2013 App-O-Rama (AOR) and Churn Advice Archive
Nov 18, 2013, 12:16 pm
#1981
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 498
Been lurking on these forums for a while, but only in the past month or so have I started taking notes, and doing proper research on how to maximize sign-up bonuses. Because I've only had a couple of CCs in the past (Chase BA, SW Personal Plus, Barclay's Miles&More), I thought I'd ease into it a bit slower, as my credit history may not be too robust. Anyway, I'm a noob, so please go easy on me.
I wasn't going to do an AOR until December, but saw that Chase's Southwest deal was extended until today, so I decided to pull the trigger to see if I could get a companion pass next year. I applied for Soutwest Personal Premier & Business Plus, AMEX SPG and Citi's HHonors. It was a mixed bag: got approved for AMEX, Citi declined, and Chase gave me pending on both.
I expected a "further review" outcome on the SW Business card, but the personal surprised me. That is, until this morning, when I realized that although I have closed down the Plus card I had with them a couple of weeks ago, technically, the card is still active until the end of this billing cycle. So from what I read, I shouldn't have expected to get approved, as I already have a version of the card.
At this point I'm thinking of calling Citi to see what the reason for being declined was, but maybe my best course of action is to let the two Chase applications die off, and I can try again in 6 months (or whenever the deal pops up again) - I saw the "have you been denied in the past 6 months" question, which I would not want to check the next time I apply. I worry that if I go through the reconsideration line, I may end up with one of the SW cards but not the other, and then I may blow my chances of getting the CP for a long time. (In either case, I'd need to call them today to get approved, otherwise I'm not sure I'd get the bonus... it's not the application date that counts, but the approval date for bonuses, correct?)
What do you guys think? I know I jumped into this a bit prematurely, but now that the damage is done, what is the best way to move forward?
I wasn't going to do an AOR until December, but saw that Chase's Southwest deal was extended until today, so I decided to pull the trigger to see if I could get a companion pass next year. I applied for Soutwest Personal Premier & Business Plus, AMEX SPG and Citi's HHonors. It was a mixed bag: got approved for AMEX, Citi declined, and Chase gave me pending on both.
I expected a "further review" outcome on the SW Business card, but the personal surprised me. That is, until this morning, when I realized that although I have closed down the Plus card I had with them a couple of weeks ago, technically, the card is still active until the end of this billing cycle. So from what I read, I shouldn't have expected to get approved, as I already have a version of the card.
At this point I'm thinking of calling Citi to see what the reason for being declined was, but maybe my best course of action is to let the two Chase applications die off, and I can try again in 6 months (or whenever the deal pops up again) - I saw the "have you been denied in the past 6 months" question, which I would not want to check the next time I apply. I worry that if I go through the reconsideration line, I may end up with one of the SW cards but not the other, and then I may blow my chances of getting the CP for a long time. (In either case, I'd need to call them today to get approved, otherwise I'm not sure I'd get the bonus... it's not the application date that counts, but the approval date for bonuses, correct?)
What do you guys think? I know I jumped into this a bit prematurely, but now that the damage is done, what is the best way to move forward?
the citi decline seems odd assuming you have the profile I expect you do. Was it a denial or a "call us?" I got a call us yesterday just because I needed to move credit around, which I knew.
Nov 18, 2013, 12:53 pm
#1982
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4
It was a denial for sure: "After careful review, at this time we are not able to extend this offer to you" or something along those lines. I'm going to give them a call to see what may be the reason. Never had a Citi card before, and this no annual fee one seemed like a good one to start a relationship with them.
I've also done a bit more research, and it appears a number of people have been able to get both the Plus and Premier level of the SW card no problem. So maybe the issue isn't the double dipping, but instead that I only have 1 Chase card now, and I'm applying for 2 more, which is a considerable expansion of their CL to me.
I wonder, now, if it were better for me to call about the personal card first to see what's up, and then move on to the business, or the other way around. Don't really want to get "stuck" with just one of the cards..... I'm not even sure these are cards I can get again, even if I wait 18 months...
I've also done a bit more research, and it appears a number of people have been able to get both the Plus and Premier level of the SW card no problem. So maybe the issue isn't the double dipping, but instead that I only have 1 Chase card now, and I'm applying for 2 more, which is a considerable expansion of their CL to me.
I wonder, now, if it were better for me to call about the personal card first to see what's up, and then move on to the business, or the other way around. Don't really want to get "stuck" with just one of the cards..... I'm not even sure these are cards I can get again, even if I wait 18 months...
Nov 19, 2013, 12:25 am
#1983
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,457
It was a denial for sure: "After careful review, at this time we are not able to extend this offer to you" or something along those lines. I'm going to give them a call to see what may be the reason. Never had a Citi card before, and this no annual fee one seemed like a good one to start a relationship with them.
I've also done a bit more research, and it appears a number of people have been able to get both the Plus and Premier level of the SW card no problem. So maybe the issue isn't the double dipping, but instead that I only have 1 Chase card now, and I'm applying for 2 more, which is a considerable expansion of their CL to me.
I wonder, now, if it were better for me to call about the personal card first to see what's up, and then move on to the business, or the other way around. Don't really want to get "stuck" with just one of the cards..... I'm not even sure these are cards I can get again, even if I wait 18 months...
I've also done a bit more research, and it appears a number of people have been able to get both the Plus and Premier level of the SW card no problem. So maybe the issue isn't the double dipping, but instead that I only have 1 Chase card now, and I'm applying for 2 more, which is a considerable expansion of their CL to me.
I wonder, now, if it were better for me to call about the personal card first to see what's up, and then move on to the business, or the other way around. Don't really want to get "stuck" with just one of the cards..... I'm not even sure these are cards I can get again, even if I wait 18 months...
Nov 19, 2013, 4:50 am
#1984
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,066
I think I just got declined for Citi Preferred.
I have 2 chase cards open: I got approved for Chase Ink Bold in July 2013 and Chase Hyatt earlier this month. Is it too soon to try for another Chase card?
This year my approval rate is 4/5. creditkarma: 778
I have 2 chase cards open: I got approved for Chase Ink Bold in July 2013 and Chase Hyatt earlier this month. Is it too soon to try for another Chase card?
This year my approval rate is 4/5. creditkarma: 778
Nov 19, 2013, 12:18 pm
#1985
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 64
Two barclays back to back
Is it wise to apply for 2 barclay's(Arrival and frontier) back to back for some one with little AOR history(scrore : ~750)?
Nov 19, 2013, 12:29 pm
#1986
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: San Antonio
Programs: AS MVP
Posts: 2,276
Nov 19, 2013, 4:38 pm
#1988
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: San Antonio
Programs: AS MVP
Posts: 2,276
My wife and I each got 2 cards about 4-5 months apart, and I was denied for a third one by the same cheerful recon CSR who approved me for the second just minutes earlier. It would probably be worth looking through the USAir card and Arrival card threads to see if they will allow 3 open cards at a time with any regularity.
Nov 20, 2013, 11:15 am
#1989
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NYC
Programs: all, none, somewhere in between
Posts: 221
9/9 churn
UPDATE: Went 9/9 on my churn from last week:
- Chase SW Business Card - approved after recon (escalated to senior support specialist, closed a previous card to make it happen)
- Chase SW Personal Card - approved
- AmEx SPG Business - approved
- AmEx Mercedes - approved
- Citi AA Visa - approved
- BoA Alaskan Personal - approved
- BoA Alaskan Business - approved
- Club Carlson Personal - approved 4 days later (did not freeze bureaus)
- Club Carlson Business - approved 4 days later
- Chase SW Business Card - approved after recon (escalated to senior support specialist, closed a previous card to make it happen)
- Chase SW Personal Card - approved
- AmEx SPG Business - approved
- AmEx Mercedes - approved
- Citi AA Visa - approved
- BoA Alaskan Personal - approved
- BoA Alaskan Business - approved
- Club Carlson Personal - approved 4 days later (did not freeze bureaus)
- Club Carlson Business - approved 4 days later
Last edited by jmj8778; Dec 8, 2013 at 8:57 pm
Nov 20, 2013, 2:54 pm
#1990
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: NY
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Diamond, CC Gold, SPG Gold, AA Exec Platinum
Posts: 99
I applied for US Airways/Arrival at the same time back in Aug. US got denied but I called and shifted the arrival credit to US and was approved. Although the analyst did say I had good credit history.
Nov 20, 2013, 2:56 pm
#1991
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: NY
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Diamond, CC Gold, SPG Gold, AA Exec Platinum
Posts: 99
UPDATE: Went 9/9 on my churn from last week:
- Chase SW Business Card - approved after recon (escalated to senior support specialist, closed a previous card to make it happen)
- Chase SW Personal Card - approved
- AmEx SPG Business - approved
- AmEx Mercedes - approved
- Citi AA Visa - approved
- BoA Alaskan Personal - approved
- BoA Alaskan Business - approved
- Club Carlson Personal - approved 4 days later (did not freeze bureaus)
- Club Carlson Business - approved 4 days later
- Chase SW Business Card - approved after recon (escalated to senior support specialist, closed a previous card to make it happen)
- Chase SW Personal Card - approved
- AmEx SPG Business - approved
- AmEx Mercedes - approved
- Citi AA Visa - approved
- BoA Alaskan Personal - approved
- BoA Alaskan Business - approved
- Club Carlson Personal - approved 4 days later (did not freeze bureaus)
- Club Carlson Business - approved 4 days later
Nov 20, 2013, 6:36 pm
#1992
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 5
Multiple new cards cxn when?
I am new and in th last 6 months have 6 new cards 2 amex 2 chase and citi. This is in addition to multiple cards I have had for years. Now I want to cancel some. Should I cancel the old one's I have that don't get miles? Or should I can el some of the new ones? Will that affect my credit score?
Thanks
Thanks
Nov 20, 2013, 8:43 pm
#1993
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,066
I am new and in th last 6 months have 6 new cards 2 amex 2 chase and citi. This is in addition to multiple cards I have had for years. Now I want to cancel some. Should I cancel the old one's I have that don't get miles? Or should I can el some of the new ones? Will that affect my credit score?
Thanks
Thanks
I would not close the old cards but would request conversion to another program with better rewards if those cards have no/meager rewards.
Closing relatively new cards won't affect your score much.
Nov 20, 2013, 8:54 pm
#1994
Moderator: Travel Buzz
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 3,099
Welcome to Flyertalk, Justtony, krisk13, and Cannongate1.
Justtony- I have 2 active Barclays USAirways cards. The Barclays approval department seems to like to see activity on their cards. So try putting some charges on them monthly, rather than sock drawering.
Cannongate-- try to keep the accounts open for as long as you can. You can possibly get the fee waived or a points incentive at renewal. Banks don't like seeing a pattern of open, close, open.
New cards and old cards have different factors to consider. Your oldest accounts should be kept open if at all possible, as the average age of accounts is a large factor on your credit score. Downgrading to a fee free card and keeping them for decades is a better strategy.
Justtony- I have 2 active Barclays USAirways cards. The Barclays approval department seems to like to see activity on their cards. So try putting some charges on them monthly, rather than sock drawering.
Cannongate-- try to keep the accounts open for as long as you can. You can possibly get the fee waived or a points incentive at renewal. Banks don't like seeing a pattern of open, close, open.
New cards and old cards have different factors to consider. Your oldest accounts should be kept open if at all possible, as the average age of accounts is a large factor on your credit score. Downgrading to a fee free card and keeping them for decades is a better strategy.
Nov 21, 2013, 10:52 am
#1995
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4
Called the Chase personal recon too, where I was told the same thing. Denied due to multiple apps + a recent closing of an account. Told them I closed it so I can apply for the SW Premier card. That satisfied them, and after confirming that I don't need more credit than I had, he approved me instantly.
So given that I don't have a thick credit profile (only owned a couple cards the past couple of years) it looks like 4 applications were too many. I wonder how you veterans are doing it and getting away with 9 applications at a time? Do you hit "Submit" at the same time in different browser windows? Or very carefully diversify which credit bureau will be used for each app? Or once there is track record, it doesn't matter as much?
I'm going to call the Chase Business recon line tonight. I'm pretty anxious, never had a business card before, but have done freelance work on the side, so we'll see what they think. Would the excessive number of apps come up again?