platinum or higher).

I just brought up all that stuff with the soft pulls because I'm curious why they would run a hard pull when they probably have a soft pull from within the past week or two. Especially in a situation like you're wanting, changing the affinity of a card but trying to keep the credit line the same.

Thanks for the thoughts. You're confirming my approach to not rock the boat much just now. Also agree that the SPG annual fee is not even worth considering vs. headaches of further paperwork, or potentially getting denied the refinance. I'll wait for my SPG cycle to close (to collect the last of my points...), then call and see what is possible re: switching affinity programs (without an inquiry or change in my credit line). I'll report back!

How long do you need to wait between AMEX apps? I've been poking around on FT and blogs for close to an hour and still can't find an answer.:confused:

Trying to decide if I should apply now if there's going to be an SPG Amex in the near future.

I just hit the $500.00 mark on Sunday and the second bonus of 30,000 hit today. Didn't even have to wait until the end of the billing cycle.

not me
 

I got the card around May 1, met the spending requirement, and still waiting for the 30000. I was told up to 3 months when I called. So, will be calling again soon. You were lucky to have them credited. I also got the Citi Hilton and I am still waiting on the 40000 to be credited. Might have start calling on that one too!!!!!!!:confused:

I got Amex Plat in January and this HHonors card in May.

Call them ASAP.

I got the Citi Hilton card too and my bonus posted from that when the statement closed. I have a bunch of Hilton points now :)

+1 :D

just curious.. looking to sign for this amex...if i get this one..will i not be eligible for the citi hilton cards?

This card has no impact on your ability to get the citi hilton card aside from being one more credit pull.

amex 2500 point bonus
 

I believe that this card comes with a 2500 point bonus for each of your 1st 4 Hilton stays paid with this card in the 1st 18 months of cardmembership. I have already gotten 1 of these bonuses.

However, my family and I are going for a long stay at a Hilton for which I prefer to pay with with a different credit card. I was wondering if I could "split" the bill and pay say $100 of the bill with the AE Hilton card and pay the balance on the other credit card.

If I did this, would this be considered a "stay" and would I be eligible for the 2500 bonus points.

Needless to say, any insights would be very much appreciated.

Not at all, but I recommend applying for both on the same day.

Reporting back. To review my situation:
-have the SPG AMEX but have decided my spending (earning) doesn't justify the fee.
-want to switch to Hilton card for the bonus
-currently in process of closing a refinance, so don't want to rock the credit boat by changing my credit lines or having any hard inquiries.

My SPG points posted recently, so I called today to ask to switch programs. The agent put me on hold, but returned and reported it is not possible to switch from SPG - HHonors without a new application. He did offer to switch to some generic AMEX travel options, however, so it would have been possible to change, just not to HHonors. I suspect they have some kind of contract with the specific affinity programs not to switch to a competitors product??

He did advise me, however, that I have 60 days after being charged the annual fee to cancel the card and have the fee reversed. Just FYI to anyone interested in AMEX policy.

SPG retention bonus - $50 statement credit
 

RED EYE, have you tried to SM AMEX asking them to offer you some help to partially offset the SPG annual fee?

The offers range from a low $25 credit to a $50 credit, or 2K to 5K SPG pts.

My husband's card got $50 statement credit on first request. Same wordings on mine got me a 2K SPG pts. I wrote back to ask them matching the $50 statement credit and I offered to return the 2K SPG pts, or they up the SPG pts to 5K. I then got an additional $50 statement credit and also kept the 2K SPG pts which they said could not be reverted.

In light of your mortgage application, may be you could try this before doing all the card conversion dance to avoid the $65 fee?

I am of the camp that a smooth closing is well worth the $65 fee but you could ask little something to reduce the fee substantially.

SM is your best friend. Calling may not produce same result. Hint: pick a time that the SM would be handled by oversea center.

Thanks for the advice. I had called the retention department earlier, and was offered 1K points - which didn't seem generous enough to me. Perhaps a follow up SM would be more productive.