Chase Freedom - apply or not apply?

[Anonymous]

I have been mulling over whether I should reapply for the Chase Freedom or not.I was denied in August 2010.

I called their CSR twice, once the general inquiry line and the next time the lending department (recon number listed on this forum). The CSR said that there is a wait between a denied application and a reapplication of 6 months. The lending person said that was not the case and that there is NO wait.

However, on the online application form, it says the following:

"I have NOT been denied credit by Chase within the last 6 months"

So, is this rule firm? If I checked it, I would be lying. If I don't check it, I cannot proceed with the application.

My EQ FICO score at the time (late Aug. 2010) was 764. Now it is 768. I have added three new cards in August/September 2010. I've also been added as an AU to a card with 13 year history.

My score is roughly the same again as when I applied. However, this time my portofolio is bigger. Two accounts at the time. Now there are six. Util is 1%. Overall CL is approx. $40k.

There is zero negative info on my reports. At the time I was declined for too short a history (4.5. AAoA) and too small a monthly balance. I have a feeling, though, that this is all so random and willy-nilly as I've seen people with much shorter history getting approved.

What would you do?

[trumpet-205]

You probably should wait. Though have you ever consider applying over the phone?

[Creditaddict]

6 months is hard rule.... the only time I have heard of the 6 months being by-passed was an application for the Amazon visa... but I think this person was approved for both, not applying again after a denial

[Anonymous]

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@trumpet-205 wrote:

You probably should wait. Though have you ever consider applying over the phone?

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No. Makes me uncomfortable. The guy from the lending dep. at Chase that I spoke with today said three times very clearly that this call was being recorded. It created an unpleasant atmosphere as if he had to protect himself from me. I got wishy-washy information when I tried to dig deeper and ask about the details on what the criteria are for the Freedom. Lots of hemming and hawing. I inquired about my recon letter that I had sent and to which I had never received a response from Chase. To which he responded that this had never been recorded. He offered up an opinion how this might have been lost in the mail. On  at least four occasions during that five minute call he mentioned that I should talk to "my financial advisor" in order to "make sure that the information on my report is accurate."

I have stopped taking these conversations seriously. They mean nothing. I was just trying to dislodge some information that's basically useless. What's written is written: It says clearly on the online application form that one has to NOT have been denied credit from Chase for the last six months. I mean, whatever the guy on the phone tells me is irrelevant when compared to what's on the page,. isn't it? Oral agreements/claims don't count unless I record them and adduce them as evidence.

[Anonymous]

Have you considered other alternatives like the Discover more card? They both pretty much do the same thing with the 5%.

[Anonymous]

I would wait for a better chance of approval in the future.

[trumpet-205]

One bad thing about Discover is that other purchases are up to 1% cashback

First $3000 annual purchases - 0.25% cashback

Remaining - 1% cashback

0.25% cashback on discount store period.

[Anonymous]

I have the Discover already. Now I want that one as well.  But yes, I will wait the six months.

[Anonymous]

oh I didn't know it started at .25% and stayed that way for discount stores.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

oh I didn't know it started at .25% and stayed that way for discount stores.

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Well, here you have the reason why I use the card only for their special categories.