Questions and Answers

My credit is excellent, I have ten credit cards and have had an Amex card for 25 years, and have only applied for one card within a year. No balances and no transfers. I have attempted to get the Hilton No Annual Fee card three times and keep getting a canned message saying due to my balances, transfers, and credit card applications, I do not qualify. My wife tried for an account in her name and got the same message. A friend got the same message. Is this offer real?

[QUOTE=”Bert45, post: 65236, member: 5795″][…] I have attempted to get the Hilton No Annual Fee card three times and keep getting a canned message saying due to my balances, transfers, and credit card applications, I do not qualify. My wife tried for an account in her name and got the same message. A friend got the same message. [B]Is this offer real?[/B][/QUOTE]

This offer?: [URL]https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/hilton-honors/?eep=25330&linknav=US-Acq-Shop-Consumer-CategoryTravelRewardsCards-Prospect-CardLink-HiltonHonors[/URL]

I find it hard to believe that Amex has an offer on its website and in advertising that isn’t “real”. I can’t speak to this particular card, but I had the Amex Ascend card (its offer was real) and I upgraded to the Aspire and also received its bonus offer.

Of those 10 cards, are any others Amex? Amex does limit you to 5 Amex credit cards. That could be the issue?

In addition to the 5 credit card limit, Amex also limits you to two cards in 90 days. See Lucky’s post today:
[URL]https://onemileatatime.com/bank-credit-card-application-rules/[/URL]

And if you already have 1 Hilton card I’m not sure they allow you to have a second one?

Some people have reported success after they put some actual spend on their existing AmEx cards. If all of yours are sock drawered it might be worth it to use them a bit.

I have two AMEX cards, Business Blue and an Optima with minor monthly purchases. No Hilton cards and no card applications in probably about a year. Credit score over 800. My wife applied on a different browser and got the exact same message.

Try putting some spend on the cards, and try again.

Got back with Amex New Accounts and was finally told that my use of other bonus offers in the past was why I was turned down. Doesn’t make sense to me since I have only got two cc in the last two years–a Capital One Venture and a Marriott Bonvoy. My guess is they did not want to give the bonus points on a no fee card. They turned down my wife also who has no new credit cards. My respect and rating for Amex has just gone way way down. Thanks folks for your help.

[QUOTE=”Bert45, post: 65335, member: 5795″]Got back with Amex New Accounts and was finally told that my use of other bonus offers in the past was why I was turned down. Doesn’t make sense to me since I have only got two cc in the last two years–a Capital One Venture and a Marriott Bonvoy. My guess is they did not want to give the bonus points on a no fee card. They turned down my wife also who has no new credit cards. My respect and rating for Amex has just gone way way down. Thanks folks for your help.[/QUOTE]

Have you in the past closed Amex cards shortly after getting a bonus? I received the Amex Hilton bonus for the both the Ascend and then when I upgraded to the Aspire. I’ve also received Amex bonuses on two other cards. But I’ve only closed one Amex account (a non-bonus card) and upgraded the other. YMMV.