[Update] American Express Twitter & Media Team Support Confirms Limit of 4 Credit Cards & 10 Charge Cards Per Person (New Applications; YMMV)

Update 5/28/20: u/dbaseballfan heard from an Amex rep that this measure is only temporary due to COVID-19, and eventually they’ll bring the limit back up to 5. Somewhat makes sense, though I wouldn’t buy stock based on that projection. Just thought it’s worth noting since people are talking about their long-term Amex plans, and it’s possible this 4-limit is only temporary.

Update 5/19/20 from Will: This has also been confirmed by American Express’ media team by TPG. I usually find media teams to have the correct information more often than front line representatives such as Twitter. It is still strange that we are seeing approvals for over 4 cards.

Original Post: There have been grumblings of a new limit by American Express limiting us to 4 credit cards per person and 10 charge cards per person. Both of these have now been confirmed by American Express Twitter support @AskAmex in a reply to our friend Mark over at Milestomemories.

American Express used to allow 5 credit cards and unlimited number of charge cards. Now, they have reduced the limit to 4 credit cards (business and personal cards counted together) and 10 charge cards (presumably this counts together personal and business cards).

The new rule only applies to someone applying for a new Amex card, they won’t close down your existing cards. As an example, if you currently hold 5 Amex credit cards, you’ll need to close out 2 cards in order to get approved for a new card.

I’m pretty surprised that Amex confirmed it point-blank on Twitter. The confidence and clarity with which they gave the information makes me believe that the information is accurate, at least at some level.

It’s a bit perplexing given that there have clearly been data points going against both of the rules. There may be other variables which allow certain customers to get more than 4/10 cards or perhaps certain cards don’t count or after a certain point the cards don’t count or some other variable.

One reader suggests that this is a ‘soft’ rule, not coded into the system. According to this theory, your best bet at getting approved for a 5th card will be if you can get auto-approved by the system, and you’ll only run into issues if you need manual help of a representative to get approved. Almost all data points I’ve seen thus far would fit with this theory. (I wonder if it would work to apply while holding 5 credit cards, and then ask Amex over reconsideration to close out one card and swap in the new card, thus resulting in your keeping your total tally of 5 credit cards.)

Hat tip to Milestomemories
    Chuck
  • On May 28, 2020, 15:50
Tags: american expressbig

View Comments (70)

  • Got auto approved for a Hilton Biz card today which is my fifth credit card (BBP, Everyday, and standard personal Hilton and Bonvoy). I also have 4 charge cards.

  • Got an insta-denial for having the max number of consumer credit cards allowed on 4/15.
    I called recon and they said they lowered the limit to 4 and that I would have to cancel 2 of my cards (currently have 5).

  • I was approved for a fifth credit card today. I was at five, closed two, opened Blue Cash last week and this week opened Delta Reserve. My app for the fifth card went pending, called in and got approved. I do have five credit cards, not including charge cards.

  • Been a while since this was posted. Do we have any updated DP's on what Amex's current policy is? Is the CC limit 4 or 5 these days?

  • I was at 5 credit cards, and applied for a new card today. Customer service said that the limit was still 4; I had to cancel 2 cards that I never use to open the new card. I probably should have tried this strategy, but forgot about it in the heat of the moment https://www.doctorofcredit.com/american-express-twitter-support-confirms-limit-of-4-credit-cards-10-charge-cards/#comment-988701. I asked the rep about it being possible, and she claimed that the system would not allow this.

  • A note to your last paragraph: If you close a card to get under the limit, they "lock" that card to prevent it from being re-activated. Source: AmEx reconsideration customer service rep. I'd note that when I closed a card a week prior to applying for a new one, and not explicitly to get under the limit, they did not lock the card and allowed it to be re-activated later.

  • I don't really see the logic of it being temporary unless they are trying to just limit exposure for now. But my guess is that this is also being done to weed out people holding too many cards and juggling spend on bonus categories only etc...obviously can still do that with 4 cards, but I think there's more at play here than just COVID. But, who knows.

    • I see the logic, if you use "American Express logic." This is the company that in the last recession was offering to let people pay off their balances for less than 100¢ on the dollar, if they would close the account and leave American Express.

      This 4 card rules lets American Express limit exposure to a group of consumrers that some computer says may be more likely to be overextended right now, while continuing to market to everyone else.

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