My husband and I have almost identical credit reports and scores since we've both held the same cards for the same amount of time, though he is an authorized user on our two main ones rather than the primary. Here is a basic rundown of what has happened with approvals and denials in the order they happened:

1. Chase BA Visa: both instantly approved

2. Chase CO Visa: both denied. I was later approved by adjusting credit limits. Ey husband was denied for not having a long enough credit history, even though they'd just given him the BA one. They didn't see being an authorized user as being sufficient history.

3. Citi AAdvantage Visa/Amex: I was instantly approved. He was sent a email saying they couldn't verify his contact info, and he had to send in bank statements, cell phones bills, and paystubs. Big pain. Later he was denied both since an address on one bill didn't match since we are temporarily at a different address than our permanent one due to job training.

4. Amex Gold: He was instantly approved. Applied in order to fix the credit history problem from Chase since Amex grandfathers in the oldest date.


So he was denied for three cards: one Chase, two Citi. We're trying to fix the credit history problem by getting him his own Amex and making him a joint owner on the other account.

What we want to know is how does this affect future applications? How long does he have to wait on Chase and Citi before applying for other cards? Why would I be instantly approved for them all and he is getting denied when our credit is so similar? Is it worth calling again to try and reverse the denials? They were both pretty adamant about him not being able to get any of the three cards. I'm so frustrated by this. Please help!

You already identify the problem - each person must establish his/ her own credit history. Being an authorized user does not count (the loophole has been closed 2 years ago) because the primary user is 100% responsible for the debt, not the authorized user.

If your husband's denial of Citi cards is solely based on address discrepancy and the discrepancy is truly as you described, you should write a letter to Citi's Executive Office and ask for a review. The address has been mentioned multiple times in the AA 75K thread or you probably can google it.

We understand about the authorized user thing and get why Chase was justified in denying him on that basis, but since they had already approved him for a card, it just didn't make sense.

Thank you for suggesting writing the Executive Office for Citi. I had seen that before but forgotten about it. We will definitely do that.

After getting my husband his own Amex and putting him as joint on our other card, can we ask Chase to reconsider again as long as it's within 30 days of the denial? Will they pull a new credit report for him to verify the changes? Or are we just out of luck there do you all think?

Yes, they will probably do another credit inquiry, especially Chase.

What was the time period for all these applications? It seems like perhaps your husband went from having few or no cards to suddenly applying for a lot all at once -- creditors may see that as a sign of desperation, like he is suddenly in financial stress. Although there is perhaps no "rule" about applying for Chase cards within 6 months of each other, it may still be a good "rule of thumb", and I follow that advice myself.

Perhaps instead of applying for another card right now (the Amex) it make sense to establish some more credit history first, and focus on the positive aspect that he did get the BA card.

You were probably denied for the second Chase card due to the close proximity of the two applications

I would have to agree with the multiple credit pulls. My credit is at about the top and in the last month have attempted to open 4 accounts, 2 personal and 2 business credit cards which have been with another company that I have been with since 1992 to Citi Bank and was approved for the 1st three and denied on the 4th for too many new cards. I haven't had the time to call Citi yet about the 4th card yet but I will. No surprise to me about your husband even if he had a perfect score.

I don't understand Chase. I have excellent credit (770-798 at any given time) and charge over $800k per year with my business. I pay off my cards in full every month and I've been turned down twice for the Chase Marriott Business credit card so I have to use my personal Marriott card for business stays. Chase is the only bank who has denied me a credit card.

Except I was approved for all of these cards, including two Chase cards applied for a day apart from each other, so we knew it was possible.


He applied for the Amex Gold (and was approved) in an effort to establish his credit history since it will show him as having the card since 2003 when we got our first Amex.



We aren't wanting to apply for more cards right now, but are just wanting to get a feel for how long Chase and Citi will look at a previous denial when a new application comes in. We don't want to get six months down the road and want to apply for something and find out it wasn't worth it since the denial is still getting in the way.

Does anyone know how long to wait for either Chase or Citi after getting denied?

Chase is giving your husband a chance to prove himself to the bank that he is credit-worthy. And you think they should give your husband more cards just because the bank is willing to start a "trial" so to speak?

Credit history takes time to establish and a slew of new applications from someone who has very little credit history before may not help his case.

He needs to put some day to day charges on his shiny new Chase card and thus establishes his payment history with the bank. After a period of time (no specified rule here), he should be able to get another Chase card easier. But he has to show Chase he is a good risk for the bank first.

Six months should be plenty of time.

Totally agree. Chase also doesn't like it when people do the minimum spend, then put the card into their sock drawer and stop using it. He should put regular daily spending on it if he wants to look good to Chase six months from now.

In answer to your other question (OP) about how long the banks look at past inquiries, the
answer is that they look basically at the past year, which doesn't mean you have to wait a whole year to try again, but be at least somewhat aware of how many inquiries you've had.

(You can get a free copy of your relevant credit report within 60 days of any denial (or really credit decision, since the reporting agency only knows there was an inquiry, not a denial) -- Chase usually pulls Experian, and you can find the link on their website under the FAQs.)