FNBO unable to search for pre-qualify due to my credit reports being frozen?

[KillingThemGingerly]

So on a whim I thought I would check with FNBO to see what cards they could pre-qualify me for. After inputting my info I was told there were zero cards they could pre-qualify me for. Having a good credit score, I thought that was strange. I figured maybe they didn't want to pre-qual me since I am in Georgia far away from any of their actual branches. It also said they would send me a letter with further details. 

Anyway! Long-story-short, when the letter came it said they could not pre-qualify me because my credit reports were frozen. While it's true my reports are frozen, if pre-qualifying is just a soft pull anyway why would my reports being frozen stop them from being able to do a pre-qual? 

[Marie4580]

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@KillingThemGingerly wrote:

So on a whim I thought I would check with FNBO to see what cards they could pre-qualify me for. After inputting my info I was told there were zero cards they could pre-qualify me for. Having a good credit score, I thought that was strange. I figured maybe they didn't want to pre-qual me since I am in Georgia far away from any of their actual branches. It also said they would send me a letter with further details. 

Anyway! Long-story-short, when the letter came it said they could not pre-qualify me because my credit reports were frozen. While it's true my reports are frozen, if pre-qualifying is just a soft pull anyway why would my reports being frozen stop them from being able to do a pre-qual? 

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 I figured it was due to my bk, wanted to see if they were bk friendly a few weeks ago. Applied and got a letter that Said I was denied due to: OUTSIDE OF OUR MARKETING AREA

[KillingThemGingerly]

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@Marie4580 wrote:

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@KillingThemGingerly wrote:

So on a whim I thought I would check with FNBO to see what cards they could pre-qualify me for. After inputting my info I was told there were zero cards they could pre-qualify me for. Having a good credit score, I thought that was strange. I figured maybe they didn't want to pre-qual me since I am in Georgia far away from any of their actual branches. It also said they would send me a letter with further details. 

Anyway! Long-story-short, when the letter came it said they could not pre-qualify me because my credit reports were frozen. While it's true my reports are frozen, if pre-qualifying is just a soft pull anyway why would my reports being frozen stop them from being able to do a pre-qual? 

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 I figured it was due to my bk, wanted to see if they were bk friendly a few weeks ago. Applied and got a letter that Said I was denied due to: OUTSIDE OF OUR MARKETING AREA

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Yes the outside of marketing area was the reason I suspected the letter would say, but instead it said they couldn't give me an answer since my credit was frozen. 

[OmarGB9]

Creditors with whom you don't have a preexisting relationship can't HP or SP you when your file is locked.

[Anonymous]

Alas, the same thing happened to me. To go on when I had my files unfrozen for other purposes I strolled over and dropped a a pre-qualifying app in and was notified it would tentatively be approved and the credit limit. Did not pursue but was only curious.

[KillingThemGingerly]

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@OmarGB9 wrote:

Creditors with whom you don't have a preexisting relationship can't HP or SP you when your file is locked.

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I honestly had no idea. I really thought anyone could do a soft pull even if my credits were frozen. 

[OmarGB9]

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@KillingThemGingerly wrote:

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@OmarGB9 wrote:

Creditors with whom you don't have a preexisting relationship can't HP or SP you when your file is locked.

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I honestly had no idea. I really thought anyone could do a soft pull even if my credits were frozen. 

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No, there are just a few exceptions on who can pull a frozen report. I believe rent companies maybe and background checks are those exceptions. 

[crystal626]

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@KillingThemGingerly wrote:

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@OmarGB9 wrote:

Creditors with whom you don't have a preexisting relationship can't HP or SP you when your file is locked.

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I honestly had no idea. I really thought anyone could do a soft pull even if my credits were frozen. 

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That would defeat the purpose of a freeze if accounts could still be opened. 

[SDMarik]

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@Marie4580 wrote:

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@KillingThemGingerly wrote:

So on a whim I thought I would check with FNBO to see what cards they could pre-qualify me for. After inputting my info I was told there were zero cards they could pre-qualify me for. Having a good credit score, I thought that was strange. I figured maybe they didn't want to pre-qual me since I am in Georgia far away from any of their actual branches. It also said they would send me a letter with further details. 

Anyway! Long-story-short, when the letter came it said they could not pre-qualify me because my credit reports were frozen. While it's true my reports are frozen, if pre-qualifying is just a soft pull anyway why would my reports being frozen stop them from being able to do a pre-qual? 

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 I figured it was due to my bk, wanted to see if they were bk friendly a few weeks ago. Applied and got a letter that Said I was denied due to: OUTSIDE OF OUR MARKETING AREA

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I got the outside of marketing area recently as well. A couple of months ago I got pre-qualed for $15k at 12 (ish?)%, but didn't pull the trigger. I tried again recently as the card is one that I have wanted, and it gave me the "outside of marketing area". I guess it's not uncommon for regional banks to tighten up when there is uncertainty looming in the market. I'll be sure to jump on it as soon as it's available to me again!

[KillingThemGingerly]

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@crystal626 wrote:

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@KillingThemGingerly wrote:

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@OmarGB9 wrote:

Creditors with whom you don't have a preexisting relationship can't HP or SP you when your file is locked.

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I honestly had no idea. I really thought anyone could do a soft pull even if my credits were frozen. 

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That would defeat the purpose of a freeze if accounts could still be opened. 

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To open an account yes, but I wasn't going to apply just yet. I was just seeing what they would pre-qualify me for. Since this would only be a SP I was under the mistaken impression they could SP with my reports frozen.