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Application Protections
As I mentioned yesterday, I would be applying for a couple of cards and I wasn’t entirely sure about which ones I would do. Doctor of Credit had mentioned on one of my last posts that I should submit the appropriate documents to have a couple of bureaus frozen before applying for any US Bank credit card. There’s more on that here. To be fair, I followed his advice, wrote the documents signed them (the Sherpstress too) and gathered the copies of ID required.
…and they are still sitting on my dresser.
But that’s why you have me here. I am happily the guinea pig for all things miles and points and this would prove to be an experiment of how closely your credit is really examined when you apply for a card.
First up I contacted Barclays, and they let me know that regardless of my credit score or history, I didn’t have enough history with them (only 3 months). I didn’t waste my time on an app for either the very good Barclay Arrival World Mastercard, nor the US Airways Dividend Miles Business Credit Card. I will, however, keep my personal US Airways Dividend Miles Mastercard as I don’t have any reason to cancel and I still have a pair of $99 companion fares to use. Barclays is a difficult bank at first, though I have come to understand that with time they loosen up. Onward and upward.
I really wanted the Chase Ink Plus 70,000 offer that was available in-branch, but wanted to do it online along with my other applications as there are not many Chase branches near me and I wanted to make sure it was submitted the same day. I submitted the app and got the “We’ll let you know” page customary to many mileage bloggers with several mileage credit cards. I called in and had a great conversation. I have really had an amazing experience with their phone reps. I was told that because the 70k offer does not waive the annual fee, and my 50k offer online did waive the fee, they could meet me in the middle and offer me 60k UR points with no annual fee (matching me to an offer they had a few weeks ago). That was a no brainer for me. According to my own calculations, I should have tried harder for the 10k points because the points are worth more than the money ($95). But it was a jeans and t-shirt day and I just wasn’t bothered. I am very happy with the 60k offer for no annual fee.
I also looked at the American Airlines Business Extra AMEX, and had a discussion with a reader about the card. For me it could have been a good value for the initial load but not ongoing spend. Then I noticed that it was only eligible for small businesses (fine, I have one) with $4MM in revenue/year (I don’t have one).
That led me to the AMEX SPG business card.
Which was a denial, for which I will discuss in just a moment.
Then finally to Citi for the AA Business Card. As with almost all application submissions I have seen for Citi in the last 6 months from anyone I know or have read about, the screen went to a “call us” with a reference number option. So I did. They had no issue giving me the card which will come with 50k AA miles and without an annual fee.
I have a relationship with Citi and with Chase, and while my Chase relationship is new, this is still my third card in six months with them and I have exhibited that I know what to do with them. In the case of my BA card I charged a lot on it in order to get to the 50k bonus, and the Sapphire Preferred was my go-to so they had every reason to want to extend the relationship.
I have a brief and awkward relationship with Barclays and after the very polite agent was able to walk me through some of their concerns, I was not surprised when the AMEX was declined. I mentioned earlier that despite good intentions I had not frozen the two reports that show how many applications have been filed within a certain period of time. And in the last 6 months (January BA card, April 7 apps, 6 approvals, then July 5 apps, 3 approvals, 1 withdrawn) 13 requests for credit, and over $150,000 in new credit being issued, it makes sense why there might be some hesitation.
I felt like I was in a room with all of the girls I might want to ask to prom, along with all of the girls I previously dated. The room was dark, and I felt like I was asking them out one by one. But when the lights come up everything was a lot clearer. I realized I was telling one of my potential dates the same lines I told the others, only she just looked at you, kind of annoyed and trying not to humiliate me.
So I am going to hang up my credit card hat for the year I think. Or at least move the freeze papers from the dresser to the mailbox – that is, if I decide I don’t want to go to prom alone.
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Full Disclosure: Some of the cards I have listed may pay compensation to me, if one applies and is approved for said cards. However, this in no way affects the cards I choose to discuss, apply for, promote or denigrate. Nor should it influence your motive to apply for any of the cards I mention – only apply for cards that will benefit you and your travel plans.
The trick w/ Barclays, new credit w/ them or not is to ask them to reshuffle your credit. Often times your first card you get with them will have between a 5-15K limit. Ask them to reduce your credit on card and move it to the new one. Always works for me. I currently have four cards w/ Barclays and I’ve only been with them for a year
I tried the credit shuffle with them and they just weren’t interested in me. Maybe with time, or maybe I just need some of Rocky’s credit card magic.