How can I get pre-approval offers?

Girac · ‎03-05-2015

I see pre-approvals all the time here, how would I get pre-approved?

Can I go to the bank's website or would I need to get offers in the mail?

drjones · ‎03-05-2015

There are a lot of pre-approval offers available online. You can also get pre-approval offers via email or snail mail.

Here's a good list:

http://www.doctorofcredit.com/view-personalized-credit-card-offers/

Chase Sapphire Reserve - $18,000 - Jan '17

Chase Freedom Unlimited - $30,000 - Mar '15

Amex Blue Cash Preferred - $35,000 - Mar '15

Wells Fargo Visa Signature - $13,500 - Sep '07

Starting (2/15): 580, Current (9/17): 725, Goal (12/17): 740

Jarnog · ‎03-05-2015

Different ways.

First, be sure that you are opt'd in to recieve offers.

Second, as you stated, get offers in the mail (if you are opt'd in)

Third there are issuer sites that provide a chance to see if you are pre-approved - Chase (solid), Cap One (solid), Amex (50/50?), Citi (50/50), BofA (meh), Discover (meh).

Those in parenthesis mean that if you are pre approved on their site, the likelyhood of getting approved, just from what I have read here

Then there is CardMatch - which is another meh site as they do look at profile but are going to offer cards that they get the advertising bucks from, so definitely not to be trusted like you might want to. Although, some of the offers they have for certain banks could be beneficial, like if you see a 100k point Amex offer or something like that.

I don't really have super experience with any of these, as my credit is not acceptable enough to get any pre-quals, this information I relay is just from reading these boards over the past couple of years or so

Hope this helps a little

Aarvard · ‎03-05-2015

@Girac wrote:
I see pre-approvals all the time here, how would I get pre-approved?
Can I go to the bank's website or would I need to get offers in the mail?

I had never received any pre-approval until yesterday when Chase sent me a 50k points offer for Southwest Rapid Reward Premier. I did try several times last week on Chase website but nothing came up, so I guess if you try hard enough they will be annoyed and send out offers to stop you from bugging their site?

03/25/2015 TU 08 765, EX 08 747, EQ 08 757, EQ 04 754.
01/30/2016 TU 08 775, EX 08 752, EQ 08 744
Goal: 780+ across all models.

Anonymous · ‎03-05-2015

A lot of it has to do with your scores and having bureaus with higher limits.

If you are opted in, the credit card offers that are not sub prime will show up in your mail or on prequals sites frequently for people with scores solidly above 700-720.

kawaiiguy · ‎03-05-2015

Most of the MAJOR lenders will be able to tell you right away on their site if you are pre-qualified or not. I just go to their credit cards section and look for a "find my offer" or something similar link. As long it is something where you give you name, address, and last 4 of your SSN (does NOT affect your credit as long as it is just the last 4) it should be pretty accurate. If they don't say you are a match chances are you wont get it and unless you have the inquiries to waste I wouldn't reccommend it. I know chase and cap 1 both have good pre-qual webpages and they are pretty spot-on with matching you up.

Good luck!

Bank America Better Balance Rewards $17,000

Anonymous · ‎03-06-2015

@kawaiiguy wrote:
Most of the MAJOR lenders will be able to tell you right away on their site if you are pre-qualified or not. I just go to their credit cards section and look for a "find my offer" or something similar link. As long it is something where you give you name, address, and last 4 of your SSN (does NOT affect your credit as long as it is just the last 4) it should be pretty accurate. If they don't say you are a match chances are you wont get it and unless you have the inquiries to waste I wouldn't reccommend it. I know chase and cap 1 both have good pre-qual webpages and they are pretty spot-on with matching you up.

Good luck!

This is not true. I've only gotten 5 of my 15 or so card from pre-qualifiers(CreditOne, VS, Overstock, FSB, and Blaze). The rest was from blind apping. I've never had been pre-qualified for chase and I am 3 out of 4 for card applications. It's YMMV, of course, but to say that the chances are that you wont be approved is not correct.

TURNERHOOVER · ‎03-06-2015

I believe most who recieve preapproved offers are (opted-in) and have at least 2/3 scores above 700 or at least one. I may be incorrect of course. Just going from personal expierience

Anonymous · ‎03-06-2015

Please don't get overly concerned about preapprovals. I have scores in the lower 800s and never get any. You're far better to check out what are the requirements for particular cards, review your credit file and then apply if you generally fall within the parameters of approvals. Even with a 'preapproval' you can be denied

Anonymous · ‎03-06-2015

@kawaiiguy wrote:
Most of the MAJOR lenders will be able to tell you right away on their site if you are pre-qualified or not. I just go to their credit cards section and look for a "find my offer" or something similar link. As long it is something where you give you name, address, and last 4 of your SSN (does NOT affect your credit as long as it is just the last 4) it should be pretty accurate. If they don't say you are a match chances are you wont get it and unless you have the inquiries to waste I wouldn't reccommend it. I know chase and cap 1 both have good pre-qual webpages and they are pretty spot-on with matching you up.

Good luck!

As pointed out already that is incorrect and poor advice. I never get matches and generally have no problem getting approved.