topic Re: Denied Citi AAdvantage- Suggestions? Please help! in Credit Cards

Denied Citi AAdvantage- Suggestions? Please help!

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:48:28 GMT

I was recently denied for the Citi AAdvantage credit card, I wanted it for the 75k mile sign-on (that has been reported as still active on a FlyerTalk forum) for a trip in December to Ireland with my boyfriend. I have not checked my credit score since Sept 2010 when I was approved for an AMEX Blue with a score of 747. I have not made any inquiries since then. By boyfriend was approved for the AAdvantage the same day I applied. (he's also in the 700's)

Citi Reasoning is: "Too few satisfactory credit references were recorded on your account"

I am fairly new to credit at 25, but have had my amex since september, and a Citi Platinum Slect Visa since July 2008. I have never had any loans but I PIF monthly and have never had a late payment.

I've already tried calling in and was transfered, lied to (they told me I had "recently" opened a Citi account, which made me think I had my identity stolen), transfered again and again. No one could speak to what a "satisfactory credit reference" meant. Finally got my equifax back via snail mail (they couldnt find me on the website), but I did a check in the last 12 mos it costs money.

Where do I go from here? is it possible to gain a recon? How do I find my credit score quickly?

Thank you!

Re: Denied Citi AAdvantage- Suggestions? Please help!

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:52:34 GMT

Did Citi ever tell you you didn't actually open another account recently? If not you should pull your report right away to check for strange inquiries and accounts. The only way to get your score is to pay for it here from FICO (and this also includes a report). My guess as to what they mean by "satisfactory credit references" is the AAoA and the type and number of accounts - assuming you have no baddies. If those are your only two accounts, your AAoA would be just 1 year (you are at 22 months, but if I'm not mistaken, they round down to the nearest year).

Re: Denied Citi AAdvantage- Suggestions? Please help!

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:52:45 GMT

I transferred to their their internal fraud department and they confirmed that the only account opened under my social with them was in July 2008.

Re: Denied Citi AAdvantage- Suggestions? Please help!

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:53:28 GMT

Ok, my guess would be then that they just don't want to give you two cards...what's your Util% and your DTI?

Re: Denied Citi AAdvantage- Suggestions? Please help!

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:58:42 GMT

AAoA ---> Average age of accounts? and I've had no baddies. I guess I can't argue with that logic. My boyfriend has been an AU on an Amex since 17.. perfect history on loans/other cards too.

Do you have any recommendations on what card could get me on an american airlines international flight to Ireland?

Are there seasons that offers are better? How badly does a denial/ inq hurt me for other apps?

Re: Denied Citi AAdvantage- Suggestions? Please help!

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:03:23 GMT

6k limit on each - never use more than $2800 (so around 23%?) income is 35k

Re: Denied Citi AAdvantage- Suggestions? Please help!

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:05:43 GMT

You are right on AAoA.

For other options, the Chase Sapphire card gives you $625 in money towards travel if you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months, and the Captal One Venture Rewards Card gives you 25,000 miles when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months. One other nice perk to the Cap One (and any Cap One card) is that they charge no foriegn transaction fees (3-4% on most other cards).

Re: Denied Citi AAdvantage- Suggestions? Please help!

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:07:29 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
6k limit on each - never use more than $2800 (so around 23%?) income is 35k

The Util rate is on the high end of OK...that combined with your income and the other account is probably the reason Citi won't give you another card. If your score is still in the 700s you shouldn't have a problem with the Chase or Cap One cards I recommended above (no guarantees though, however, I have seen recent recon success with Chase).

Re: Denied Citi AAdvantage- Suggestions? Please help!

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:11:24 GMT

I think my parents would pay to hear you say that (about my util).

Thank you for your suggestions.

Do you think those are good offers? In terms of my credit, should I hold out for better or go for it since I already have an inq recently?

Re: Denied Citi AAdvantage- Suggestions? Please help!

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:28:24 GMT

If you are planning to travel out of the US alot and want to pay with credit, I'd go for the Cap One (for the lack of foriegn transaction fees). Otherwise, I'd wait it out for your AAoA to increase so you can get some more prime cards like the airline card you tried for (your inquiry affects your score for 6 months and stays on your report for 2 years). You alreay have more than enough credit between your two cards IMHO.

Re: Denied Citi AAdvantage- Suggestions? Please help!

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 21:48:26 GMT

Thank you for all of your help. I don't really need more credit, it was just a really nice sign-on bonus considering my trip plans!

Re: Denied Citi AAdvantage- Suggestions? Please help!

Anonymous — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 01:02:01 GMT

No problem! Glad to help you out...welcome to the forums! Hopefully we can help you out more in the future!