That means it's time to get a free copy of your credit report to check the information for accuracy. American Express might tell you that the decision was made based on information from any one or more of your three credit reports. You may have unpaid debts with American Express.Your debt-to-available credit ratio may be too high.You may show too many credit cards in default or unpaid loans on your credit reports.You may not have a long enough or strong enough credit history.There may be errors on your credit report leading to a lower credit score.There are a number of reasons you might be declined for an American Express card. If you are declined for an American Express card, contact the company and ask them for the reason. In addition to applying for an easier-to-get card, it's important to find out why your application for an American Express card was declined. You're looking at a higher interest rate than you'll find with cards for people with excellent credit like Discover More or any of the American Express charge cards. Some cards, like the Capital One No Hassle Cash Rewards card, even offer cash rewards and other benefits. If you pay your bills on time, you may be selected to apply for a store Visa or MasterCard issued by the same bank as your store credit card, which can be used anywhere Visa or MasterCard is accepted. Store credit cards, such as the Gap card, are also a choice for people with fair credit or no credit history. If you are a student, you can apply for a student card, which typically has more lenient requirements than American Express. Credit Cards for People with Fair Creditĭepending on your credit history, you may want to apply for a card for people with fair credit. In the meantime, take steps to fix your credit rating and build up your credit history by applying for cards that may be easier to obtain.

If the company denies your application, you can always apply again if your financial situation changes.

American Express is one of the more difficult credit cards to obtain. Being rejected for a credit card can be a crushing experience, but it's important not to take it personally.

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