topic Re: Which credit cards might give me a chance? in Credit Card Applications

Which credit cards might give me a chance?

BlueHour123 — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:30:10 GMT

Hi everyone! Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. I've gotten myself in a pickle 😬😬

I have had a Southwest Airlines rapid rewards credit card since I was around 18 (am now 41). My parents got it for me somehow way back then, neither they nor I can remember how-- they had the same card and ended up as signers on my account. It was a pretty good setup considering that because my charges showed on a seperate page from theirs and allowed me financial independance and privacy. Recently, Southwest has added a $100 yearly fee and a bunch of "benefits" that I don't care about (like priority boarding), plus all the airline points I was accumulating weren't doing me much good because Im spending most of my time outside the US these days (I'm a musician and travel a lot-- I'm spending most of my time in the UK as I'm in several bands there but am still a US citizen).

I had a plan to switch to a different credit card by January 1st as that's when the yearly fee would come into effect, but life happened, I was busy and didn't have time to research other cards. When the 1st rolled around I, completely naively and rashly, decided to just close down the SW card and figure out a new one later. Once I started researching the whole process, I realized how HARD it actually is to get a new card. This is so embarrassing, but I had a pretty sheltered upbringing and had no idea. I went through several websites that show you what you are pre-approved for and several "soft" preliminary applications, and everything is coming back that I'm not pre-approved or just straight rejected. I recently applied (full application with a hard check) for a Chase Amazon card (on someone's suggestion) and am waiting to hear back on that, but I'm freaking out and wanted to get some educated opinions on what my chances are of ever getting a credit card again, and some suggestions for which ones I should apply for if I don't get this one.

My credit score is 775. Other than that, my application might look quite bad or strange. My yearly income is roughly 10,000-11,000-- but I am a freelancer so this is never guaranteed, and I don't have payslips to prove it-- just if you look at all my bank statements for the past year it adds up to 11,000, some months with way more income than others. This works for me because I am a full time pet sitter and don't pay rent. Because of this I have a lot of different addresses I've used on things over the years, and I worry this looks bad, too. I noticed the address on my credit report is an old one -- I am most recently using my parents' address in the US, this was on my Chase credit card account as a mailing address (but somehow this didn't update to my credit report). I also still have a balance of $2,800 on my closed SW airlines card (the credit limit was 10,000 if that matters), and Im not sure when I'll be able to pay it down.

Do I have any cause for hope at all, or should I just resign myself to life without a credit card now?

If there is hope, I'd really appreciate recommendations on which cards to apply for-- hopefully ones, after all this stress, that would be better than the one I stupidly closed down. No yearly fees, cashback or international airline points instead of US airline points, low interest, etc. I know I can't have all these things 🤣but just to give an idea of what would actually benefit me as opposed to priority boarding 🙄

Many thanks in advance. 🙏🙏

Re: Which credit cards might give me a chance?

ElvisCaprice — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 02:09:13 GMT

Yes you do. Preapps are your friends. Anything without a hard pull.

Re: Which credit cards might give me a chance?

BlueHour123 — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 02:19:38 GMT

Thanks for the reply. I've done a fair amount of those and they are all coming back as "no." That's why I'm freaking out...

I am also pretty overwhelmed trying to figure out which cards I should even be applying for.

Re: Which credit cards might give me a chance?

FicoMike0 — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 04:37:47 GMT

Well, first question is, are you looking for a us or uk card? If us you'll probably have to use parents address. You mention a bank account, which bank? Good starting place, what kind of cards do they have? Also, since you just closed a southwest card, you have a relationship with chase, did you try them? Then there's capone, if you want a travel card, try this link

https://www.capitalone.com/apply/credit-cards/preapprove/miles/?external_id=WWW_XXXXX_XXX_SEM-Brand_MSN_ZZ_ZZ_T_Home_ZZ_9dda99ac-fca0-45bb-9e3c-b667a7db5af4_87915&oC=J7OrkCRo4H&pasid=616bdb96-4796-4658-a2ce-b843639fdf08

Another point, make sure you get a card with no foreign transaction fee.

Re: Which credit cards might give me a chance?

BlueHour123 — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 21:58:36 GMT

Hey FicoMike this is a super helpful way to narrow it down. Thank you!

An update: I got a letter from Chase that my Chase Amazon credit card application was declined because they are suspicious someone is trying to steal my identity 🙄🙄 I will call tomorrow-- any tips on things to say/not say when dealing with this? Is it better to call the fraud department or the lending department? Im worried that having a differebt address on my credit report and on my application has looked dodgy. Also, if they need to verify phone number that's always a nightmare because Im in the UK with a UK number.... which is different from the defunct number I have as a placeholder on my account, which is different from the US number I recently purchased through Sonetel to be able to receive verification texts. It all feels like a mess... any advice would be appreciated.

Re: Which credit cards might give me a chance?

FicoMike0 — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 22:35:56 GMT

Well, you need an address and phone number that match. If you go with a us address and number, you'll have to tell them you're in uk short term. Is your bank us?

Re: Which credit cards might give me a chance?

BlueHour123 — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 22:41:48 GMT

Yes, I have a U.S. bank.

Re: Which credit cards might give me a chance?

ElvisCaprice — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 22:55:28 GMT

Yeah, that closed CC with a balance is killing your current profile. But can understand how you didn't want to pay an AF. Would have been easier to get a new CC with it open. As far as income, at such low levels I doubt you would be required to ever verify it. So go ahead and give a good estimate on the higher end.

If the preapps aren't giving you an approval, it's no go, maybe a credit union or your bank might be the best route with one of their CC's. Getting that Chase card closed, payed off, is your first priority.

You play for any bands we might know?

Re: Which credit cards might give me a chance?

Stuart89 — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:02:09 GMT

I agree with the preapproval recommendation above. Check for preapproval with all the major issuers, then apply for whichever preapproved card you like best.

Re: Which credit cards might give me a chance?

IcyCool7227 — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 10:43:55 GMT

We also cannot rule out credit building services like Chime, Kik, Self, Ava Finance, Varo, Kovo, Current etc. You could also try for a secured card. Or how about Capital One?

Re: Which credit cards might give me a chance?

zerofire — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 01:14:03 GMT

You need to figure out either which UK card you want or how to get yourself back to the US. I say this because every time you apply your IP says your in the UK plus the UK number or lack of US number will forever make fraud applications instead of real ones. You might qualify for a UK card because of the UK number and address that you have right now but I would not know the details since this is a US site. If you want a US card you need to return to the US.

Likewise having a balance owed to Chase on an account that is closed is really hurting your reputation on your reports. You will need to consider paying it off to enter other lenders graces.

Re: Which credit cards might give me a chance?

E36 — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 04:35:26 GMT

Try:

Capital One, Discover, NavyFed, Comenity (AAA Daily or AAA Travel are popular), Synchrony (Premier 2% Cashback and Venmo are popular)

I've signed up for MyFico, Experian, Credit Karma and check on offers from time to time.

Webbank (Avant, Mission Lane) have no annual fee cards. Basically just have to ignore all the junk offers until you have some good guaranteed or no ding decline offers.