Forgive Me Discover Secured for I Have Sinned

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys. I really appreciate the FSR. 💛
It would also help to know how Discover decides things. I've seen people graduate fairly quickly and others languish for 24 months. And, the "declined card" email that mentioned responsible credit use didn't help.

[Anonymous]

I've had it only 4 months

[FinStar]

Ok, it sounds like your account is still fairly in its infancy. So, while some cardmembers may graduate sooner than others, just keep in mind that every profile is different. I would set an expectation of roughly 12+ months and go from there.

If it graduates early, then great! Otherwise, just stay the course and continue to build your history with them and eventually your card will be eligible for graduation. Again, don't compare your profile or graduation track with others, every path is unique regardless of similarities on the surface.

[Anonymous]

This happened to me when my Disco was still secured.  I was renting a car and didn't know that the rental company was trying to charge the cost of the rental plus a security deposit.  The transaction was declined twice, until I realized what was happening and used a different card.  My Disco graduated shortly after the 7th statement cut, so I wouldn't worry about the declined transaction.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, 9ball! Best reply yet. 😊

[CivalV]

You should be fine. I had this happen to me as well. Many times actually lol

I have my boyfriend as an AU so he makes purchases. Silly me didn’t check available credit and purchases were declined. I graduated right at the 7th month mark more so my 7th statement. Also my TU was low 611 & UTL high, if I can remember correctly it was about 70%! Went from a $300CL to a $2000CL. Voila haha

[RehabbingANDBlabbing]

OP, my Discover just graduated this week and I have had plenty of declined transactions during the time I've had the card. I've also been over limit, but I have paid off the balance in full multiple times a month. They gave me a CLI to $2,000 from $700 as well. It's not going to stop you from graduating. 

[wasCB14]

I've had mine for nearly five years. Never secured, always within limit, perfect payments...and they still decline my charges now and then!

So I use the card less, and that may make them more willing to decline it when I do!

[ocdcreditmonkey]

@XtraCredit
When I just saw your post I nearly fell off my chair! Finally, someone as neurotic as me 😉
So, I had the same question back in November '18 when my mobile phone carrier had system problems and submitted my autopayment multiple times resulting in some of the attempts being declined for no available credit. Furious to think my graduation could depend on something that was not my fault and because I was making everyone around me crazy I decided to just ask them. I sent an email (not a chat) through their secure message system in the app and explained my concern about not graduating. Here is the exact response I received on 11/09/2018:

"Thank you for your message regarding your Discover credit card account. I understand how important it is to know how your account is evaluated and I am happy to assist you today!
We'll automatically review your credit card account monthly beginning with your seventh billing cycle, February 2, 2019, to see if we can return your security deposit while you continue to enjoy your card benefits. These reviews are based on responsible credit management across all of your credit cards and loans. Let me assure you that the reviews are not based on declined charges on your account."

I hope this relieves your worries. As you can see, the reason I am stalking the Discover boards is because my 7th statement cuts TOMORROW! Of course, because I am crazypants...it happens to fall on a weekend and I may not know anything until the middle of next week 🤯

Good luck to you 🍀

***UPDATE***UPDATE***UPDATE***
AT 0022 ON 02/06/2019, EXACTLY 2 DAYS AFTER STATEMENT POSTED (DUE TO STATEMENT DATE LANDING ON A WEEKEND) I LOGGED IN TO FIND THAT I HAD GRADUATED!!! CLEARLY THE DECLINED TRANSACTIONS HAD ABSOLUTELY NO IMPACT ON THEIR DECISION, JUST AS THEIR SECURE EMAIL STATED 🤑🥳🤑🥳🤑

[Anonymous]

Opened secured Discover with $300 deposit on March 17, 2017. From April 24 that year to July 15, 2018 my card was declined 7 times.  =(

In August 2018 I added $500 to my deposit, securing an equivalent credit line increase. Since that time, no declines. Practically speaking, $300 requires a lot of management to keep the utilization in check.

This account has never graduated. Is that because of the times I exceeded my credit limit? I thought so, until I read about issuers intentionally keeping some secured cards in perpetuity as those card owners move from sub-prime to prime credit levels. A lot of folks keep those secured accounts on the books as their credit improves, and the issuers use those funds to attract investors to their sub-prime products.

Its a bit of a guessing game.