Strategy to obtain US Amex

[Spazmos]

I believe AE have changed their Global Transfer application process for US cards. I finally decided to get one last week but getting stuck as I don't have a US number...

Now all I need is to find a US number as I was trying to get a Google Voice number and that still requires a US number to send a verify code...

Hey you can get a free US number from "textnow" and signing up for an account. It is kinda like calling/texting over wifi, and yes from experience you will be able to receive automated sms such as amex text verification codes. Good thing about this is you can use it to call any US number for free over wifi (or mobile data), but if you intend to use it to call other international numbers you gotta load some funds to it and get charged call rates. They also have a windows app so you can install on you PC and if you have a mic and headset you can easily make calls from your computer.

Just found this thread, I'd actually been reading something similar on redflagdeals (Canadian site). Anyway, I recently applied for the HH Aspire, using the Nova credit thing it pulled my Aussie history, ticked the box for no SSN and used my passport. All was well, card approved and open instantly.

However, I'm kind of stuck now - every time I call Amex US, they can't/won't do anything because they 'can't verify my identity' without a SSN. Any ideas on how to go forward with this? I'm baffled as they used my existing Amex history to verify my ID/history, but now I've got an account I can't do anything with!

The absence of a SSN seems to strike fear into the heart of any operator I speak to. Online chat is pretty useless (well meaning as they may be, they can do precisely nothing, unlike Aussie/UK Amex online chat, which can do pretty much everything).

Have you tried calling during EST business hours? I remember as well when trying to talk about my account outside business hours you may get operators who aren't even in the usa. They usually don't have any power when dealing with these sort of things.

 

[Spazmos]

Having followed the saga, and what you had to go through, would you have an update on how it all worked out, please?

From where I left off in my last post it quite uneventful. After declaring the goods value, myus pretty much sent it off for shipping straight away. A few days later (I chose the fastest shipping method) I received my card, make sure you insert your individual suite/locator number for your mail forwarder in the same line as your address when you apply for the card. Because I used the second line for my suite number AMEX omitted it and that's why it was lost in the myus system for a while.
I haven't changed my address yet to my relos because I thought I might give it a bit more time and not raise any red flags, but so far the card is working fine. Used it for few purchases here is Australia and online, got the sign up bonus and annual weekend reward night, diamond status was updated pretty much the next day after initial card approval. Haven't received the priority pass card, but as StochasticFlyer said you can get your member number and app on your phone.

Paying off the card was done via wire and I tried a few FX sites and in the end stuck with TorFX. They don't charge a fee to transfer, but I think the receiving end takes a flat $20usd per transfer, no matter how much you send. So just make sure you add $20usd on top of what you want to send. Planning a trip to the US in January so I intend to open a US checking account to make card repayments easier. In the mean time does anyone else use FX and what fees are taken out of their transfers?

 

[Spazmos]

Hey you can get a free US number from "textnow" and signing up for an account. It is kinda like calling/texting over wifi, and yes from experience you will be able to receive automated sms such as amex text verification codes. Good thing about this is you can use it to call any US number for free over wifi (or mobile data), but if you intend to use it to call other international numbers you gotta load some funds to it and get charged call rates. They also have a windows app so you can install on you PC and if you have a mic and headset you can easily make calls from your computer.

After visiting textplus, looks like textnow works in similar manner, but as I said I have been using textnow and able to receive automated sms verification codes...

TextNow | Get Free Calling and Texting with TextNow

Phone smarter! Ditch your monthly phone bills with free calling and texting. Get the TextNow SIM card or use the TextNow app over wifi. Start saving!

www.textnow.com

 

[QF_Flyer]

Have you tried calling during EST business hours? I remember as well when trying to talk about my account outside business hours you may get operators who aren't even in the usa. They usually don't have any power when dealing with these sort of things.

Thanks for the reply. They did even suggest this, so I did so in the early hours of today (just after midnight AEDT). The lady I spoke to was actually, finally of the usual (high) Amex standard, and she tried her best but nothing would let her update my phone number, which seems to be the stumbling block here.

Somehow, it's pulled my Aussie phone number from my existing (AU) account, changed the country code to +1, dropped the leading zero and added a trailing zero (to make the number the correct length). This definitely wasn't me, I added my US number and have the email confirmation from Amex that I did, but it's appears to be nowhere on my account. Seems it won't do anything without either the CSC or mobile number verification, even though email verification worked (email verification refused to go any further than the 4-digit code without the CSC from the physical card).

The card is with reship, and my only advice so far when using them is don't. Ridiculously slow to respond to anything, and so far they will only let me redirect it nationally (US) due to (non-existent) export restrictions. So I've asked them what they want me to do here, as I'm out of ideas

 

[DC3]

From where I left off in my last post it quite uneventful ...

Thank you posting the update. Very informative.

 

[QF_Flyer]

From where I left off in my last post it quite uneventful. After declaring the goods value, myus pretty much sent it off for shipping straight away. A few days later (I chose the fastest shipping method) I received my card, make sure you insert your individual suite/locator number for your mail forwarder in the same line as your address when you apply for the card. Because I used the second line for my suite number AMEX omitted it and that's why it was lost in the myus system for a while.
I haven't changed my address yet to my relos because I thought I might give it a bit more time and not raise any red flags, but so far the card is working fine. Used it for few purchases here is Australia and online, got the sign up bonus and annual weekend reward night, diamond status was updated pretty much the next day after initial card approval. Haven't received the priority pass card, but as StochasticFlyer said you can get your member number and app on your phone.

Paying off the card was done via wire and I tried a few FX sites and in the end stuck with TorFX. They don't charge a fee to transfer, but I think the receiving end takes a flat $20usd per transfer, no matter how much you send. So just make sure you add $20usd on top of what you want to send. Planning a trip to the US in January so I intend to open a US checking account to make card repayments easier. In the mean time does anyone else use FX and what fees are taken out of their transfers?

Did MyUS not give you any grief about it? I specifically avoided MyUS originally because I read that they didn't forward credit cards in their mail. However, it just occurred to me maybe I could redirect mine to their US address and get it sent overseas (to Australia) that way, since reship are being difficult. Double handling, but maybe a solution?

As for paying it off, I've previously paid my Amex Plat ICC (to Standard Chartered in NY) via both Citibank Plus and using Revolut - Revolut is defo worth a look for any overseas txfers.

 

[DC3]

Did MyUS not give you any grief about it? I specifically avoided MyUS originally because I read that they didn't forward credit cards in their mail ...

Interesting. Not forwarding credit cards? I wonder what the basis for that would be?

So, do they open all mail, including envelopes as well? As AMEX would presumably send the cc in a standard mailing envelope, rather than a box, MyUs wouldn’t know that the letter contained a cc unless they were opening all envelopes as well as boxes.

 

[QF_Flyer]

Interesting. Not forwarding credit cards? I wonder what the basis for that would be?

So, do they open all mail, including envelopes as well? As AMEX would presumably send the cc in a standard mailing envelope, rather than a box, MyUs wouldn’t know that the letter contained a cc unless they were opening all envelopes as well as boxes.

Seems to be a pretty common line on a lot of the websites (buried in various conditions) for forwarding cos, monetary instruments, currency, cards, etc., which is annoying. No idea what the logic is though, I have had the generic line "export restrictions", which obviously isn't true as cards are sent overseas all the time. I'm waiting for a response to my questions atm, but will report back.

So I have only used Reship, and Amex sent it in a plain UPS package, which Reship opened. Inside that was an envelope (normal DL5 size you'd get in the mail), which they didn't open - however it's covered in Amex branding, so fairly obvious what it is haha.

 

[DC3]

... Inside that was an envelope (normal DL5 size you'd get in the mail), which they didn't open - however it's covered in Amex branding, so fairly obvious what it is haha.

OK, thanks. You’d think that this would be the least of their worries. But if they don’t want to forward a cc then that will definitely be a problem.

I can say, though, that I’ve received a gift card from AMEX on a couple of occasions in the past. No credit card in the AMEX envelope, just a gift card.

 

[Spazmos]

Did MyUS not give you any grief about it? I specifically avoided MyUS originally because I read that they didn't forward credit cards in their mail. However, it just occurred to me maybe I could redirect mine to their US address and get it sent overseas (to Australia) that way, since reship are being difficult. Double handling, but maybe a solution?

Not really, they did however open up the UPS package including the envelope with the cc. Not sure why they needed to open it up completely. Another option that I was considering was calling up for a replacement card to be mailed to your overseas location, saying you've "lost" yours and are currently overseas. But you would have to call during US business hours to get a rep over there.

 

[QF_Flyer]

Not really, they did however open up the UPS package including the envelope with the cc. Not sure why they needed to open it up completely. Another option that I was considering was calling up for a replacement card to be mailed to your overseas location, saying you've "lost" yours and are currently overseas. But you would have to call during US business hours to get a rep over there.

Thanks, might see about forwarding to MyUS if I can’t resolve with Reship then. I’m wary of throwing away $ on trying to resolve this, but a few bucks is worth spending I guess.

Annoyingly it’s the signup bonus which is spurring me on to get the physical card, other than that I’m happy to just pay the annual fee and never use it, solely for the HH benefits!

I did ask about a replacement overseas, and in theory they’re happy to do it, but the issue with the phone number has essentially locked them out of doing it (I’m sure there must be a way around it, but they couldn’t seem to work it out, even after an hour on the phone during biz hours). In fairness I can kind of see why with the necessary security, which is reassuring to a point, but I’d have thought they’d be able to verify who I am another way, since they opened the account solely on the back of my existing, Australian account. Will see how I go next week I guess!

 

[cove]

One in my family wants Mrscove to sign up to a US Platinum Amex CC with him as a supplementary card holder. I think he wants the priority passes and the Amex lounge
rights. We don’t need these passes as we get lounge entries already .Mrscove should be able to set this up later this month.

 

[JFi]

Took the plunge and applied. Pretty straightforward with this new process. Nova seems to use Equifax here so you just provide the same details you do when applying for a credit card here (driver's licence etc.).

I got approved for the Hilton Aspire and Diamond status was instantly reflected as well as logging into Amex I could see my Hilton points. Only thing is I didn't get the Instant Card Number which the Amex site says is based on eligibility so I guess I'm not eligible as I can't find my number anywhere online. Guess I have to wait for the physical card before I can use it and here's hoping I have a better experience receiving it than some here.

 

[DC3]

... you don't need a SSN anymore. There's a check box above where you enter the SSN and if you have a credit score in UK, India, Mexico, Canada or Australia then you can use that instead.

Now all I need is to find a US number as I was trying to get a Google Voice number and that still requires a US number to send a verify code...

Took the plunge and applied. Pretty straightforward with this new process. Nova seems to use Equifax here so you just provide the same details you do when applying for a credit card here (driver's licence etc.).

I got approved for the Hilton Aspire ... Guess I have to wait for the physical card ...

Thank you for posting about this. I’ve been following this thread with interest and am still trying to work out the best way to proceed. The Hilton Aspire card would be useful.

I guess that you already had a U.S.A. (forwarding?) address and have now managed to obtain a phone number that allows for verification sms. My hurdle will be with both at this stage, so am trying to gain from the experience of others.

Edit: It’s a bit concerning that MyUS may not forward credit cards, as I had been looking at using them for USA address purposes and forwarding

 

[JFi]

I guess that you already had a U.S.A. (forwarding?) address and have now managed to obtain a phone number that allows for verification sms. My hurdle will be with both at this stage, so am trying to gain from the experience of others.

Edit: It’s a bit concerning that MyUS may not forward credit cards, as I had been looking at using them for USA address purposes and forwarding

Actually I tried with MyUS. Seems to be hit and miss with others' experiences here so I'll see how it goes as I actually do need the physical card to start using it. If MyUS fails, then I'll try give Amex a call to ship it direct to Aus. I got a relative I contacted out of the blue to help verify the code to get a Google Voice number but wasn't 100% sure I wanted to have the card sent to them as well lol
Having said that, so far Amex haven't had the need to send any verification SMS to me yet so I don't know if it works. As Spazmos pointed out above, Textnow seems to do the job too.

At least on the Amex front, everything is pretty straightforward. Now I need to find a way to download the Amex US app since only the AU app is showing on my mobile app store.

 

[DC3]

.... I need to find a way to download the Amex US app since only the AU app is showing on my mobile app store.

I’ve just been able to download that app, using my Apple (USA) account. While not really within the T&C, I have never had a problem operating AU and USA Apple accounts (using different email addresses for each).

 

[JFi]

I’ve just been able to download that app, using my Apple (USA) account. While not really within the T&C, I have never had a problem operating AU and USA Apple accounts (using different email addresses for each).

I've got Android and can't seem to be able to change my country from the App store (even with different account). Guess it's not a major issue as I can log in online. The app is just handy.

Also, just got an email from Amex asking me to verify my number so I can confirm GV can receive and send SMS to Amex.

 

[Mr Bios]

Can only get one US AMEX card via Global Transfer. From then, start building a US credit history with amex. After 6 months, you can apply the 2nd card with AMEX, which only does a soft pull. So make sure you didn’t do anything stupid with ur 1st us amex card.

P.S. I got my 1st US Amex card (Hilton Aspire) via Global Transfer at Dec 2018. Then applied my 2nd US Amex card(Bonvoy Brilliant) June 2019 and went crazy since then..... just got my 7th US Amex card....

When you did the USA Amex transfer, did you use friends USA address and phone number or some 3rd party provider like MyUS etc ?

Would it be ok to use friends address in the application ?

 

[albyd]

Hi Guys,

I'm currently considering the Green. The Amex website clearly states that Green offers 3xMR for "Global" restaurants but doesn't have this for travel. Online chat agent has told me the same. Before I move on from this idea, would be interested if any other people on this thread who have the Green have been getting the bonus travel category points for charges in Australia. I ask as quite often, there are anomalies in the system or websites don't fully describe their products.

 

[jasonfungsing]

When you did the USA Amex transfer, did you use friends USA address and phone number or some 3rd party provider like MyUS etc ?

Would it be ok to use friends address in the application ?

I was using mail forwarder "myus", but you can use your friend's place