topic Re: Why no prequals; and only subprime offers in mail? in Credit Cards

Why no prequals; and only subprime offers in mail?

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 01:06:16 GMT

I have a qestion that I'm assumuing there is no real answer for but thought I'd ask anyway. I never get a pre qual offer anywhere on any of the different real prequal sites. I read on here about making sure I was opted in and I went and mad sure I specifically opted into offers 3-4 months ago. Still nothing at all from anyone.

As important info I have a few cards, Quicksilver, Hyatt, and Wyndham all with 5k limits. Also have IHG, Barclays, and Discover cards with 2-3k limits, five of those were received this year and my real scores are 670-710 depending on the agency reporting. 2-3 inqs only on each agency over the full 2 years. AOAA 4 years plus. Not much older history as only car loans, did not use cards at all for 14 years so I now have a thinner profile. PIF all cards, 2% utl average reporting on a single card per month. 3 year old late - one paid tax lein hence my lower scores I guess.

Now for the mail offers, I do get those but every singe one I get is a sub prime offer, like the lowest starter cards made. Even Cap One only sends me offers for the Platinum card when I already have a decent limit Quicksilver with them! First premier bank, no name lender "checks" in the mail and such too. Not a single offer ever from what I'd consider a real lender other than that Cap 1 Platinum card lol.

Frustrating to me, my wifes scores are unknown to me but I know they are much lower than me, no revolving loans, no good history in general where mine is pretty clean just not much of it. She got an offer for Citi Double Cash the other day, and a Quicksilver, and others. She is doing nothing to monitor credit, or build or anyhting at all in general, they just randomly show up for her. Sigh, just wanted to vent I guess.

Re: Why no prequals; and only subprime offers in mail?

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 01:26:55 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I have a qestion that I'm assumuing there is no real answer for but thought I'd ask anyway. I never get a pre qual offer anywhere on any of the different real prequal sites. I read on here about making sure I was opted in and I went and mad sure I specifically opted into offers 3-4 months ago. Still nothing at all from anyone.

As important info I have a few cards, Quicksilver, Hyatt, and Wyndham all with 5k limits. Also have IHG, Barclays, and Discover cards with 2-3k limits, five of those were received this year and my real scores are 670-710 depending on the agency reporting. 2-3 inqs only on each agency over the full 2 years. AOAA 4 years plus. Not much older history as only car loans, did not use cards at all for 14 years so I now have a thinner profile. PIF all cards, 2% utl average reporting on a single card per month. 3 year old late - one paid tax lein hence my lower scores I guess.

Now for the mail offers, I do get those but every singe one I get is a sub prime offer, like the lowest starter cards made. Even Cap One only sends me offers for the Platinum card when I already have a decent limit Quicksilver with them! First premier bank, no name lender "checks" in the mail and such too. Not a single offer ever from what I'd consider a real lender other than that Cap 1 Platinum card lol.

Frustrating to me, my wifes scores are unknown to me but I know they are much lower than me, no revolving loans, no good history in general where mine is pretty clean just not much of it. She got an offer for Citi Double Cash the other day, and a Quicksilver, and others. She is doing nothing to monitor credit, or build or anyhting at all in general, they just randomly show up for her. Sigh, just wanted to vent I guess.

I don't consider those offers, but reminders to pay bills on time.

Re: Why no prequals; and only subprime offers in mail?

CreditDunce — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 01:29:23 GMT

Barclay, Chase and Citi all probably think you have too many new accounts. I haven't gotten any offers from Discover since I got my IT, either. Discover doesn't have a whole lot of other cards. I can't explain Cap1, though. They don't seem to be bothered with new accounts. Assuming you don't have any of your CRA's frozen, you probably just need to wait for your accounts to age.

I am going to assume you have already made sure you are typing your address exactly as it is on your CRA's. That if you have move recently, you have tried your old address, too. Etc.

I wish I could give better advice. I don't think there is much you can do but wait. The offers will come.

Re: Why no prequals; and only subprime offers in mail?

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 01:38:37 GMT

Thanks for the advice, I know this is not a quick thing by any means. It is just odd that I can get approved when I try, but no one seems to actually want me lol! I have not been denied other than at AmEx about a year ago. Other than that every app has been approved and for decent cards too. I am at a point of aging my cards for at least 6 months (Barclays again next for me) but I get annoyed every time I see those "offers" in the mail, but that does show I'm opted in somewhere.

No freezing of anythhing, I monitor on CCT and address are correct, no oddities. Scores keep climbing so that is good, one day I'll get offers I suppose!

Re: Why no prequals; and only subprime offers in mail?

OmarGB9 — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 01:39:00 GMT

I don't think there's much you can do besides opting in which you already are and waiting.

Re: Why no prequals; and only subprime offers in mail?

ddemari — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 01:39:18 GMT

The banks that send out preapproved or qualified credit card applications do it in bulk. because of their volume, they have criteria requirements that either say yes or no. possibly lates or tax liens could could just throw you out of the yes and no process.

a creditor or insurer establishes criteria, like a minimum credit score, and asks a consumer reporting company for a list of people in the company's database who meet the criteria; or
a creditor or insurer provides a list of potential customers to a consumer reporting company and asks the company to identify people on the list who meet certain criteria.

Re: Why no prequals; and only subprime offers in mail?

onstar — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 01:44:28 GMT

The only mailers I get are things like the NetCredit offer I got today.

"You're pre-approved for at least $2,500 at an annual percentage rate of 66%. Some qualified customers may get a loan with an annual percentage rate as low as 33%."

I don't know how this is even legal. Ugh!

Re: Why no prequals; and only subprime offers in mail?

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 01:46:38 GMT

@onstar wrote:
The only mailers I get are things like the NetCredit offer I got today.

"You're pre-approved for at least $2,500 at an annual percentage rate of 66%. Some qualified customers may get a loan with an annual percentage rate as low as 33%."

I don't know how this is even legal. Ugh!

It's just as legal as taking candy from a baby. But not as fun.

Re: Why no prequals; and only subprime offers in mail?

taxi818 — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 01:53:26 GMT

As stated. your scores are good enough. But they decide as well based on inquiries and new accounts. Once you have some age behind the new accounts you just got. Don't worry. you will get plenty of mail offers. even when your scores are very good. The subprime will still send you mail. Just in the off chance you jump on that. 6 months from your last card tops. and your mail box will be flooded.

Re: Why no prequals; and only subprime offers in mail?

ddemari — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 01:59:30 GMT

I have never received anything in the mail preapproving me except blaze, legacy, first premiere, merrick. I get a lot of citi AA mastercard invitations, inviting me to apply with nothing saying i am qualified. Yet, through that process I have obtained credit cards with good rates and my scores are in the good range.

whenever i go to my friends apartment and she checks the mail, her mailbox is flooded with offers, flooded and she doesn't care about credit cards lol. OP, i still want them too lol.

Re: Why no prequals; and only subprime offers in mail?

CreditDunce — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 01:59:39 GMT

You aren't alone. I used to be able to go to just about any pre-qual site and get offers. Since my big app around last Xmas/New Years, I haven't been able to go to most websites (apart from Cap1) and get pre-approvals. I did another mini-spree last month for 5 cards. I was approved for everything, but Cap1 was the only CCC that pre-approved me. I take that back, US Bank did pre-approve me for the Cash+ when I signed up for their Checking/savings account ($225 sign up bonus). However, US Bank's website only offered me their pre-paid debit card when I used their pre-qual site.

You can also try joining some CU's (be careful about the HP's). Often they will send members without CC's pre-qual offers. I have received pre-qual offers from Andrews, Alliant, DCU and PenFed this year, even with all of my new accounts.

If you want a pre-approval site that doesn't feel bad to be denied, try CreditOne. I always get a chuckle when I try them and get denied.

Re: Why no prequals; and only subprime offers in mail?

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 02:05:26 GMT

Thanks for the reassurance guys, it is appreciated!

The oddest part of this is I know my wifes credit is worse than mine, she has multiple lates I'm sure (my lates are from back when our finances were together and she paid the bills) and hers will be newer than mine for sure and she just got out of collection on a medical payment. She also will have the paid tax lein as that was a state tax payment we were joint filers on. (Big mistake there, check was on the paperwork and was never mailed, again before I started doing my own bills lol; no notice at all til the lein showed up in the mail) Yet Citi and Cap give her good prequals. She did get the Quicksilver when she applied, she did not try the DC she got a week or two ago.

At least on here I'm not alone in waiting I guess!

Re: Why no prequals; and only subprime offers in mail?

JamP — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 02:03:39 GMT

I too get all the crappy offers in the mail. I haven't had a prequal since I started getting credit cards.

It doesn't stop me from trying for prequals.

Someday we will get them.

Re: Why no prequals; and only subprime offers in mail?

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 02:06:47 GMT

@taxi818 wrote:
As stated. your scores are good enough. But they decide as well based on inquiries and new accounts. Once you have some age behind the new accounts you just got. Don't worry. you will get plenty of mail offers. even when your scores are very good. The subprime will still send you mail. Just in the off chance you jump on that. 6 months from your last card tops. and your mail box will be flooded.

I can back this up. Usually i'm on to the next bonus collection period around the 7 month mark and catch an offer or two before they stop.

Re: Why no prequals; and only subprime offers in mail?

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 02:28:12 GMT

Do you specifically need to opt-in to get pre-screens in the mail? I have never opted in or out, and I can't remember the last time I recieved an offer in the mail.

Re: Why no prequals; and only subprime offers in mail?

ddemari — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 02:32:00 GMT

I felt that way a while back lol. Google opt into credit, u will immediately find the link to opt yourself in or in in.

Re: Why no prequals; and only subprime offers in mail?

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 02:32:45 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Do you specifically need to opt-in to get pre-screens in the mail? I have never opted in or out, and I can't remember the last time I recieved an offer in the mail.

or what if you're on a do not mail list?

because some offers seem to squeeze through (amex delta just did at 35k versus the email of 50k lol)

'but i'm on a do not solict list..

could that be it and the subprimes just dont care?

because i used to get freedom, slate, etc..but that was before the do not solict fully cycled through--now im preapproved on the site but no mailers (which im a fan of b/c it wastes paper)

Re: Why no prequals; and only subprime offers in mail?

CreditDunce — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 02:36:08 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Do you specifically need to opt-in to get pre-screens in the mail? I have never opted in or out, and I can't remember the last time I recieved an offer in the mail.

You have to opt out if you don't want the offers. To get your self added to various banks radar, you can go to their pre-qual sites. See if you are pre-qualified. Even if you aren't they will add your name to their marketing lists. It may take time once your name is on their list, but eventually they will send you stuff.

The other way they get names is by buying it list of people from the CRA's that mach their criteria. That is much more hit or miss.

Re: Why no prequals; and only subprime offers in mail?

Anonymous — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 02:43:19 GMT

@CreditDunce wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Do you specifically need to opt-in to get pre-screens in the mail? I have never opted in or out, and I can't remember the last time I recieved an offer in the mail.
You have to opt out if you don't want the offers. To get your self added to various banks radar, you can go to their pre-qual sites. See if you are pre-qualified. Even if you aren't they will add your name to their marketing lists. It may take time once your name is on their list, but eventually they will send you stuff.

The other way they get names is by buying it list of people from the CRA's that mach their criteria. That is much more hit or miss.

That makes sense then. Until this month I had never gone to any of the pre-qual sites, so I wasn't on any of the lists I guess. I have all the cards I need now, and will likely be closing one next year when my BT offer expires. I won't bother opting in, but if a really good offer does show up in my mailbox, and i is a btter deal than a card I already have, then I might take a look.

When I saw this thready it made me kinda curious though.

Re: Why no prequals; and only subprime offers in mail?

Anonymous — Sat, 22 Aug 2015 17:20:24 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@CreditDunce wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Do you specifically need to opt-in to get pre-screens in the mail? I have never opted in or out, and I can't remember the last time I recieved an offer in the mail.
You have to opt out if you don't want the offers. To get your self added to various banks radar, you can go to their pre-qual sites. See if you are pre-qualified. Even if you aren't they will add your name to their marketing lists. It may take time once your name is on their list, but eventually they will send you stuff.

The other way they get names is by buying it list of people from the CRA's that mach their criteria. That is much more hit or miss.
That makes sense then. Until this month I had never gone to any of the pre-qual sites, so I wasn't on any of the lists I guess. I have all the cards I need now, and will likely be closing one next year when my BT offer expires. I won't bother opting in, but if a really good offer does show up in my mailbox, and i is a btter deal than a card I already have, then I might take a look.

When I saw this thready it made me kinda curious though.

UPDATE: I guess someone was spying on me when I posted this. I just got an offer from AMEX for the Blue Clash Everyday card.