App with thin file: Chase approved after 2 months's waiting, BoA denied for having enough credit!

[Anonymous]

I jumped out of Garden due to a Citi AA card offer last month (Dec 31), and was planning to have a mini spree at the end of this month. My plan is to apply for AARP from Chase and a second BBR card from BoA (maybe others if anything good).

The problem is that my AAoA is only 13m if the new Citi card won't report by then. The citi card application pulled EX, and the two new cards I would like to apply will also pull EX most likely in my state. I don't have any other apps within 6 month on my EX records beside the Citi card. The last second app on EX record is on June 26 last year. The last app on TU is on July 28. No ING on my EQ profile so far. However, I have ~5 new cards within a year. What is the best time for me to do the new applications? Is that any strategies for these apps? Does the two-browser trick work still?

Thanks.

Update 1/19/16: My Citi seems to post the first statement on 1/13/2016 and may result in a report to CBs immediately. So, did the apps on 1/12/2016 using the 2-browser method. The BofA card got denied after a review process, and the Chase AARP app got a 30-day message from email and then a 2-week message from robo lady a few days latter. I got the 7-10 day msg on 1/15/16 from Chase and then received two letters from BofA and Chase on 1/19/16. The BofA letter shows the denial reason is I had gotten enough credit from them; and the Chase letter asked me to verify my address... 

Update 3/15/16: Called in to the lending dept, Chase AARP got approved finally!

[TrialByFire]

I can tell you if I were in your shoes and wanted the cards, yes I'd do exactly as you're describing. Get them before new acct reports and have dual browsers going. Of course your profile will get better with age, but if you're already out of the garden might as well try to get what you want/need.

Don't know how much credibility there is with the 2 browser method since everything is lightning fast and automated nowadays. It's more superstition for me

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I jumped out of Garden due to a Citi AA card offer last month (Dec 31), and was planning to have a mini spree at the end of this month. My plan is to apply for AARP from Chase and a second BBR card from BoA (maybe others if anything good).

The problem is that my AAoA is only 13m if the new Citi card won't report by then. The citi card application pulled EX, and the two new cards I would like to apply will also pull EX most likely in my state. I don't have any other apps within 6 month on my EX records beside the Citi card. The last second app on EX record is on June 26 last year. The last app on TU is on July 28. No ING on my EQ profile so far. However, I have ~5 new cards within a year. What is the best time for me to do the new applications? Is that any strategies for these apps? Does the two-browser trick work still?

Thanks.

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Since your AAoA is already that low, I'd say go ahead and apply for what you want.  It can't take that big of a hit since it's that low already, and I'm not sure a 13-month AAoA looks significantly worse than a 23-month AAoA when applying anyway.  Then once you garden for a while all of your accounts will age and grow together, strengthening your AAoA as it moves up.  Plus it seems long enough since new INQs and cards that you should be fine.

Good luck apping!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice. I will then go ahead and have a try later this month

[TrialByFire]

Can I ask why you're waiting til the end of the month to app? I might've been mistaken, but I thought the idea was to get em before the new Citi card reports?

[Anonymous]

@TrialByFire I was planning to wait until the end of the month is just to let the last INQ pass the 6 month old line. My last INQ on EX is on July 28. I don't know if this will help if I app after Jan 28. If not, I can app right now...

As I am looking for signing a lease, I might end up with a HP from the housing management company within a couple of weeks. And I really don't know how long it can take for the Citi card to report to the bureau agents? Any idea? 

[Aahz]

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@Anonymous wrote:

@TrialByFire I was planning to wait until the end of the month is just to let the last INQ pass the 6 month old line. My last INQ on EX is on July 28. I don't know if this will help if I app after Jan 28. If not, I can app right now...

As I am looking for signing a lease, I might end up with a HP from the housing management company within a couple of weeks. And I really don't know how long it can take for the Citi card to report to the bureau agents? Any idea? 

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I was approved for the Chase AARP in December with 12 inq on Ex (8 in 12 mos), more than a dozen new accounts, and scores about 10points lower than yours.

As for BofA they literally email me twice a week trying to get me to apply for a new card.

So, I'd say there's no reason to wait for either of those apps in your case.

[TrialByFire]

OP I apped and was approved Citi DC on 12/6 and the new account alerts ranged from 12/14-12/24, EX was last to show it (date of myfico alert, could have been faster).

I don't know if it's necessarily crucial to hit the 6mo mark for the inq, but if you're gonna app I'd do it before adding a fresh one if inqs are of concern.

[Anonymous]

uhmmm, this makes me hard to decide now. I saw a lot of people got the 7-10 message and eventually got denied for the AARP (http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Card-Applications/AARP/td-p/4402526). Seems Chase is INQ or new account sensitive. I am not sure if I should just do the mini app spree before the HP from the landlord and keep the citi non-activated to avoid a new account reporting...

Correct me if I am wrong: for the INQ app-wise, 1-6-month INQs are more significant than 6-12-month INQs? 

[TrialByFire]

To my knowledge the account will report even if you don't activate the card. As for the inqs, I don't know if the algorithms are set up to differentiate between 0-6mo and 6-12mo (for sure under manual review).I'd be interested to see if somebody can delve further into that.

Chase...I don't know about them anymore lol. Seen some surprising results lately. At the risk of sounding clichè, there's really no way of knowing for sure until you apply. But If you're unsure whether or not you want to app, remember stepping back into the garden won't hurt at all.