Citi Mail Offer

[Anonymous]

I got a CC offer in the mail from Citi the other day for 50k AA miles when opening a new AAdvantage card but I had a Home Depot card that was issue by Citi Bank charged off back in 09. 

Does anyone know how reliable mail offers from Citi are and if they take into consideration past accounts before they send those offers? Also, does anyone know if Citi blacklists after a charge off? I dont really want to use an inquiry if I am going to be denied for a past account anyway.

[Anonymous]

This may get moved to the Credit Card Approval section, but with that being said, you would want to make sure that your credit is good enough to qualify for the card. Don't burn an inquiry if you don't think you're gonna meet the requirements.

[DantGwyrdd]

To me those always seemed more related to the fact I was in the frequent flier program in question rather than being actually pre-approved for the card based on any credit-related metrics. In other words, I apped for a couple of those (Citi AAdvantage & Amex Delta) way back and got declined every time so I'll second the poster above: make sure your credit is actually good enough.

[Anonymous]

My credit should be in the range that they will approve, I dont see that part really being an issue. It is the previous charge off that I was really worried about. 

[crrredit]

Try Citi's pre-qualifying site to see if anything comes up. If you do get an offer there, even if it's not the AA card, that's probably a good sign. 

[Anonymous]

That is a good idea. I didnt even think about the prequal site. I will give that a try.

[RobertEG]

There are different provisions relating to unsolicited offers for credit.

The main distinction relating to whether they must honor the offer is whether they used the procedure set forth in FCRA 604(c) in making the offer.

Creditors can submit a statment of criteria to a CRA and obtaih a listing of consumers whose credit files are found by the CRA to meet those criteria.

That enables creditors to narrow the field to consumers who are pre-screend based on their current credit file.

Offers made to consumers based on a listing of names provided by a CRA are "firm offers for credit" as defined under the FCRA, and must be honoried if the consumer applies and it found to still meet the stated criteria.

Did the offer state that it was being made based on a listng provided by a CRA?

If so, it is a firm offer for credit as defined under the FCRA.

[cartwrna]

It should say towards the middle/bottom "This is a Pre Screened offer etc eye if you want to Opt out etc etc". If it says that and your profile hasn't changed you are golden! My wife just got one for the Citi Diamond and it was an instant approval.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all. When I get home later I will have to check the exact wording of the offer

[takeshi74]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Does anyone know how reliable mail offers from Citi are and if they take into consideration past accounts before they send those offers?

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Any offer from any creditor is just marketing.  Even preapps are not a guarantee no matter how "solid" people may say some are on here.  Do not simply repsond to offers.  Use your needs/wants to select cards that suit you and apply for them when your credit is in shape.