Barclay Apple Reward - Recon failed

[Anonymous]

Definitely bummed. Applied online and was denied. Called the recon number and the girl I spoke with told me she sees my bankruptcy from 2014, and that I just started rebuiling my credit within the last year. She says they need to see more history. I have a Capital One Platinum card that I was approved for back in December of 2016, and I have a few Comenity store cards, and a $1000 Care Credit account. I was approved for an auto loan with GM Financial in May for 38k. I'm also piggybacking my wife's Barclay which she's had for a few years now, and has never been late. She is at 60% usage on $9k though.

My TU score is currently showing 619 on Credit Karma. Not sure what my actual Fico score is. I also have a lot of inquiries since December when I started apping.  Funny thing is, I got denied for a Discover It card a few days ago. Called the recon number and was approved for an $800 limit. After reading all the recon success stories for Barclay, I was very surprised that I wasn't able to get approved with a small limit. Anybody know if it depends on the rep? What if I call back and speak to someone else and plead my case?

[Anonymous]

Sounds like your file is just too thin and you waited 3 years post BK to get things going.  Prime credit cards don't happen overnight unfortunately.  Try for a Capital One card, get yourself to a total of 3 credit cards and then age them 6 months and try again.

You can get your FICO scores with the CCT $1 trial.  Ignore Credit Karma scores, they're bad news for making assumptions.  My FICOs were 580 and my Credit Karma was 696.  Ridiculous.

[CreditCuriosity]

Usually Barclay's tend to like to see 1 year of revolving history; as always YMMV..  You certainly can try to call recon again and speak with another agent and see if they will push it through for 1k-2k as you took the HP.  Just speaking from experience on what I have read from the forum on a year of experience.  I also read about the high utilzation that you are an AU on two of your wifes accounts as well?  I might consider removing myself eventually from those two accounts if that is going to remain high as that is dragging down your scores more than helping you most likely.

[Anonymous]

I think I am going to call. It can't hurt anything. They may think I'm a pest for calling multiple times as I'm sure they notate the app. But oh well.

Yes, my wife's Barclay and Home Depot cards are at a high utilization. The plan is to pay them off very soon, but that may take a few months. I might have her take me off in the mean time. I though that maybe the age of those accounts would offset the high utilization? I'm not sure what would be better, keeping for account age, or removing due to utilization. 

[Anonymous]

I called back, and the same story. They want to see longer history on my accounts. Everything that I have, has been established over the last 6 or 7 months. I guess I will wait until a few of my accounts it 1 year, and then re-apply. 

[CreditCuriosity]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I think I am going to call. It can't hurt anything. They may think I'm a pest for calling multiple times as I'm sure they notate the app. But oh well.

Yes, my wife's Barclay and Home Depot cards are at a high utilization. The plan is to pay them off very soon, but that may take a few months. I might have her take me off in the mean time. I though that maybe the age of those accounts would offset the high utilization? I'm not sure what would be better, keeping for account age, or removing due to utilization. 

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Not 100% sure but when you get up into real high utilizaiton I would say that hurts more then keeping account for age, but i certainly could be wrong.. Someone hopefully will pipe in with their personal experiences.  I have been an AU on my parents cards for years, but utilization has never been an issue so can't speak on that part.  I do understand FICO scoring though and utilization plays 30% role in the score where-as account age either makes up 10-15% of the score.  So I would say her utilization is hurting you more currently, but if it is going to be paid off or down to <30% in the near future then I would remain on the accounts.  Others can certainly weigh in.

Yes Barclay's does keep notes of recon, but honestly who cares?  As stated you took the HP you have nothing to lose other than a few minutes of your time and still could possibly yield an approval.  People have taken the HUCA (hang up and call again) approach with various lenders including barclay's and eventually they get an UW that is willing to take stuff into consideration others UW wouldn't and give the person a chance.   Best of luck either way