Citi Doble Cash decline - Interesting situation and need help

[CardsLifeLine]

Hi,

Last week when my DW checked CITI pre approval, she got a good offer for CITI DC with 18 month 0% APR. She applied for it and got instant approval. However, when I used same link I got declined. Today I got a letter and the it says 

" We reviewed your application and can not approve it because :

An account may only be issued to the person identified on our original invitation. However, since your expressed an interest in obtaining an account with us, we invite you to call 800248 4226 and a rep will help you "

I called both new application department or credit department, both are asking me to submit new application and an inquiry will be made again with the credit bureau. They have already pull Equifax  and Experien both credit bureau. 

My question is, if apply or submit new application - will CITI use same credit pulls or do new inquiry again ? What are the chances of getting approvals ?

Please advise. 

[FinStar]

More than likely another HP - no guarantees.  Typically, the preapproved/prequalified offers (online/mailers) are not transferrable.  Unless, a universal URL recycles the data that doesn't tag cookies.  Only way to find out is when you apply, but it's doubtful they'll make an exception given you are essentially going for another try.

[Anonymous]

You can probably call them and confirm that they will use whatever hard pull they already have for you.

However... I'm a little confused as to why you used her offer link?

[CardsLifeLine]

It was same browser session and no where it says the offer is specific to my DW.
I called them and they said they will pull again ... But no one was confirming on the call.. It was bit frustrating with the new accounts department of CITi.

[FinStar]

Understood but the invite wasn't really addressed for you specifically as most prequals are tagged with the information for the intended recipient (although the link isn't going to warn you that you can't use it).  If you had opened a separate browser and did the prequal under your name, then that would yield a different outcome.

TBH, I don't think you're going to get a cut and dry answer from Citi new accounts or a CSR - we all know that you can get different answers when you call. 

[Anonymous]

90% chance u will be fine. Google the backdoor thread and call the EO.  They certainly would not HP a person 4 times for a DC.  They know how to get stuff done.

[CardsLifeLine]

Good advice will do it 😇

[Anonymous]

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@FinStar wrote:

Understood but the invite wasn't really addressed for you specifically as most prequals are tagged with the information for the intended recipient (although the link isn't going to warn you that you can't use it).  If you had opened a separate browser and did the prequal under your name, then that would yield a different outcome.

TBH, I don't think you're going to get a cut and dry answer from Citi new accounts or a CSR - we all know that you can get different answers when you call. 

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I agree.

[Kevin86475391]

Sorry to hear you might get a second round of HPs. I hope they can help you out and use the first ones.

On a completely different note, it's your business of course and good luck with whatever you decide, but are you sure you want a DC right now if your wife just got one? I think I'd probably primarily use hers (maybe get your own card as an AU?), take full advantage of the 18 months at 0% APR then when it's over maybe apply for your own so that you two can leverage it twice (for 3 years basically!). But that's just what I'd do. Good luck!

[mikelo22]

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@Anonymous wrote:

90% chance u will be fine. Google the backdoor thread and call the EO.  They certainly would not HP a person 4 times for a DC.  They know how to get stuff done.

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This.  If you want something done with Citi, you gotta call the EO.  They have proven very helpful in the limited times I've called them for help on resolving issues.  Frontline Citi service is good about resolving small things, but they just can't give you a solid answer on this type of complicated issue.

You shouldn't have used your DW's link to apply; I am guessing the decline was just automated due to that fact.  

With that said, by talking to the EO you can hopefully get an actual human to assess the situation and realize that your original pulls should be used since they weren't given any consideration in the original application; it was just an auto decline because the system couldn't process your app via the method you applied.