Hello all!
I unintentionally went on an app spree yesterday. I first applied for the Rakuten Visa because I use Rakuten all the time and was planning to purchase a computer using the card. I applied, put in my last name, last four of my SSN, and my email, and went through the whole application process. Unfortunately, I got the 7-10 day message. I thought, oh I must have been declined for too many new accounts or something. Well, upon checking, they did not attempt to pull my Experian report (which is currently locked, and they notify me if anyone tries) nor did they pull my TransUnion report (at least not a hard inquiry). Has anyone else gotten this after applying for a Synchrony card?
I tried calling some of the backdoor numbers listed on MyFICO afterwards, just in case my credit freeze or ID verification might need a little extra attention. But the representatives at the numbers I called didn't even know what Rakuten was! These were American-based Synchrony reps that seemed to be working from home. The lady literally had to search the web for Rakuten and pull up the credit app, but she still couldn't help me.
I ended up applying for the B&H Payboo card instead and getting approved for $4k, which was enough to cover my computer purchase. But I really want the Rakuten card regardless because I use them all the time. I checked and I have gotten $711.97 in cash back since I started using Rakuten/Ebates in 2013. So I would like to follow up on the app, but I have not yet been able to find a way to contact Synchrony regarding this particular card.
@CreditCuriosity wrote:Probably a denial due to exp being locked as not always notified of attempted pull if your TU wasn't pulled and it was unfroozen. Letter will state reason and that would be my guess... If you want to apply for credit keep your CR's all unfroozen if you really want the card is my only advise as SYNC won't try to pull after the fact even you if you unlock you must wait 30+ days to try again if you still want it.
I am going to watch the mail and see. I got approved for B&H Payboo with my EX locked. Experian emailed me saying they tried to pull the report, but they then pulled TU instead. And I was instantly approved for that one, so maybe this is a card-specific policy. I know people have said for years that Rakuten may be Synchrony's most difficult card to obtain. I'll report back if I get any calls or letters. :-)
I finally found a phone number for Rakuten Visa that worked! I went back through their site and scanned through the cardholder agreement. I then called the first number in there I could find, which was 855-697-4560. I think it is technically the customer service line, but once I put in my date of birth and SSN, the computer asked why I was calling. I said "application status" and I finally got through to the correct place. They said I was declined, which is fine. But the number is here in case anyone else needs it.
Synchrony apparently also pulls Sagestream and/or ARS for this card. Chances are, if your mother's college roommate was late on a phone bill in 1983, they are well aware of it. I've seen at least a dozen DPs of people with 800+ scores denied for it.
@Remedios wrote:I dont understand why you're trying to selectively lock your worst CRA, when you already have pre-existing relationships with Synch. They can SP your EX 55 times per day if they wanted to, and they probably have.
Unfortunately, you are wrong about that. Synchrony has never soft pulled my Experian. I monitor the soft pulls section of my Experian to see who is pulling it. Among my creditors, Target and Discover are the only ones pulling that report regularly. The only other soft pulls showing up on there are from credit monitoring, pre-quals, and Experian for disputes. Now, if you want to see who they pull, go look at a TU report. Synchrony is still soft pulling that report monthly for a Walmart card and an Old Navy card I had 10 years ago!
Why am I selectively locking my Experian? Because they refuse to fix the inaccurate items on my credit report despite blatant errors. I am now suing them and the report will remain locked until Experian starts following the law.
@K-in-Boston wrote:Synchrony apparently also pulls Sagestream and/or ARS for this card. Chances are, if your mother's college roommate was late on a phone bill in 1983, they are well aware of it. I've seen at least a dozen DPs of people with 800+ scores denied for it.
I keep my Sagestream and Innovis reports locked permanently. I have yet to be denied credit for having them locked. I also don't want to do business with any creditor that would deny me based on that report, so I'm pretty happy with this scenario.
You may want to close a number of your cards, then; particularly those issued by creditors you don't want to do business with, so I'd lose the new Payboo, the PayPal card, and whatever the $25,000 one in the upper right of your signature is for starters. Synchrony often sends out denials for "Applicant associated with multiple phone changes" or "Limited history of consumer at application phone number." Those reason codes are not coming from Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion.