Sorry to hear about the decline 
Was Chase included in your Ch. 7? If so, I heard they can be pretty unforgiving for up to ten years.
Also, when you say that you have had two new cards in the past year, how long ago were those new accounts? The reason I ask is normally you want to wait bare minimum 6 months between applications to get in with the more strict lenders like Chase. THEORY: It sounds like the reason the CSR asked you why you opened up two new accouns in the past year is because they are trying to decide if you have what they call "credit seeking behavior" which Chase does not like and tends to avoid.
I say, it doesn't hurt to try and recon a couple of times to see if you can get someone more compassionate--I (personally) just wouldn't take another HP for it if they asked. I mean you already applied for the card so it couldnt hurt.
Good luck to you!
@rhapsody1 wrote:I recently applied for the JP Morgan Ritz card with Chase.
I was ultimately declined. I called recon and they first cited my chapter 7 bk ruptcy from 8 years ago, then later that average age of account was low (approx 4-5 years old on average).
In the last year I have gotten a number of new cards. I was though under the impression this card was not subject to the 5/24 rule.
I guess I am wondering if I should try recon again?
They were very nice. I explained the reasons behind the discharge (medical expenses) and then what i've done to rebuild credit since then.
Not sure if another analyst would give me a better shake or not.
Thoughts?
He did ask why I had opened two new accounts in the last 6 months. (AMEX) I explained they are for travel related to business (and they really are).
Data points:
Exp: 745
TU: 735
Equafax: 730
Income is high.
I guess it comes down to how badly you want the card. If you don't care about it then pack it up, you already have two other new cards waiting for you at home 
@rhapsody1 wrote:Thank you for explaining that. I guess i'm really just wondering if I should bother trying recon. They seem so firm
Well I do want the card, but I do wonder if its just not going to happen. I mean maybe IDK.
Also I had a chase card at the time of the chapter 7 filing, but I had previously paid it off in full, so they didn't eat anything, so to speak...
Thanks again for all the good information and data points
The recon process can be a bit stressful. Maybe I read too much into it...
Ha, it definitely can be stressful when you haven't done too many of them. But the payoff is well worth it, especially if you can get it without another hard pull. The good news is, you can always hang up and try again if you feel like you messed up. It's almost like playing Mario Bros. and having backup lives 
@rhapsody1 wrote:The recon process can be a bit stressful. Maybe I read too much into it...