Citi Reconsideration

[Gmood1]

Understand, as long as you pay your statement balance by due date. You won't be charged interest.
Avoid paying interest as much as possible.

I was referring to your total utilization being 1-9%. Not necessarily each card having to be in that range.
The last thing I'd want anyone to do is overly micromanage their accounts.
You normally have 25 days from the statement date to pay your balances without a interest penalty..

Use the float to your advantage. I normally don't concern myself with how many CCs report. The couple of points that bounce up and down are insignificant. Especially with scores 750 and up.
Unless it's something you like to do. Just use your CCs normally and set your auto pay on each to pay the statement balance.

You can build credit without the hoop jumping. Allow those CCs to work for you. Use them to YOUR advantage.

[Lancelot99]

So, just to close the loop on this.

Citi called me back this morning and continued with their denial.  My scores at the time of the pull were 826, 825, and 816, with 1% utilization.  C1 gave me $20k and Chase $17.1k during this spree.

Consider this a lesson learned by me to show balances on the statement in order to show more significant utilization.

The recon lady was very nice but could not advise me when to apply again.  I asked her what she would do personally because she mentioned she had a Citi DC card and she said she usually waits 6 months to show utilization before applying for a card.

I guess that sounds about right but wondered if you all think I need to wait 6 months from now to apply for Citi again.  How long must I really wait?

[FinStar]

6 months, as suggested, if not longer now that you have added some new accounts to your profile. The new accounts will be factored the next time you apply, but as anything, YEMV.

It could be doable at that point if you follow the advice that folks have provided upthread.

[Lancelot99]

I'll follow your advice and hold off until end of the year, early next year, at the least.

I had a simpleton's understanding of utilization, trying to maximize my scores by showing as little utilization as possible.  I understand it's more nuanced than that now and the credit is like a living organism, with normal ebbs and flows, depending on current usage.  This was my first spree and I haven't applied for a new card in well over a decade.  I thought I did my research, educating myself, but clearly there's more to learn.

I'm guessing it helped with C1 and Chase that I already bank with them but have no relationship with Citi since I burned them a decade ago.

Thanks!

[FinStar]

You got it.

Typically, once you've had some form of lending relationship with the issuer, it becomes more flexible to secure an approval (provided the profile supports it which in your case was a great outcome with Chase and Capital One). Some of the "behind the scenes" is derived from an internal or bevavioral score.

The same would occur once you are approved for your first Citi card and any additional CC products thereafter.

[Anonymous]

I'd just like to throw in my data points, because oddly enough I was going through a very similar mindset and circumstance.  All my baddies have just dropped off and my scores have all but broken into the 800s.  I have been patient and diligent and wanted to make sure everything was set up and on point for AOR that I have been waiting years for.  

I too set my eyes on Citi DC.  No real hopes of me getting into Chase, but Citi, I definitely got a shot at.  I must have so many letters from them and the AAdvantage card throwing themselves offering me miles and rewards and APRs that are quite nice.  I thought I was a shoo-in and that I had a whale on the line, just had to reel him in.

The day after Christmas I was going to make my move.  Scores in the circa 800 range, no applications in about a year, utilization in the 5-6% range, no missed payments, not a speck on them, they were pristine as far as I can tell.

I sat down and went straight to the Citi app.  I knew, much like the OP that it would be a hell of an adrenaline rush -- a rollercoaster ride that had been many years in the making.  The long back and forth with the Bills and Judies in collections and the mailing off of letters with those miserable stickers on them saying they were certified.  It was gonna be worth it all.

With my eye on the prize, I sat down, and shot off the first app.  The PC I was on hung a little and it was excruciating watching the little circle spin and spin and .. Denied.  I couldn't believe it.  I was in total and utter shock.  I thought for sure I must have typed in something wrong.  So I went right to the Citi AAdvantage card, the one that I had been pre-approved for time and time again evidenced by the mountain of mail from Citibank begging me to open this card, and I typed in the code and ... denied, again, this time instantly.  

I was pissed.  I then went on to do PenFed, USAA, US Bank... nabbing their top cards each for 27,000k SL.  A 50k car loan? Sure, what the hell.  I didn't even know I was in the market to buy a car but I was angry.  In the end, I got almost 200,000 in credit extended to me, and not a single penny from Citibank.

The letters - I had to read the letters, it became an obsession.  When they finally came, I calmly waited until I got back from the mailbox before tearing into them, surely there was a misunderstanding.  Something had to have gone wrong.

Both letters say the exact same thing.  And I'm convinced that Citibank is being run by a bunch of 14 year olds sitting at a desk just laughing at us all.  Cruel little bastards.

Both letters said the exact same thing.  Gave the exact same reason.  

Both of them said I had submitted multiple applications for credit and they could not approve me.  For one of them to say it, that would make sense, that would be ok.. but both?  No, that's just straight up cruelty.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I'd just like to throw in my data points, because oddly enough I was going through a very similar mindset and circumstance.  All my baddies have just dropped off and my scores have all but broken into the 800s.  I have been patient and diligent and wanted to make sure everything was set up and on point for AOR that I have been waiting years for.  

I too set my eyes on Citi DC.  No real hopes of me getting into Chase, but Citi, I definitely got a shot at.  I must have so many letters from them and the AAdvantage card throwing themselves offering me miles and rewards and APRs that are quite nice.  I thought I was a shoo-in and that I had a whale on the line, just had to reel him in.

The day after Christmas I was going to make my move.  Scores in the circa 800 range, no applications in about a year, utilization in the 5-6% range, no missed payments, not a speck on them, they were pristine as far as I can tell.

I sat down and went straight to the Citi app.  I knew, much like the OP that it would be a hell of an adrenaline rush -- a rollercoaster ride that had been many years in the making.  The long back and forth with the Bills and Judies in collections and the mailing off of letters with those miserable stickers on them saying they were certified.  It was gonna be worth it all.

With my eye on the prize, I sat down, and shot off the first app.  The PC I was on hung a little and it was excruciating watching the little circle spin and spin and .. Denied.  I couldn't believe it.  I was in total and utter shock.  I thought for sure I must have typed in something wrong.  So I went right to the Citi AAdvantage card, the one that I had been pre-approved for time and time again evidenced by the mountain of mail from Citibank begging me to open this card, and I typed in the code and ... denied, again, this time instantly.  

I was pissed.  I then went on to do PenFed, USAA, US Bank... nabbing their top cards each for 27,000k SL.  A 50k car loan? Sure, what the hell.  I didn't even know I was in the market to buy a car but I was angry.  In the end, I got almost 200,000 in credit extended to me, and not a single penny from Citibank.

The letters - I had to read the letters, it became an obsession.  When they finally came, I calmly waited until I got back from the mailbox before tearing into them, surely there was a misunderstanding.  Something had to have gone wrong.

Both letters say the exact same thing.  And I'm convinced that Citibank is being run by a bunch of 14 year olds sitting at a desk just laughing at us all.  Cruel little bastards.

Both letters said the exact same thing.  Gave the exact same reason.  

Both of them said I had submitted multiple applications for credit and they could not approve me.  For one of them to say it, that would make sense, that would be ok.. but both?  No, that's just straight up cruelty.

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Thats funny, Ive had the same experience as you and OP.  App'd and scores were About ~800 no baddies, no lates, no bk, and no approval lol.  I make 6 figures and have 2 cards w them now (expedia ty & bestbuy) that I max out a few times a month 10k+ and PIF prior to bill closing.  Still wouldnt budge on a business card- reason being too many recent Inquiries.  I accredit NFCU for running 10 inquiries at the time for CLI's I thought they were SP's but apparently they run my reports everytime now haha.

[Anonymous]

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Thats funny, Ive had the same experience as you and OP.  App'd and scores were About ~800 no baddies, no lates, no bk, and no approval lol.  I make 6 figures and have 2 cards w them now (expedia ty & bestbuy) that I max out a few times a month 10k+ and PIF prior to bill closing.  Still wouldnt budge on a business card- reason being too many recent Inquiries.  I accredit NFCU for running 10 inquiries at the time for CLI's I thought they were SP's but apparently they run my reports everytime now haha.

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Yes, NFCU is my undoing too.  Great bank, one of the few I don't actively loathe but they too will check my report 10 times for a CLI. I guess there's a whole science to the process of timing it with your ARs.  

In going through your signature, we're almost credit twins.  Substitute my JCrew card for your Banana Republic and we're pracitcally identical.

[SFLSpotter9210]

I recently applied for Citi Rewards+ card on 1/17, and Citi Double Cash 1/21, and Citi Simplicity on 1/25. Was instantly approved for the first 2, but 7-10 notice on 3 rd due to not knowing or being a member on this forum. Well now I know. But still haven’t received my denial letter yet. On a positive note received my Rewards+ card today and broke it in at Capital Grille. Good luck with your recon.

[Pikaboo-icu]

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@SFLSpotter9210 wrote:
sorry for the repeat not used to this forum yet.

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Don't feel bad, I'm more than used to the site and I still do it from time to time. 

@AchievingDreams Sorry for the denial but that was an awesome read.. 

So sorry to those above that got denied for Citi! I'm rather befuzzled by it.  

I had way less of a profile but I app'd for Citi Costco first. "Twas approved and now I have prequals for several other Citi cards. Too bad I don't need any more cards! (Trying reconvince myself here). 

I believe the Costco is easier for UW. 

Anyway- sorry..