I'll toss in my 2 cents:
@Anonymous wrote:
So my questions are:
Do they seem like legit pre approval?
Are most people successful receiving the cards after pre approval?
Should I choose one over the other for success?
Would one help my credit more than the other?
Should I try both?
Do they seem like legit pre approval?
Without knowing your scores, most likely. If Amex said your "YourNameHere, you are pre-approved!" Then yes I'd say that's solid. Discover is also, as already stated, known to be pretty reliable on the pre-approval screen for IT and Chrome cards.
Are most people successful receiving the cards after pre approval?
Again, from the two prequalification sites you mentioned, yes both have alot of positive feedback, in the Approvals section of this board.
Should I choose one over the other for success?
- I'd be less worried about the success of it, and more concerned over the best card for your choice.
- Off the bat the Amex PRG is a charge card, it won't necessarily help your utilization if that's one of your goals. It also has a $195 annual fee, so if you're rebuilding and it sounds like you are, I'd personally hold off on this one (Although they say Charges have less strict approval UW requirements.) This card is for frequent travelers, who consistently spend over $3,000 per year on flights and can make those purchases directly from the airlines.
- The Amex Green is also a charge card, only 1% cashback, and a $95 annual fee. I tend to say I also recommend holding off on it, but this would be less of a hit on the annual fee for you if you wanted to attempt a Charge and a Revolver to get into both the Amex and Discover family. However, as MaizeandBlue stated, the PRG card with the higher annual fee ultimately is more useful in the long haul.
- Discover IT is most likely the option I'd recommend knowing your background, as it offers decent rewards especially at the end of the year, no annual fee, and has good CLI over time based on reports here.
- Discoer Chrome is more useful if you focus your spending on Gas / Restaurants however is also a good choice, just depends on your personal needs.
Would one help my credit more than the other?
Either of the Discover cards, as they will provide you more available credit and will grow in time, thus lowering your utilization.
Should I try both?
Totally a personal preference call. If you are happy where you stand on your profile currently and truly want to get into Amex and Discover, many card holders here do opt for 2 cards. Only you know your financial situation and how far you have come, so if you think adding a Charge card (PIF each month) with an annual fee is easily doable, why not! Again, YMMV here.
Hopet his helps.
Congrats
that's a monster SL for them well done
@Anonymous wrote:Well I just applied for the Discover Cash Back. I had to call in and put on hold for what seemed like forever but was 7 minutes.
She came back and told me I was approved for $10k. But it does have a 24.74%. I am hopeful that with good standing they may lower that over time. I don't know if they do that or not though. This is the highest limit card I've ever had. Even when I had good credit my highest was $8k. But I had much lower income back then.
Thank you all here very much. I never would've applied if I hadn't gotten the responses from you or even checked my fico on Discover site.
Congrats on the approval!! That's a great SL from Discover, I wouldn't sweat the APR too much as long as you PIF then you're good to go. Glad it all worked out, and thus shows the reliability of the Discover Preapproval page .