Having issues with pre-qualifying online, help!

[Azza]

I am having a very difficult time prequalifying for things.

Right now while gardening, I am checking around to see what sort of cards I am prequalified for, and I would like to see how those offers improve as I garden. The only issue is I am getting blocked in a lot of places, and I'm not sure why.

Citi says no:

Experian says no:

whoa, Amex just popped up with some offers (surprising, I have never had a prequal through amex..)

uhhh, ok... so apparently I am either prequalified sometimes? or... what? Offers not available in Oregon via Experian? Is that true? And I have been working with Chase for 3+ years with my Citi Costco card, so I was hoping to perhaps see some offers.

Let me check Chase, even though I don't think I need a card through them...

Prequalified through NerdWallet for CSP and CFU at 15.99% and 14.99% respectively.

Hmm. What gives?

edit: ooh! Prequalified for the 75,000 point reward on Amex Gold card !! And 150,000 points on Hilton Honors Surpass, but I don't think I'd use that (going to study anyway)

[Anonymous]

Citi's pre-qual is n/a for everyone, since months ago

Experian doesn't have real pre-approved or pre-quals (except maybe Credit One)

If you have no Amex yet, you should consider the Gold 75K or Plat 125K offers via pre-qual and CardMatch before going for the basic cards

[Azza]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Citi's pre-qual is n/a for everyone, since months ago

Experian doesn't have real pre-approved or pre-quals (except maybe Credit One)

If you have no Amex yet, you should consider the Gold 75K or Plat 125K offers via pre-qual and CardMatch before going for the basic cards

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So, I've been eyeballing the Gold for the groceries and dining. It's a bump up from my Citi Costco card. The 75k offer is good, and the AF is alright. The Plat only has 60k points for me right now.

I want it but gardening... is so good...

[cashorcharge]

Just a few things:

The CITI prequal site has been down since APR.  I have been watching it myself as I was planning on getting their AA Card and have been keeping an eye on it for months now.  I decided to take other routes with FI's and will reapproach CITI in 2021 to see if their site is up and ready for business.  Of course you can still apply, but suffice to say...it could go either way.

Experian is similar to CreditKarma and Nerdwallet....they don't have a backdoor into banks for prequal offers for you.  Based on a SP score and their own algorithm, they make recommendations because they get PAID when you click the link, apply and then get APPROVED.  Their simply making money off of you by providing their best feedback.  Those offers are not guaranteed

Chase and AMEX are different in that it is rare to see a Chase Prequal offer (provided from their own site) decline...they are pretty solid.  I would venture to say "though not for 100% certain" that AMEX is also a pretty sure bet too...especially if they are on their own site getting that notice and especially if you've logged in so they know who you are.

Here are 2 threads you may want to read:

 https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/General-Credit-Topics/List-of-Soft-pull-PREAPPROVAL-Links-Updated-8... https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/General-Credit-Topics/The-quot-Which-Banks-Pull-Which-Report-For-Ap...

[AverageJoesCredit]

prequals dont always mean approvals so i wouldnt use them as a way to judge your credit worthiness. Ive never prequaled for anything, and no Navy prequals dont count.