So I am in the market for a Macbook Pro. I have plenty of options for purchase, but would like to take advantage of a zero interest, points earning situation. I'll need to carry a balance for a few months. Lots of good refurb or educator deals via Apple, but tax generally evens it out. However, Discover offers 5% through their shopping portal.
I did the preapproval site and was preapproved for a Discover It, with 14 months same as cash, but I am interested in hearing what the success rate is for "preapprovals" after actual app. I have a paid state tax lien from 2009 and a 30 day late from 2006. No other baddies.
Quick profile- MyFico EQ is 702, Experian score (from their website) is 747, TU Fako is over 700. I have inquiries on Experian and Equifax from last July and December from Chase Yes; they HPed BOTH). No inquiries on TU at all.
Highest limit that shows is a CSP at 10,000. I also have Freedom @$7500, and an Ink (hidden tradline--it doesn't report), also at $10,000. I had to recon CSP and Ink, and the CLI from Freedom, but Chase iamazing on recon, so all was good there. I have various store cards and no subprimes. Util is at or below 10%. AAoA is 6 years.
Thoughts? My scores are ridiculously sensitive to everything...one inquiry last year (ONE!) dropped me 11 points, and that was before the card reported, so it wasn't because my AAoA changed). I knwo I could just get the Barclay card from Apple, but thought the It might be a better card to have. I've also considered and been "prequalified" for BOA and Citi, but this is the first time I have EVER been "preapproved" for anything, which has me a bit excited.
I was approved in Jan with scores similar to yours. I also have a paid state tax lien from 2006. I did not try their pre approval website - I app'ed from here.
Good luck if you go for it!
Good luck if you go for it!
Your fine. If it was unpaid you might have difficulties but I say your good to go.
Thanks so much! I am gearing up to do this and it is very helpful to hear from others who have gotten a Discover with a paid lien, or gotten a Discover without the preapproval from the site. I appreciate the feedback; I'm going to take a few days to decide and then will report back so that my exoerience can/will be helpful to others.
Who do they generally pull?
I got several pre-approvals in the months prior and then decided to apply. well did not get it 
..app cancelled.. ..reason never revealed. asked for a denial letter so I could get a free report at least. then all the sudden got approved but with a lower CL...still have no clue why my app,got cancelled at first...called several times to find out but no one would reveal the secret to me. my EQ Fico was 793 at time of application. No badies, AaoA 8+ yrs, '2% util, 1% dti...remains a mystery and if I did not ask for a denial letter rather than a cancellation letter I would have never been approved. some lenders are a simple mystery to me...YMMV 
..app cancelled.. ..reason never revealed. asked for a denial letter so I could get a free report at least. then all the sudden got approved but with a lower CL...still have no clue why my app,got cancelled at first...called several times to find out but no one would reveal the secret to me. my EQ Fico was 793 at time of application. No badies, AaoA 8+ yrs, '2% util, 1% dti...remains a mystery and if I did not ask for a denial letter rather than a cancellation letter I would have never been approved. some lenders are a simple mystery to me...YMMV
Updated: Approved for Discover It! Thank you for your help, everyone.