Things are not the same as they were 6 months ago and really not even the same as 3 months ago. Note we are now seeing larger bonuses.

I have had over 90 credit cards and very seldom get a denial and almost always get the denials reversed.

1. I spread my applications and inquiries evenly between the three reporting agencies. I currently show 10, 11 and 14 inquiries on the 3 agencies.

2. I always pay on time. Always.

3. My credit utilization is under 40% on any one card at any one time and overall way under that (0%) I carry no balances.

4. I keep my oldest cards with no plans to ever close them. Newer cards last one year or two years if I get a retention bonus worth more than the renewal fee. If not, I cancel except for my SPG card (well worth the $45 renewal).

5. Denials are always countered with a phone call to the credit analyst if I can find a phone number or a written snail mail letter that highlights he following info: Steady Income, homeowner status, NEVER Late on a payment, current
score that shows I know my stuff and what constitutes Good credit, and my offer to close an existing account with the issuer or to lower my credit limit on an existing card.

In ten years of churning the only denials I have not resolved are "not a first time cardmember" and "you have the maximum cards we allow" when I was not willing to give up a card to make room for the new one.