PenFed preapproval. Blew it or dodged a bullet?

Hex · ‎08-03-2020

So I love getting new cards and have been waiting for a Platinum Rewards preapproval and finally got one. Could have also gotten a Promise or a CLI on one of my PowerCash Rewards cards. Also got $50K on a new or used car. Last month got offered $10K for a used car (okay?) or a Promise or another card but only $4.6K and I wasn't offered the Platinum (I think because minimum $5K limit)- I was bummed.

Last night 9 pm I saw new offers. Decided to go for the Platinum card for $7K and kinda high 16.99% APR but I always pay in full and I got this:

Then I got this...

Once I got the error I had to cancel the application to leave the page. Or did I? Maybe I should have let it time out because now it's gone and when I called they said it might be a hard pull to apply. I don't want it that badly. I'm going to try for a mortgage soon and don't want any HP's. My BK scorecard means no penalty for new accounts so I was going to do it -but a HP is a dealbreaker. So my advice is -if you decide to accept a PenFed preapproval maybe it's best to do it during business hours (in case there is problem -and if there is DON'T LEAVE THE ERROR PAGE- CALL THEM! Or maybe just call in the app to begin with. Honestly the card isn't really that great I just kind of always wanted it. Plus I love getting new cards. Probably did dodge a bullet but still feel sad about it.

Irv02 · ‎08-03-2020

I think you dodged a bullet!! Get your mortgage first. Those cards will still be there waiting for you.

coldfusion · ‎08-03-2020

Let the sleeping dog lie, depending on exactly where the internal error occurred they may or may not have been able to recover internally and process the transaction.

If you see a new card show up on your account on around Thursday you'll know that they were successful.

(10/2025)
FICO 8 (EX) 838 (TU) 846 (EQ) 850
FICO 9 (EX) 850 (TU) 850 (EQ) 850

$1M+ club

Artist formerly known as the_old_curmudgeon who was formerly known as coldfusion

gregorius · ‎08-03-2020

If it did just error out without getting processed, there's a chance it'll show up again in September.

My PCR preapproval application last fall died before it was processed, but I wanted the card so I just took the HP. A few weeks later the exact same preapproval offer showed up again and I was able to turn it into a CLI!

M_Smart007 · ‎08-03-2020

@gregorius wrote:
If it did just error out without getting processed, there's a chance it'll show up again in September.

My PCR preapproval application last fall died before it was processed, but I wanted the card so I just took the HP. A few weeks later the exact same preapproval offer showed up again and I was able to turn it into a CLI!

Well Done!