topic Re: AMEX & Chase Application Questions in Credit Cards

AMEX & Chase Application Questions

kblatt — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 15:26:18 GMT

I applied for an AMEX BCE and Chase SP cards two days ago, and got alerts on all three CRAs that I received HIs from AMEX on all three... TU, EX and EQ CRs, and HIs from Chase on my TU and EX CRs.

When I spoke to them on the phone immediately after applying (got the wait message), I was told that they were using information from my TU report from both companies.

Is it business as usual for them to pull 2/3 or 3/3 CBs? From what I read Amex generally pulls EQ or TU, and Chase pulls TU. From my previous experience with Chase in April, they only pulled my TU. Discover recently who recently issued me an 8k TL with a Discover IT card ONLY pulled my EQ.

Is there an issue here that I should attempt to resolve? I was not expecting an inquiry on every single CR, and unsure why they'd do this as I've never had this happen previously when applying for TLs. This has really killed my number of inquiries for the year, something I wasn't planning on as I've been VERY conservative in my attempts to rebuild my credit and get into the low to mid 700s for all 3 CRAs.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as to if this is normal, and if I should take action with AMEX or Chase.

EDIT June 8th: See my last post, things have gotten weird with AMEX. They deny pulling all 3 of my reports.

Re: AMEX & Chase Application Questions

jamesdwi — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 04:02:05 GMT

AMEX is usually EX, only tripple pulls on borderline cases. Might of been best to AP for a Charge card keep it for 6 months to a year and then AP for revolver and close the Charge card before AF is due. AMEX likes 720 or better for first revolver unless you have high income and thick long file.

Chase will double or tripple on borderline APs, perhaps too high of UTL or too many INQ's is the discover card reporting yet?

Re: AMEX & Chase Application Questions

HiLine — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 04:03:27 GMT

It is very common for credit card issuers to pull reports from more than 1 CRA's, especially for your first card with the issuer. Chase and Amex do this to most people. Does this make you feel better?

Re: AMEX & Chase Application Questions

kblatt — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 04:09:11 GMT

@jamesdwi wrote:
AMEX is usually EX, only tripple pulls on borderline cases. Might of been best to AP for a Charge card keep it for 6 months to a year and then AP for revolver and close the Charge card before AF is due. AMEX likes 720 or better for first revolver unless you have high income and thick long file.

Chase will double or tripple on borderline APs, perhaps too high of UTL or too many INQ's is the discover card reporting yet?

Discover card is not reporting yet

Before this run I only had 2 / 2 / 1 inquiries respectively. I'm a tad upset that they pulled all three and I burned so many HIs in a single day... something I definitely was not counting on.

Chase nor Discover did this on my previous approvals, I guess which is why I wasn't expecting it.

Re: AMEX & Chase Application Questions

kblatt — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 04:09:37 GMT

@HiLine wrote:
It is very common for credit card issuers to pull reports from more than 1 CRA's, especially for your first card with the issuer. Chase and Amex do this to most people. Does this make you feel better?

A bit! I'm worried this will affect my chances at a car refinance now, even though my scores are all 700+.

Re: AMEX & Chase Application Questions

HiLine — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 04:11:20 GMT

@kblatt wrote:
@HiLine wrote:
It is very common for credit card issuers to pull reports from more than 1 CRA's, especially for your first card with the issuer. Chase and Amex do this to most people. Does this make you feel better?
A bit! I'm worried this will affect my chances at a car refinance now, even though my scores are all 700+.

Keep utilization low and you should be fine. 2 inquiries on each report isn't too bad.

Re: AMEX & Chase Application Questions

09Lexie — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 05:56:46 GMT

Not sure why you thought Amex plus EQ, they primarily pull Ex and like others have said, all 3 if borderline. Unfortunately, they can still deny after pulling all 3. Chase usually pulls EX ( depending on where you live) and lately has been double pulling.

Having 3-4 inq's is not a high number but since you are thinking about refi'ng your car- if you get these cc's your CS will drop some when they start to report. Not sure when you are thinking of refi'ng but it is worth mentioning.

Re: AMEX & Chase Application Questions

bluesnowman — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 06:25:11 GMT

IME, Amex pulled all 3 when I first applied with them in November of last year. I have applied twice since then (no luck) and each time they have pulled EX. With Chase, they have pulled EX both times I have applied with them. But for others, I hear they will always pull EX+either TU or EQ depending on where you live and your profile.

Re: AMEX & Chase Application Questions

SnackTrader — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 06:54:15 GMT

Another point to add that might ease your pain:

Auto lenders frequently (read: I would be surprised if they didn't) use auto-enhanced scores to make decisions on credit applicants. These scoring models place significant weight on your payment history for auto loans and can differ from a CC-enhanced or other type of FICO considerably. So long as you have good performance on past auto loans, these inquiries likely won't pull you too far down in that process.

Re: AMEX & Chase Application Questions

lg8302ch — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 07:20:00 GMT

Hope it makes you feel better. Discover and Chase both did double pull on me with Fico EQ of 793 at time of application. Both pulled EX and EQ. For the double pull of Discover I got a CL of 2,5K (worst app result for me)

Re: AMEX & Chase Application Questions

kblatt — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:44:43 GMT

Thanks for the information everyone.

Re: AMEX & Chase Application Questions

kblatt — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 15:24:32 GMT

Wanted to bump this thread with an update, becuase things have definitely gotten weird.

I called AMEX on June 7th and spoke to a CSR, just curious as to why they pulled two additional reports without giving me notice, perhaps thinking if I was borderline I'd be able to talk my way into a card. To my surprise, the CSR claimed that AMEX never pulled my Equifax or Experian.

I have multiple credit monitoring services (more than I should for sure) and each of them clearly shows a HI by AMEX on the date in question. After speaking to the CSR for about 15 minutes and asking her what must have been 100 times if she was completely absolutely positive AMEX is claiming they never pulled my additional reports, I went ahead and faxed in my EX and EQ reports showing the inquiries.

The CSR I spoke to before and after I faxed the documentation in claimed that the inquiries will be removed as they were not authorized by AMEX or myself. They stuck to their story that TU is the only CR they pulled. They flat out deny pulling my other reports, and say they have no record of it.

I was told to call back in 72 hours and given a reference number to track the case.

I have no idea how they could pull my CRs and not have any record of it, or give me a reason why? If I had never called back, I would have just assumed this is the way it was.

Re: AMEX & Chase Application Questions

09Lexie — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 20:12:38 GMT

Keep us posted for sure. It will be a first if Amex is pulling TU only and not EX

Re: AMEX & Chase Application Questions

JonStur — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 21:15:13 GMT

Defininately weird..AMEX only pulled Ex for me like they have with most. Chase pulled TU for me in Ohio...

Re: AMEX & Chase Application Questions

LS2982 — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 21:19:57 GMT

@jamesdwi wrote:
AMEX is usually EX, only tripple pulls on borderline cases. Might of been best to AP for a Charge card keep it for 6 months to a year and then AP for revolver and close the Charge card before AF is due. AMEX likes 720 or better for first revolver unless you have high income and thick long file.

Chase will double or tripple on borderline APs, perhaps too high of UTL or too many INQ's is the discover card reporting yet?

Not sure where OP got the AMEX info from but yes Indeed EX is their bureau of choice and will pull others if your file is borderline.

Re: AMEX & Chase Application Questions

LS2982 — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 21:24:22 GMT

Wow......

I find It very weird AMEX would even entertain removing INQs when they have permissible purpose to pull all 3 if they need to. You did apply for a revolver right?

Re: AMEX & Chase Application Questions

kblatt — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 22:06:45 GMT

@LS2982 wrote:
Wow......

I find It very weird AMEX would even entertain removing INQs when they have permissible purpose to pull all 3 if they need to. You did apply for a revolver right?

Yes.

It's not a matter of permission, it's a matter of them claiming they flat out didn't do it. I was fine with them pulling all three reports after I heard what people said in this thread, but when they straight up told me they didn't (multiple times) that's when I started to press them.

AMEX still denies pulling the other two reports. AMEX denied using any credit information from my EQ or EX CR in their decision to provide me credit. AMEX said that if the other two reports were for some reason pulled, that it was a mistake and they would be removed since my application with them did not include any information from EX or EQ, only TU which is consistent with what the CSR I spoke to when I applied said.

When I initially spoke to the CSRs, I told them I WISHED AMEX had used EX or EQ, since TU is far and away my worst report of the 3. This is what lead to them claiming they didn't have my reports on file, when I asked if my EX and EQ reports were more favorable and if they had reconsidered my request for credit (which is why I assumed they pulled the other two).

None of it makes any sense. I must have asked the CSRs a total of 10 times if they were 100% certain. I made sure to write down their names, time I called, and confirmed I was on a recorded line both times. I'm still confused as to how this could even be possible.

I'll keep this thread updated on the out-come.

Re: AMEX & Chase Application Questions

kblatt — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 23:05:53 GMT

On a lighter note, just apped & approved for a Citi Thank You preferred with a $6.5k limit, they only pulled EQ.

That gives me a Chase MileagePlus ($8k), Discover IT ($8k), and now the Citi ($6.5k) in addition to my existing cards that included a BofA Visa ($4k) and my CapOne cards. The three high limit cards I received withinin the last 45 days.

Amex's reasons for denial were complete non-sense. I'm sure if they had actually looked at my EX and EQ reports they claimed they never pulled, I would have been approved.

Their loss, you can find me in the garden.

Re: AMEX & Chase Application Questions

Anonymous — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 00:27:06 GMT

@kblatt wrote:
On a lighter note, just apped & approved for a Citi Thank You preferred with a $6.5k limit, they only pulled EQ.

That gives me a Chase MileagePlus ($8k), Discover IT ($8k), and now the Citi ($6.5k) in addition to my existing cards that included a BofA Visa ($4k) and my CapOne cards. The three high limit cards I received withinin the last 45 days.

Amex's reasons for denial were complete non-sense. I'm sure if they had actually looked at my EX and EQ reports they claimed they never pulled, I would have been approved.

Their loss, you can find me in the garden.

Grats on the approvals!

Well Amex can be really strict and particular about certain stuff. I got denied too. Can always try again in the future!

Re: AMEX & Chase Application Questions

kblatt — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 00:43:53 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@kblatt wrote:
On a lighter note, just apped & approved for a Citi Thank You preferred with a $6.5k limit, they only pulled EQ.

That gives me a Chase MileagePlus ($8k), Discover IT ($8k), and now the Citi ($6.5k) in addition to my existing cards that included a BofA Visa ($4k) and my CapOne cards. The three high limit cards I received withinin the last 45 days.

Amex's reasons for denial were complete non-sense. I'm sure if they had actually looked at my EX and EQ reports they claimed they never pulled, I would have been approved.

Their loss, you can find me in the garden.
Grats on the approvals!
Well Amex can be really strict and particular about certain stuff. I got denied too. Can always try again in the future!

Thanks! I see you have a Citi ThankYou Preferred... how do you like it?