Update: APPROVED! Applied for Chase Freedom!

[Anonymous]

I'm helping my brother establish credit. He has a very thin profile so far. He has 2 credit cards and 1 auto loan reporting on his reports. That is all. We narrowed it down to the Chase Freedom or Citi DC to build his foundation. He would have use for both cards. We did prequal for Chase and Citi, but nothing came up. His CR were frozen and he just did a temporary lift yesterday. Maybe that's why there weren't any prequals? We checked for prequal after the freeze lift btw. Does he have a chance doing cold apps with either Chase or Citi? Should he wait until there are prequals available before he applies? Can he apply for both or break up apps 6 months apart? Below are his DP. Please ask if there is any other information you need to determine his chances of approval. Thanks for all your help!

Age: 28
Auto loan: Joint; Paid 61% of the original amount
Discover: $2/$5,800
Amex BCE: $0/$18,000
TU FICO 8: 790
EX FICO 8: 776
CK TU: 754
CK EQ: 754
INQ: TU - 0, EQ - 2, EX - 0 (last 12 months)
AoOA: 1 year 10 months (Discover)
AoYA: 1 year 1 month (AMEX BCE)
AAoA: 1 year 7 months
Revolving utilization: less than 1%
Missed payments: 0
Derogs/Collections: 0
5/24 Rule: 2/24 (not including auto loan)

[Remedios]

I think his chances for both cards are pretty good.
I'd space apps 3-6 months apart, with Chase being first. Cold app is fine, prequal is not a guarantee anyway.

[Eagered2succeed]

Agree with above. Definitely apply with chase first. Although I doubt he will have to recon it would be easy as chase likes to see 6 months to a year of credit age. Good luck look foward to approval story in the approval section of this forum 😁.

[Priory_Man]

I honestly cannot see any reason Chase or Citi would not give him the card he is looking for.
As has been mentioned space the apps, go for the Chase card first.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for reviewing his DP and suggesting how to proceed!

So he went ahead and applied for the Chase Freedom. No instant approval, unfortunately. Got a message stating the following:

"Thank you for your request. We need to review your request a little longer. We will let you know of our decision as soon as possible. Thank you for choosing the Chase Freedom Credit Card."

Does anyone know what the outcome typically could be? Should he call a backdoor number or wait it out?

[Remedios]

Wait it out, dont try talking to humans unless it's denied

He can use the automated line to check status 800-524-3880

[Anonymous]

So he called the automated status line. He told me it said "You'll be notified in writing of our decision within 30 days of us receiving your application."

Is there a chance?

[Remedios]

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@Anonymous wrote:
So he called the automated status line. He told me it said "You'll be notified in writing of our decision within 30 days of us receiving your application."

Is there a chance?

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Yes. I think he will be approved 

Sometimes it takes them a day, sometimes a few weeks 

It's probably verification, they are not shy about auto denials. 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for walking us through this process!

You think he should call and talk to a human in case it's for verification?

[Remedios]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Thanks for walking us through this process!

You think he should call and talk to a human in case it's for verification?

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If he wants to call and ask if something else is needed from him, he can

I'd still let the process play itself, but that's just me

I got transferred to underwriter once (I thought it was verification,  it was not), and it was like a really bad blind date that turned into interrogation.  

If he's that impatient, call.