topic Re: Interesting datapoint: turned down for Avianca Vuela Visa, but no HP! in Credit Card Applications

Interesting datapoint: turned down for Avianca Vuela Visa, but no HP!

ratchada — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 01:38:11 GMT

So I'm trying to be hopeful about traveling to Asia in December 2021, and to back this up, I booked a trip on Aeroplan (by transferring MR points) recently. In researching return trips, I was drawn to Avianca, and while my return date in mid-Jan. 2022 is not bookable yet, current available awards two weeks prior show some great stuff, like first class on ANA from TPE to SFO for 78,000 points/miles!

So I got to thinking...why not get an Avianca card, which gives you 40,000 miles just for one purchase. They're also known to give rather high CLs, so I went for it.

First thing they did was a soft pull...I know this from the standard questions on previous workplaces, auto loans, places of residence, etc. Passing through those, I got to income questions, and a request for two recent paystubs, which I submitted.

The next day, I received an e-mail telling me I was not approved (you can see my stats in my profile). Fine, no big deal. But what's interesting to me is, they never did a hard pull! Has anyone else experienced this applying for an Avianca card?

Re: Interesting datapoint: turned down for Avianca Vuela Visa, but no HP!

coldfusion — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 02:07:03 GMT

No, I got a HP on Transunion. I didn't get an instant notification of a HP either, but if you use Credit Karma or one of the other similar services like WalletHub you should have seen one within a day if there were a HP. Stinks you were denied but at least you didn't take a HP for your troubles.

If I were going to take a stab as to why you got a denial one factor would be that your Aspire at $11.5K is currently your highest limit card. They are definitely not inherently new inquiry/new account adverse - I was at 30+/12 in new accounts when I got my Vuela - but they do like to start on that card with at least a $25K SL.

Re: Interesting datapoint: turned down for Avianca Vuela Visa, but no HP!

FinStar — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 02:58:24 GMT

OP - what reasons did they provide on your denial given the request for POI?

Re: Interesting datapoint: turned down for Avianca Vuela Visa, but no HP!

ratchada — Sun, 10 Jan 2021 02:08:11 GMT

Haven't heard the reasons yet..."coming in the mail," I guess.

Re: Interesting datapoint: turned down for Avianca Vuela Visa, but no HP!

cashorcharge — Sun, 10 Jan 2021 02:39:20 GMT

@coldfusion wrote:
No, I got a HP on Transunion. I didn't get an instant notification of a HP either, but if you use Credit Karma or one of the other similar services like WalletHub you should have seen one within a day if there were a HP. Stinks you were denied but at least you didn't take a HP for your troubles.

If I were going to take a stab as to why you got a denial one factor would be that your Aspire at $11.5K is currently your highest limit card. They are definitely not inherently new inquiry/new account adverse - I was at 30+/12 in new accounts when I got my Vuela - but they do like to start on that card with at least a $25K SL.

This was on my radar for later this year after your post last week. Interesting.
Sorry @ratchada about your decline. I'll be watching for the reasons in your denial letter. Appreciate you sharing...

Re: Interesting datapoint: turned down for Avianca Vuela Visa, but no HP!

ratchada — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 00:14:31 GMT

@FinStar wrote:
OP - what reasons did they provide on your denial given the request for POI?

Sorry, I forgot I said I was going to post the reason when it finally came in the mail: they said they couldn't verify my employment!! I attached two pay stubs, and gave them contact info to verify it with personnel, so I don't really know what's up with that. Oh well.

Re: Interesting datapoint: turned down for Avianca Vuela Visa, but no HP!

ratchada — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 00:16:23 GMT

@cashorcharge wrote:
@coldfusion wrote:
No, I got a HP on Transunion. I didn't get an instant notification of a HP either, but if you use Credit Karma or one of the other similar services like WalletHub you should have seen one within a day if there were a HP. Stinks you were denied but at least you didn't take a HP for your troubles.

If I were going to take a stab as to why you got a denial one factor would be that your Aspire at $11.5K is currently your highest limit card. They are definitely not inherently new inquiry/new account adverse - I was at 30+/12 in new accounts when I got my Vuela - but they do like to start on that card with at least a $25K SL.

This was on my radar for later this year after your post last week. Interesting.
Sorry @ratchada about your decline. I'll be watching for the reasons in your denial letter. Appreciate you sharing...

They said they couldn't verify my employment, even though I work for a major university, gave them the contact info for someone there who could verify me, AND attached two recent pay stubs! So go figure...

Re: Interesting datapoint: turned down for Avianca Vuela Visa, but no HP!

FinStar — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 00:34:35 GMT

@ratchada wrote:
@FinStar wrote:
OP - what reasons did they provide on your denial given the request for POI?
Sorry, I forgot I said I was going to post the reason when it finally came in the mail: they said they couldn't verify my employment!! I attached two pay stubs, and gave them contact info to verify it with personnel, so I don't really know what's up with that. Oh well.

No worries @ratchada. Thanks for the update on the reasons.

Interesting they couldn't verify the documents or information you submitted. I was going to go for this CC when it was the FOTM a few years ago, but passed when I learned some folks were having issues using the card, even overseas. I believe they eventually fixed things, but my ship had sailed to another port

Re: Interesting datapoint: turned down for Avianca Vuela Visa, but no HP!

ratchada — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 00:39:16 GMT

@FinStar wrote:
@ratchada wrote:
@FinStar wrote:
OP - what reasons did they provide on your denial given the request for POI?
Sorry, I forgot I said I was going to post the reason when it finally came in the mail: they said they couldn't verify my employment!! I attached two pay stubs, and gave them contact info to verify it with personnel, so I don't really know what's up with that. Oh well.
No worries @ratchada. Thanks for the update on the reasons.

Interesting they couldn't verify the documents or information you submitted. I was going to go for this CC when it was the FOTM a few years ago, but passed when I learned some folks were having issues using the card, even overseas. I believe they eventually fixed things, but my ship had sailed to another port

Yeah, I think they've lost their chance for my business as well, haha. Kind of hard to justify using up a 5/24 slot for a card tied to a specific airline's miles (albeit one with many useful transfer partners). I think I'll stick with the big boys (AA, etc.).