(Kudos and thank you to forum member Sylviatob, who authored the original version of this fabulously helpful thread.)

A "backdoor number" is one that gets you past frontline CSR's directly to Credit Analysts / Credit Departments / Account Managers / Account Specialists (different lenders call 'em different things) - these people/departments have decision-making abilities greater than frontline CSR's: they are able to take and review requests for reconsideration of denied cc apps or CLI requests, APR reductions, etc. and implement their decisions.  

Backdoor numbers and the people to whom they connect you can be useful in requesting a reduced APR if you feel your credit profile rates a lower one, or in requesting a review of a denied credit application or declined request for a credit limit increase, if you feel your credit profile deserves an approval, but they aren't magic wands - as with anything, your mileage may vary depending on your individual credit profile.

This thread relies on input and feedback from YOU!   If you try a number and find that it is no longer working, that it's a regular, frontline CSR number or other, non-backdoor number, PLEASE PM ME so that I can edit accordingly!

Note:  Capital One apparently stopped accepting customer-initiated credit line increase (CLI) requests sometime in 2010, so these numbers won't work for that, at this time.  If CapOne starts accepting them again at some point, someone please PM me so I can update this thread again!  Thanks. - Scamp   Update:  On 04/12/11, one of our forum members PM'd me that he had called CapOne at 1-800-625-7866 to request a CLI, and said that, after verifying his account information, the CLI was put through without any other questions being asked.  If anyone else has similar success, please PM me.  Thanks! - S.  Update as of 10/16/11 (confirmed on 03/10/12):  A forum member PM'd me that he/she was told that CapOne is not accepting customer-initiated CLI requests.  FYI, all. -Scamp

Thanks to everyone who has PM'd me about dead numbers, new numbers, numbers that turn out to be not true backdoor numbers, etc.! 

This thread only works because the whole community helps keep it updated!   

- Scamp 

Last Update:  05/28/12

AmEx Oasis Program: 888-232-3261

AmEx:  800-567-1083 (App Status - Use with caution if attempting a denied app recon; have been advised by one member that they can only resubmit app with another hard pull)

AmEx:  800-230-1284 (Account Services - handles accounts with issues)
AmEx:  800-700-7619 (Reserves - handles closed and charged-off accounts)

AmEx Executive Office:  800-297-6197

American Express Credit Bureau Unit:  800-874-2717.  (Must have a current credit report before calling.  They will ask for the account number from the credit report, which is different from your card number.)

Barclays: 888-232-0780 (Customer Care)

Barclays: 866-408-4064 (Credit Analyst)

Best Buy: 800-365-0292 (CSR)

Best Buy App Status: 800-811-7276

Best Buy Store Card:  800-305-0533

BofA: 866-421-8153 (Credit analyst - existing cardholders)

BofA: 888-503-6090

BofA: 877-721-9405 (App Status - Choose Option 3)

Cap1: 800-625-7866 (Account Specialist)

Cap1: 800-951-6951 (cust. relations)
Cap1: 800-548-4593 (application status - automated only)
Cap1: 800-889-9939 or 800-625-7866.(Account Specialist)
Cap1: 877-513-9959 (Account Retention?)
Cap1: 800-258-9319 (Debt Recovery)

Cap1 Secured Platinum: 800-219-7931 (deposit taker, can speak to credit analyst)

Cap 1: 800-707-0489 (Senior Escalation Account Mgrs.)

Chase: 800-436-7927 (App status - automated)

Chase: 888-270-2127 (App recon)
Chase: 888-245-0625 (Credit Analyst - Recons)

Chase: 888-622-7547 (Chase Executive Ofc. in IL)

Chase: 800-955-9900 (Product change status questions)

Chevron/Texaco Biz Card App Status: 888-243-8358

Chevron Underwriting: 800-243-8766

Citi: 888-201-4523 (New App Approval Status)

Citi AA:  888-662-7759

Citi App Status: 800-645-7240, 800-288-4653, 800-750-7453 

Citi: 800-444-2568 (Retention Dept.)

Citi: 800-763-9795 (App status?? They ask for your app #)

Citi Credit Bureau Dispute Fax: 866-713-5028

Discover: 888-676-3695 (Recon)

Discover: 866-219-0214 (Retention Dept.)

Elan Financial Services:  800-685-7680

ExxonMobil Biz Card: 800-903-9966

FIA: 866-421-8153  (credit analyst)

FIA: 800-893-6032 (credit analyst; 8 AM-7 PM Eastern, M-F)

GE Moneybank (except WalMart):  866-419-4096

GE Moneybank: 866-519-6441 (Credit Analyst/Credit Solutions)

Home Depot Store Card: 800-677-0232 (Credit Analyst)

Home Depot Store Card: 423 467 6957 (App Status/Recon)

Home Depot MC (Commercial):  800-720-0649 

Hooters: 801-545-6705, 800-850-4668

HSBC: 866-574-4421 (App Status)

HSBC: 866-551-0258 (Credit Analyst)

Juniper/Barclays: 866-750-6031 (Corp. Offices)

Key Bank: 888-201-4523 (App status)      
Key Bank MC: 800-288-4653

Keybank Credit Research Fax: 216-357-6404

Lowes: 800-445-6937 (App Status)   
Lowes: 866-232-7443 (Biz Acct. Underwriting)
Lowes Fraud/Underwriting/Credit Dept.: 800-444-1408 

Macy's: 800-627-2909 (Credit Dept. - new credit, inquiries on upgrade to Visa AmEx, credit reporting issues)

Macy's: 800-543-9617 (Recovery Services)

Meijers MC: 801-517-5560

National City:  800-762-0974 (Credit Dept.)

Nationwide Visa:  866-757-2720 (App. status)

Philips 66: 866-289-5630, 800-610-1961   

Sallie Mae Visa:  877-564-7965 (Credit Dept.)

Sallie Mae Visa:  877-903-7968 (Credit Analyst)

Sam's Club: 800-301-5546, 866-246-4282 (Underwriting)

Sam's Club/WalMart:  877-294-7541 (escalated help desk)

Sears: 800-599-9710 (Comm'l Accts.)

Sears: 866-533-1820 (Sears credit bureau dispute FAX number)

Shell Fleet Card: 800-223-3296 (App status)
Shell: 800-223-3296, 866-438-7435       
Shell: 800-377-5150   

Staples: 800-767-1291, 800-282-5316   

Sunoco Corp. Card: 800-935-3387, 800-278-6626       
Sunoco: 800-310-4773    

Target Biz Card:  800-440-5317 

Tiffany:  800-770-0800 

US Bank: 800-947-1444, 800-685-7680 (Underwriting)

US Bank Corp. & Comm'l Cards: 800-344-5696 (may not be true backdoor number - someone please PM me if this is frontline CS.  Thx! - Scamp)

Valero: 877-882-5376    

Wal-Mart: 800-480-0205 (personal accounts)

Wal-Mart: 800-301-5546 (commercial accounts only)

Wal-Mart Underwriting: 877-294-7548; 877-294-8770

WalMart/Sam's Club:  877-294-7541 (escalated help desk)

WaMu CSR: 800-356-0011, or 800-280-9441
WaMu: 888-687-2273 (Apps/New Accts)

Wells Fargo:  866 677 1128 (credit analyst)

Wright Express: 888-743-3893