Strategy to obtain US Amex

[Tiki]

How necessary is US residential IP VPN for apps and accessing online banking? Plan to do Amex GT soon for Hilton Honors or Green Charge then others down the track

Might also be planning a trip soon via LAX, is it worth booking appointments in branches without an ITIN yet just for account opening and chance of secured CC?

Just have HSBC Premier account + Premier MC atm

I haven't been using a US vpn for applications although i have to use one to access Experian and Credit Karma.

 

[Franko Costa]

I haven't been using a US vpn for applications although i have to use one to access Experian and Credit Karma.

Only use it to get better amex SUBs

 

[DAC1]

How necessary is US residential IP VPN for apps and accessing online banking? Plan to do Amex GT soon for Hilton Honors or Green Charge then others down the track

Might also be planning a trip soon via LAX, is it worth booking appointments in branches without an ITIN yet just for account opening and chance of secured CC?

Just have HSBC Premier account + Premier MC atm

Agreed with sudoer - practically not needed.

In relation to getting access to appointments in branches, I would make appointments to secure one or two additional checking accounts with BOA, Wells Fargo, PNC, Citi etc. While the rumour is that HSBC has shelved selling off its entire Australian retail business, it is useful to have access to multiple US checking accounts.

I wouldn’t bother with secured cards. Your credit record builds up via GT. I got my credit score with all three bureaus 7 months after my first GT.

The only thing a secured card does is burns up another credit card slot which you don’t want if you want to graduate to Chase/BOA cards (they have strict requirements regarding how many cards you’ve opened in the last 12/24 months - you’ll see references to things like 5/24 around here, you can find more searching).

 

[Tiki]

I got a strange text from Citi. Is it legit? The new card was apparently mailed 24 Dec in the USA. I got an email that my card is on its way. No way it has already arrived at Torrance. Is it safe to reply 1? I don’t want to trigger Citi fraud.

Came from short text 95686 to Tello.

Free Msg Citi: Please confirm you recently opened a Citi Advantage Platinum Select Card. Reply 1=Yes 2=No or call 8334311981. This card may be restricted until we hear from you. Reply STOP to Opt-Out

 

[blacksultan]

I got a strange text from Citi. Is it legit? The new card was apparently mailed 24 Dec in the USA. I got an email that my card is on its way. No way it has already arrived at Torrance. Is it safe to reply 1? I don’t want to trigger Citi fraud.

Came from short text 95686 to Tello.

Free Msg Citi: Please confirm you recently opened a Citi Advantage Platinum Select Card. Reply 1=Yes 2=No or call 8334311981. This card may be restricted until we hear from you. Reply STOP to Opt-Out

You can research this online.

 

[Tiki]

Chat GPT seems to think it's ok. I am just nervous given Citi's reputation for being overly fraud cautious.

Why this looks real (in your case)​

• You actually just opened a Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card
• The message came from short code 95686, which Citibank does use in the U.S. for fraud and account verification texts
• The wording matches Citi’s standard new-account / fraud-prevention verification process
• You can’t access Citi Online yet, which is normal until the card arrives

Citi often sends a simple “reply Yes/No” text shortly after a new credit card application to:

• Confirm the application was really made by you
• Prevent identity theft
• Decide whether to fully activate or temporarily restrict the account

This is especially common for airline co-branded cards like the AAdvantage cards.

About the phone number​

The number 833-431-1981 is used by Citi for card verification/fraud-related calls. When paired with:

• a known Citi short code, and
• a real recent application,

it strongly points to a legitimate Citi message.

 

[albyd]

Thanks for the heads up. I've activated it on my CSP. Will give it a go - though says has 2 days left on it. Will need to get to it soon.

Worked. Wish I’d been bolder & bought some $500 Visa GCs with it. Though there aren’t many places to use them in bulk like the ATO anymore.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Reporting back re BOA - after reviewing my docs that I sent from Aus (AUS Passport, Aus Payslips, US Phone Bill, US Bank Statement x2, ITIN) they said they couldn't verify my identify. I'm at a lost as to what to do with BoA. I tried in August, and now in Nov/Dec.

I wonder if it's related to my middle name but I don't think so because they can pull EX.

Edit: Spoke to a "supervisor" and they said that the AUS payslips might have been a problem because the income on the Aus payslips was much higher than what I declared on the application. Really ridiculous. I think I might just wait and re-apply. I think applying in person and via the phone have been massive pains with BOA.

FWIW I have done everything as legit as possible in the sense that I applied for a checking account as an NRA in a bank with the correct documentation.

 

[metaphase]

Lol what a load of nonsense from them! How is higher income a problem and indeed how does income level matter at all for identify confirmation! Good luck, sounds like a tough one to get approved for!

 

[albyd]

I tried to apply with BOA for a checking account - they said they couldn't verify my identity and had to go into a branch. Seems like many US banks need us to go into a branch to prove we're real people. I've found that with Citi and Chase so not wholly surprised BOA is the same.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

I tried to apply with BOA for a checking account - they said they couldn't verify my identity and had to go into a branch. Seems like many US banks need us to go into a branch to prove we're real people. I've found that with Citi and Chase so not wholly surprised BOA is the same.

If you have an ITIN, you can't apply for much without going into a physical branch.

 

[http_x92]

Happy New Year everyone!

Good experience with the HSBC Premier CC, no fraud blocks at all when using it in Australia even when using mobile. No declined transactions either. 3x works at ALDI and IGA etc.

I guess it being a global institution helps.

 

[albyd]

Did you add it to Apple Wallet (you might be using it in Android which would likely be different) while in the US? I couldn’t add it in AU they said I need to be in the US to do that. If you added in AU, how did you do it?

 

[http_x92]

Did you add it to Apple Wallet (you might be using it in Android which would likely be different) while in the US? I couldn’t add it in AU they said I need to be in the US to do that. If you added in AU, how did you do it?

I use Google Wallet and I rang up the HSBC Premier US line. Got it working after a call.

 

[sudoer]

Did you add it to Apple Wallet (you might be using it in Android which would likely be different) while in the US? I couldn’t add it in AU they said I need to be in the US to do that. If you added in AU, how did you do it?

I'm using Android but thought I'd add a DP for adding both mine and P2's supp card to Google Wallet.

During setup, Google Wallet would show a 2FA prompt via email or SMS, but both email address and mobile number were obscured with Xs (like [email protected] and 914xx_xx_X). Neither option worked and the card sat partially set up in my Google Wallet in a state like "Continue setup" or similar.

I called HSBC on two separate occasions, both agents knew exactly what to do and could see the attempted setup. They just marked the card on their end as verified, and Google Wallet immediately reflected that and worked fine.

3x works at ALDI and IGA etc.

Damn, I didn't realise the 3X gas & groceries would extend to Aus. Any DPs on Colesworth or fuel outlets?

Has anyone here managed to hold both Premier and Elite cards?

 

[http_x92]

Damn, I didn't realise the 3X gas & groceries would extend to Aus. Any DPs on Colesworth or fuel outlets?

Has anyone here managed to hold both Premier and Elite cards?

Pretty much 100% hit rate on the major supermarkets and gas stations.

Also smaller grocery shops work.

Havent checked cases like 7/11 convenience stores yet.

 

[albyd]

Thanks for the DPs re HSBC US Premier CC. I can see that it does award the bonus points for Coles. Haven't tried WOW yet. IGA (at least Romeos branded) doesn't.

HSBC isn't as intuitive at displaying this information - need to go through rewards options but it's there in Online banking.

Other sites like Citi's just show it in the transaction. My Citi Premier with the supermarkets multiplier is showing for both IGA and Aldi.

YMMV.

 

[metaphase]

Yep Google Wallet (phone and watch) fine for HSBC, just need to call them for it to complete (automated options don't work). Category bonuses are worldwide, just takes a few days for bonus points to post (they'll show as 0 initially on the transaction list within rewards). I really like the Elite as a card, has become my default one for spending now I've hit my Hilton Amex SUB.