A long time ago, I mean a LONG time ago when I was 20, back in 1981 (like I said, a long time ago), I was working full time at a Chrysler/Dodge dealership and also working part-time at McDonald’s on the weekends.
I already had a Visa credit card for about 8-12 months (I don’t really remember) and saw the pamphlet (credit application) to get an American Express credit card. I decided to apply for it. I filled everything out, I had good credit history, I was working 2 jobs, over 60 hours a week and figured I was a shoe-in to get another credit card (Plus I was still living at home).
I mailed the credit application to American Express and waited – no online instant gratification in those days!! A few weeks later, I received a letter from American Express declining my application. I was shocked!! So I decided to call the number on the letter. We went over everything and person said that “I didn’t make enough money”. I reiterated that I was working 2 jobs and that as time goes on, my salary would increase. They said no. I even grovelled/begged for them to look past the “hard line about income” and give a hardworking person a chance. And they absolutely refused. Cold as ice!!
When I hung up the phone, I was upset and mad. And the more I thought about it, the madder I got. As my wife would say (I didn’t know her back then), “my French blood came out” and I swore I would never EVER have an American Express credit card.
Over the years, I have had various Visa and Mastercard credit cards and even a variety of store credit cards (i.e. Sears) but I have never ever had an American Express credit card.
My wife has asked me to get an American Express credit card over the years and I said no. The kids have bugged me to get one because of the “American Express Front of the Line” for purchasing concert tickets and I said no. That French blood of mine never forgets!!
Even when I started Capitalware, I refused to get an American Express for Business credit card. Nope. Not going to happen!
One of my favorite credit cards is the Marriott Rewards Visa. Years ago, I used to be a traveling consultant doing MQ work for various customers. I would always try to stay at a Marriott property, so that I could get/keep my status to/at “Platinum”. There is absolutely nothing better than having Platinum status and staying at an upscale Marriott property. They treat you like you are royalty. 🙂 Its awesome. 🙂
A month ago, I received a letter from Marriott Rewards Visa saying that the credit card was being discontinued at the end of March 2018. I was disappointed but I know reward companies do change credit cards every once in a while. I figured I would use it exclusively until it was no longer valid (rack up those points).
A few days ago, I received a letter from Marriott Rewards saying that they had signed up with American Express. Ahhhhh. No. No. No. Why them – the evil empire!!! Why couldn’t they have picked Mastercard!!!
I thought about it for a while and thought about it and thought about it some more. Yin and Yang. My love for Marriott against my hatred of American Express.
I showed my wife the letter from Marriott Rewards, she smiled and said “so, are you going to apply for it” and I said yes. That’s right, I said yes. The love of Marriott won out over my hatred of American Express (I’ve been pulled to the dark-sided!). So, I applied online for the SPG American Express Rewards credit card and bingo, I was approved. (Of course, it would have been funny as hell, if they had declined me. It would have justified my hatred of them.)
So, what’s my point to the story? Companies need to look beyond simple hard lines in the sand and sometimes say that a hard working individual does make up that gap between what they have and what is required. I’m a loyal guy – a company treats me well and I will stick with them. Over 37 years, look at all the business American Express lost out on by alienating me.
Regards,
Roger Lacroix
Capitalware Inc.
