Comenity In-store pre-approval a Soft Pull?

[Anonymous]

I was shopping tonight and was fully prepared to pay cash (or pay with my Qs1 card and pay that from my bank account) when she said the words "You've been pre-qualified for our store card".

I was leary because I just saw some nice point gains last week and didn't want to mess it all up with a new inquiry and a new account and lose points and drive down my AAoA. You KNOW....all the things we rebuilders are trying to be mindful of. And yet....I fell prey to the card. I tried to console myself and say that it will be good for UTl. numbers and total avail credit but still wondering if it will be a hard or soft pull.

I have a few other cards with comenity so I'm hoping they were just like "ohhhh it's that person" yeah...we remember you....come on over to the dark side. Lol

[Anonymous]

Tough one. It sounds like a shopping cart trick in person, but from what I understand most in person account set ups involve HPs. You're right that the advantage on util/available will eventually offset the hit. The aaoa is unavoidable either way, so just take a deep breath and make peace. 

[Anonymous]

That's exactly what I said: in store shopping cart trick. The really weird thing is that I saw what I wanted on their website the other day, was prepared to ship to the store and got no shopping cart pop up.

Kinda threw me off when it came up in the store. I stalk my changes daily so I'm sure I'll find out if it was a HP eventually.

The one good thing is that I only shop there once in a while so managing the account should be easy and I'll try not to stress over the inevitable temporary point loss next month.

I'm finding that credit is like the stock market. There will be gains and losses. You have to be in it for the long haul.

[RobertEG]

The only certainty is that it is a consumer initiated request for credit, and thus they have permissible purpose, which permits the inquiry to be coded as hard.

The FCRA only requires inquiries to be coded soft if they are promotional inquiries for offerting credti that was not initiated by the consumer.

Beyond that, you get into issues of their normal practice and promises made by store or other personnel who dont know that they are talking about.

[Anonymous]

Hmmmm that sounds an awful lot like the odds of a HP are in my favor (or not so much in my favor as they are likely).

I'm not applying for anything serious like a mortgage or car loan. I will be apartment hunting in about 6 months or so. I would hope (provided I don't do any damage) that the weight of a HP now would have lightened by that time.

[Anonymous]

It will be a hardpull...

[Anonymous]

Just updating: my CK update came out today and there was no mention of a HP for this account. I also have the myFico alerts and as of right now, no new HP has been reported.

[Anonymous]

I've been trying to get some store credit but have been unsuccessful.  Granted in discharge chapter 7 as of Jan. 15.  I have credit card but was think a store card would help.  I've been trying the pop up trick but haven't seen any.  What I'm I doing wrong?  What are the actual steps?

[Creditaddict]

what store?

[Anonymous]

Overstock, J Crew..the commentity store.