topic Re: Successful App Spree (7 approvals / 2 pending) in Credit Card Approvals

Successful App Spree (10 straight approvals)

L0RDAVENTAD0R — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 03:13:08 GMT

Just applied for the following credit cards (in this order):

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature - Instantly Approved - $5,000 credit limit - HP EX

Chase Sapphire Preferred - Instantly Approved - $5,000 credit limit - HP EX & EQ

American Express Blue Cash Preferred - Insantly Approved - $2,000 credit limit - HP EX

Chase Freedom - Approved via Recon - $4,000 credit limit - SP (Used same HP from CSP approval)

- Got the, "Decision Pending," screen. Called backdoor (1 888 270-2127). Answered some questions (job, income, credit history, why do I want this card if I already got approved for the CSP, etc. Pretty nice & helpful guy that helped me. Took like 10 minutes.

Citi Diamond Preferred - Approved via Recon - $2,000 credit limit - HP EX & EQ

- I was instantly declined. This really confused me to be honest, so I called a frontline CSR & asked for a reason for my denial. They told me to look at my online Citi documents (I have a Forward card w/them) in an hour or so. Read the document, denied me because of my low EQ credit score (642?). That didn't sound right at all because my FICO EQ as of last night was 750. Then i noticed the 642 was my score in January & they based my application off a two month old report. So I researached on here for a reliable Citi backdoor number & found the number for Citi's Reponse Unit. A nice guy picked up & then transferred me to Citi's Executive Office. Got this pretty helpful lady who was equally confused as I why their system was using two month old information. She even gave me her direct number & told me she will be going over my application with a credit analyst & get back to me next week. Asked for my permission to do a hard pull so of course I said yes. Interesting. EDIT (4/2/13): Got a voicemail saying I was approved after they re-evaluated my application.

American Express Premiere Rewards Gold - Instantly Approved - NPSL - SP (Used same HP from BCP approval)

American Express Starwoods Preferred Guest - Approved after BCP & PRG approvals were processed - $2,000 credit limit - HP EX

- After I submitted the application, I quickly got the, "Please Call Us," screen. Called the # they gave me & had a hard time understanding this CSR (accent) but she basically told me since I just got approved for two of their cards, the third application will be processed three business days after my second card is finalized. I thought ok so I called AMEX's Executive Office & a really helpful guy basically told me the same thing but more detailed. He said they would call me after a few business days. EDIT (3/30/13): Got an e-mail saying I was approved for the SPG.

Barclaycard Ring - Approved via Recon - $2,500 credit limit - HP TU

- Got the, "Decision Pending," screen. Called backdoor (1 866 408-4064). Answered a few basic questions again (job, income, etc.). A really cool guy helped me. Took about 15 minutes.

Merrill Lynch + Visa Signature - Instantly Approved - $5,000 credit limit - HP EX

Credit Union 1 (Local FCU) - Instantly Approved - $2,000 credit limit - HP EX

I also PC'd my Discover More to DiscoverIT.

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Background info the night before the spree (for reference):

Credit Scores: EQ 750 (FICO), EX 688 (FAKO), TU 715 (FAKO)

AAoA: 2 years & 11 months

Oldest AoA: 9 years & 3 months

Total Utiliziation: 7% ($1,428 balance on $20,050 total credit limit)

Credit Cards: 12 (11 self & 1 AU / 6 major & 5 retail)

Negatives: None at all

Other: $35,000 income, no mortgage (only 22), no auto loans (paid off), & no student loans (scholarships)

If you want more in-depth background info on my credit profile before the spree: http://i46.tinypic.com/2co3e34.jpg

Other than my AAoA about to take a major hit & my scores about to dip, I'm more annoyed at why Citi was basing my March application from my January credit report. A lot can happen in two months. I don't even care if I get approved at this point, if they're going to deny me I want them to deny me because of my March report & not because of two month old information. Lol. But anyways, thought I'd share my app spree results for those needing something for reference.

If you're curious how I will meet the spending requirements for the bonuses: http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Successful-App-Spree-8-approvals-1-pending-UPDATED-3-29-13/m-p/2009493#M556730

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UPDATE 3/30/13 - Approved for the American Express SPG. So now make that 8 approvals & 1 pending. http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Successful-App-Spree-7-approvals-2-pending/m-p/2010181#M556950

UPDATE 4/2/13 - Approved for the Citi Diamond Preferred. 9 straight approvals ! http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Successful-App-Spree-8-approvals-1-pending/m-p/2020613#M560140

UPDATE 4/6/13 - After looking at my CR's, added who pulled who to the original post for reference.

UPDATE 4/8/13 - Approved for a local FCU's credit card. So 10 straight approvals. Someone drag me to the nearest garden please. Lol. http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Successful-App-Spree-10-straight-approvals/m-p/2044455#M567438

Re: Successful App Spree (7 approvals / 2 pending)

LS2982 — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 21:54:50 GMT

Damn that a lot of cards!!!

BIG CONGRATS!!!

Re: Successful App Spree (7 approvals / 2 pending)

L0RDAVENTAD0R — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 22:10:03 GMT

@LS2982 wrote:
Damn that a lot of cards!!!

BIG CONGRATS!!!

Thanks man!

Never really had a problem with my credit before but ever since I discovered this board I never knew I was doing so many things wrong (letting charges stay after the statement cuts, the impact of utilization, etc.).

Re: Successful App Spree (7 approvals / 2 pending)

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 22:25:53 GMT

Wow! Nice cards, nice CLI's !

Re: Successful App Spree (7 approvals / 2 pending)

UFGuy2006 — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 22:29:23 GMT

@GMCSierraDenali wrote:
Just applied for the following credit cards (in this order):

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature
Instantly Approved - $5,000 credit limit

Chase Sapphire Preferred
Instantly Approved - $5,000 credit limit

American Express Blue Cash Preferred
Insantly Approved - $2,000 credit limit

Chase Freedom
Approved via Recon - $4,000 credit limit.

- Got the, "Decision Pending," screen. Called backdoor (1 888 270-2127). Answered some questions (job, income, credit history, why do I want this card if I already got approved for the CSP, etc. Pretty nice & helpful guy that helped me. Took like 10 minutes.

Citi Diamond Preferred
Recon Pending

- I was instantly declined. This really confused me to be honest, so I called a frontline CSR & asked for a reason for my denial. They told me to look at my online Citi documents (I have a Forward card w/them) in an hour or so. Read the document, denied me because of my low EQ credit score (642?). That didn't sound right at all because my FICO EQ as of last night was 750. Then i noticed the 642 was my score in January & they based my application off a two month old report. So I researached on here for a reliable Citi backdoor number & found the number for Citi's Reponse Unit. A nice guy picked up & then transferred me to Citi's Executive Office. Got this pretty helpful lady who was equally confused as I why their system was using two month old information. She even gave me her direct number & told me she will be going over my application with a credit analyst & get back to me next week. Asked for my permission to do a hard pull so of course I said yes. Interesting.

American Express Premiere Rewards Gold
Instantly Approved - NPSL

American Express Starwoods Preferred Guest
Application Pending

- After I submitted the application, I quickly got the, "Please Call Us," screen. Called the # they gave me & had a hard time understanding this CSR (accent) but she basically told me since I just got approved for two of their cards, the third application will be processed three business days after my second card is finalized. I thought ok so I called AMEX's Executive Office & a really helpful guy basically told me the same thing but more detailed. He said they would call me after a few business days.

Barclaycard Ring
Approved via Recon - $2,500 credit limit

- Got the, "Decision Pending," screen. Called backdoor (1 866 408-4064). Answered a few basic questions again (job, income, etc.). A really cool guy helped me. Took about 15 minutes.

Merrill Lynch + Visa Signature
Instantly Approved - $5,000 credit limit

I also PC'd my Discover More to DiscoverIT.

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Background information the night before the spree (for reference):

Credit Scores: EQ 750 (FICO), EX 688 (FAKO), TU 715 (FAKO)
AAoA: 2 years & 11 months
Oldest AoA: 9 years & 3 months
Total Utiliziation: 7% ($1,428 balance on $20,050 total credit limit)
Credit Cards: 12 (11 self & 1 AU / 6 major & 5 retail)
Negatives: None at all
Other: $35,000 income, no mortgage (only 22), no auto loans (paid off), & no student loans (scholarships)

If you want more in-depth background info on my credit profile before the spree: http://i46.tinypic.com/2co3e34.jpg

Other than my AAoA about to take a major hit & my scores about to dip, I'm more annoyed at why Citi was basing my March application from my January credit report. A lot can happen in two months. I don't even care if I get approved at this point, if they're going to deny me I want them to deny me because of my March report & not because of two month old information. Lol. But anyways, thought I'd share my app spree results for those needing something for reference.

Great job! Congrats on those new cards!!

Re: Successful App Spree (7 approvals / 2 pending)

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 22:34:26 GMT

Congratulations! Be careful with the Amex--I've read that applying for 3 cards at a time CAN be an FR trigger. Hopefully it's not, though and, if it is, hopefully it's a painless one for you!

What a good spree, though. Very impressed.

Re: Successful App Spree (7 approvals / 2 pending)

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 23:08:34 GMT

Congrats and use those cards wisely

Re: Successful App Spree (7 approvals / 2 pending)

distantarray — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 23:39:48 GMT

congrats! and good luck hitting the minimum spending limits =)

Re: Successful App Spree (7 approvals / 2 pending)

boomhower — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 00:23:31 GMT

Congrats, very nice combo of cards.

Re: Successful App Spree (7 approvals / 2 pending)

2011beginnings — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 00:30:42 GMT

Very nice spree and congrats. Looking at your credit history and profile, I felt like I was looking at myself. I have a lot of similarities with you.

24 years old
Good mix of cards
Similar scores

And this board made me see A LOT of opportunities for improvement. Most recently I went on a spree and attained a AMEX BCP, BofA Better Balance Rewards and Discover It. A couple of months ago I got a Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire (accidentally app'd for the regular Sapphire) but will PC it to a Freedom.

Re: Successful App Spree (7 approvals / 2 pending)

scenery_guy — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 01:23:12 GMT

Wow - now that's a spree! I would never consider applying for more than 3-4 at a time.

A couple of questions:

1. Do you have a plan to make the minimum spend for bonuses? I see you have quite a few cards that will have considerable spend needed. Seems like a lot based on your rather low income (no offense meant, just saying I only go for 2-3 cards with spends and I make $90K + a year and have a business that can cover spending). If you don't make the spends you are not getting the bonuses and that's the main reason to get some of those cards in my opinion.

2. Merrill Lynch+ card - really? Why?

Thanks for the answers and congratulations again! You need a new wallet now.

Re: Successful App Spree (7 approvals / 2 pending)

Anonymous — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 01:55:22 GMT

Wow, that's a lot of cards. Good job, you must be doing something right.

Just out of curiosity, your stats show that you had 12 cards the night before the app spree, you applied for 9 more. Why would you want 21 credit cards?

Re: Successful App Spree (7 approvals / 2 pending)

Anonymous — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 02:30:52 GMT

Congrats, nice limits! I too am wondering if you have a plan to spend enough to get the bonuses?

Re: Successful App Spree (7 approvals / 2 pending)

L0RDAVENTAD0R — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 02:31:45 GMT

To everyone curious how I'm going to meet the spending requirements for the CC bonuses on only a $35,000 income:

I'm going to have no problem at all, . Also no offense taken to whoever said that, I would be thinking the same thing!

I live in Alaska, my whole family lives in a rural part of Alaska (North Slope), I moved to the biggest city in Alaska (Anchorage) for college two years ago. I visit them 2 - 3 times a month (parents or GF pay for my tickets). So I run errands (groceries, financial stuff, etc.) for them all the time. Basically I put it all on my credit card, they transfer the $$$ to my account for whatever they told me to buy, I pay off my credit card. A recent example: my dad wanted new rims & tires for his truck, ran his $3,000 purchase through my card, he paid me back, I paid off my CC.

I can actually already meet Chase's $3,000 spending requirement for the first three months. My GF needs to buy something I'm just waiting for my card to get here. So she's going have to wait 7-10 days, .

Re: Successful App Spree (7 approvals / 2 pending)

Anonymous — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 02:33:43 GMT

Awesome you'll be getting some nice rewards! And in a few years after these accounts have aged you'll be able to get new cards without your AAoA getting too badly affected so that's cool, I'm new to this forum, I've never heard of someone applying for so many cards at once haha. Congrats again

Re: Successful App Spree (7 approvals / 2 pending)

Anonymous — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 02:34:06 GMT

How is your oldest account 9+ yearz but your only 22? Wouldnt that mean u received your first card at 13?

Re: Successful App Spree (7 approvals / 2 pending)

L0RDAVENTAD0R — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 02:34:14 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Wow, that's a lot of cards. Good job, you must be doing something right.

Just out of curiosity, your stats show that you had 12 cards the night before the app spree, you applied for 9 more. Why would you want 21 credit cards?

A lot of it is mostly from when I started out. I'm going to be closing a lot of the pointless ones (Lowe's, JCPenny, ChevronTexaco, etc.) I'm for sure keeping Sam's Club (I'm an AU on it on my mom's account, 9+ years old account). Also keeping Kay Jeweler's as it's 4+ years old under my own name. After I receive all my new cards I'm going to look over my current cards & see which ones would have less of an impact on my AAoA then go on a closing spree. Lol.

Re: Successful App Spree (7 approvals / 2 pending)

L0RDAVENTAD0R — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 02:36:14 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Awesome you'll be getting some nice rewards! And in a few years after these accounts have aged you'll be able to get new cards without your AAoA getting too badly affected so that's cool, I'm new to this forum, I've never heard of someone applying for so many cards at once haha. Congrats again

Thanks man! Yeah, I'm relatively new on here too. Been lurking forever & didn't make an account until recently. I have never heard of an App spree until I discovered this board. Lol. But I can see the positives of it if your credit report/score allows it (Allows new accounts to age together, inquiries fall off at the same time in two years, etc.).

Re: Successful App Spree (7 approvals / 2 pending)

L0RDAVENTAD0R — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 02:36:46 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
How is your oldest account 9+ yearz but your only 22? Wouldnt that mean u received your first card at 13?

I'm an AU on my mom's Sam's Club CC which she opened in 2003.

Re: Successful App Spree (7 approvals / 2 pending)

youngandcreditwrthy — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 02:38:44 GMT

Congrats!!! My CDP took two months to get approved via recon! Good luck!