For current amex cardholders, if applying at costco and declines, still soft pull?

[Cdnewmanpac]

I'm likely going to need to apply for the costco amex sooner than I planned. I hadn't worried because I knew a rejection would be a soft pull. But then I read that applying on line always generates a pended app while they verify costco membership and that most people recommend applying in store. But my question is this: If I apply in store and I'm rejected, will it still be a soft pull? Or is that only if I apply online while logged in? Ideally, I'm looking for someone who applied in store, got declined and only got a soft pull to confirm this IRL. Or to confirm they got a hard pull. Thanks

[trumpet-205]

When you apply at store, you are not using your existing AMEX account. My guess is that it will be HP even for denial.

[improvingmycredit]

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@Cdnewmanpac wrote:

I'm likely going to need to apply for the costco amex sooner than I planned. I hadn't worried because I knew a rejection would be a soft pull. But then I read that applying on line always generates a pended app while they verify costco membership and that most people recommend applying in store. But my question is this: If I apply in store and I'm rejected, will it still be a soft pull? Or is that only if I apply online while logged in? Ideally, I'm looking for someone who applied in store, got declined and only got a soft pull to confirm this IRL. Or to confirm they got a hard pull. Thanks

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Hey Cdnewmanpac!  

You don't need to be logged in to apply to glean a SP for denial.  The system knows whether you are a member or not based on ss#.  Now with regards to Costco app, I would think that it shouldn't be any different.  You can always call and ask.  I don't see you getting a HP for denial when it is Amex policy to SP for denial.  JMHO

[trumpet-205]

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@improvingmycredit wrote:

Hey Cdnewmanpac!  

You don't need to be logged in to apply to glean a SP for denial.  The system knows whether you are a member or not based on ss#.  Now with regards to Costco app, I would think that it shouldn't be any different.  You can always call and ask.  I don't see you getting a HP for denial when it is Amex policy to SP for denial.  JMHO

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Actually you DO need to log into your account for AMEX to recongize you as an existing member. I did it once without login to my account (back then I had Zync and was applying for BCE), denied for BCE and HP showed up on my report the very next day.

[Mustangfrank]

I applied in the retail store 45 minutes after I applied for a ZYNC and a BCE on line.

I was approved for both the ZYNC and BCE immediately.

Drove to the store and signed up for a store membership and the credit card together.

 I was not approved immediately in the store but I was approved 48 hours later when I checked my status online.

I had one HP for all three cards.

I was instructed to do this step by step by two members on this board.

I had my doubts but it worked just like they said it would.

[djrez4]

That is quite a maneuver!

When I applied for the HHonors Amex last week, I intentionally used a Chrome incognito window.  There was no way they could have known I was already a member.  But, it shows up in the same application status page.  I don't know what that means.  This was a very useless post.

[improvingmycredit]

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/AMEX-APP-ON-OTHER-SITE-NO-LOG-IN/m-p/1559836/highlight/...

A good rule of thumb is new app=HP, but there are many threads like this to support the notion that an app with Amex is a SP for denial regardless if logged in or not.   I'm sorry for your HP Trumpet.

[improvingmycredit]

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@improvingmycredit wrote:

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/AMEX-APP-ON-OTHER-SITE-NO-LOG-IN/m-p/1559836/highlight/...

A good rule of thumb is new app=HP, but there are many threads like this to support the notion that an app with Amex is a SP for denial regardless if logged in or not.   I'm sorry for your HL Trumpet.

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I have read instances where the individual was borderline approval and a HP was done on a different CB.  Typically, Amex doesn't even SP for the app.  They use a previous SP to determine eligibility.   Also, there noted cases of  HP for denial with recon.