No credit card required
Browse credit cards from a variety of issuers to see if there's a better card for you.
Hey everyone, first and foremost, it is awesome finally getting myself in here and actually making a post. I have been visiting the FICO forums for a long time and I browse through the many different situations and wealth of information that is available on these forums. I am currently enrolled in score watch and I am a interested in really get my score up there!
So, to my question, HOW THE HECK DO I GET MY FOOT IN THE DOOR WITH CITI?!?!?
In the past 2 years, 70% of my IQ are thanks to them and to my luck, they have declined me everytime. I last applied a few days ago for the AT&T Savings and Rewards program (because I pay a hafty AT&T bill and figured could save a few bucks) and got declined. So now, I am waiting on the letter to arrive. The time before that was for a Citi Forward Card for Students (or Citi Dividened, can't remember which) during March.
My credit scores as they stand are:
EQ FICO: 639
TU FICO: 654
EX FICO: 638 (via MyCreditInform)
Only thing working against me atm is my credit file length (and maybe average age).
Opened Jan 11: Cap1 Secured $200
Opened Jun 11: Cap1 MTV Unsecured $750 (Raised from $500 through Credit Steps)
Opened July 11: BB Store Card $3,100 (Joint account with my brother in-law)
Opened Mar 12: Chase Freedom $4,000 (Used Backdoor Number to Approve starting at $2,000 and upp'ed to $4,000 2 days ago. Softpull )
Opened Today: AMEX Zync PSSL of $500 (Auto-Pay Link and what not)
I got my foot in the door with AMEX (advice I read on this forum, credit goes to countless people). But I really want that AT&T card. Now I did apply for the AT&T card before I asked Chase for the CLI. Chase asked me whats up with my inquiry with Citi and I told them the straight forward answer. Since that Chase inquiry was a softpull, Citi won't see it.
Any advice? I would greatly appreciate it.
P.S. I do realize I just added another HardIQ thanks to my AMEX application -_____-"
What havebeen theirseasons for denial?
I assume you've tried the back door number for recon.
What is your AAoA? Citi doesn´t like INQs, how many do you have?
If you did not get aproved for the student card, there may be a problem.
My AAoA is standing at 1 Yr. 1 Mo. and my entire credit history is standing at 2 Yrs. -___-
I have not tried the backdoor number (mainly because I don't know which one it is) but when I apply, I always had 2-3 INQ.
This time around, they pulled EX. There were three other INQ kind of old:
Citi on 3-4-12
Chase on 3-1-12
and BoA on 9-3-11
Could it be my student loans? They haven't affected any other CC app o.O
I have no baddies on my reports. All clean.
Why did they deny you in the past?
They always cited my length of credit history, low credit score, and number of INQ.
I understand my credit history one. I get the low score (thanks to the first one). I always have 2-3 INQ in a 12-month period when I apply for a CC.
One-time they cited my revolving balance which I learned not to make the same mistake again.
There are several phone numbers for citi on the sticky at the top of this board. I would call and talk to them, ask for recon.
Is there anyone who could add you as an AU on 1 of their cards that's been open a long time? It could help bump up your score even if it's only artificially. When Citi approved me a few months ago 1 didn't have a single indiv. Acct on my report just a bunch of AU accts that wre 9-20 yrs old & all in good standing. My score was over a 700 & there weren't any baddies aside from a paid tax lien that was over 3 yrs old. YMMV but thar's how Citi approved me. 3 months letter Chase approved me but at a much lower cl since my indiv. length of accts was short.
Were your scores/reports diff. in march when Chase approved you? Is it just me or it's odd that Amex would only approve you on the Zync w/ a hard limit but Chase gave you a $2000 limit (even if it was thru a recon.) Do you have high util?
Hmm...to be honest. There is not one person that could add me as an AU. Fairly new and on my own
My scores have always hovered around the 620 - 660 mark. I had high utilization a while back, learned from my mistake not to do it again. Honestly, all I want is this card and than I am going to start gardening. It would save me a bundle on my AT&T Services.
Which Citi number should I try to call when I get the denial letter?