How does the whole 'applying for two cards with one pull' thing work?

[daveg38]

I see many people who apply for one Capital One card and turn around (in the same breath) and apply for another (getting approved for both in many cases) without another HP...

How does that work (doing multiple apps with one pull)? Is it a browser trick?

[Anonymous]

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@daveg38 wrote:

I see many people who apply for one Capital One card and turn around (in the same breath) and apply for another (getting approved for both in many cases) without another HP...

How does that work (doing multiple apps with one pull)? Is it a browser trick?

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No, no trick.  Just apply for one after the other.  It's not uncommon for creditors to make use of only one credit pull (well really 3 in CO's case) to determine their decision on more than one credit application done close together.  Amex does it, Chase does it, as well as other creditors.  Of course, there is never any guarantee that they'll do this so always be prepared for more than one HP if you apply for more than one card.

[Anonymous]

http://www.doctorofcredit.com/card-issuers-that-combine-multiple-credit-pullsinquiries/

no longer a browser trick, the multiple browser method, aka 2BM, 3BM is a thing of the past.

I have noticed chase bank get a little quirky though so if I was apping for more than one card with them I would have the apps all open and submit them as close together as possible.

It used to be a trick, now its not. Its not always guaranteed to work either.

[daveg38]

So I suppose if I got on my iPad and did one app while doing another on my desktop, and clicked 'submit' simultaneously, the apps would each pull separate reports?

[Anonymous]

I would make sure this is an absolute need first.  You really dont need to use two different devices. And its not going to change your odds.  You can use one or the other.

Have you been preapproved for any capital one products? What is your actual goal as far as adding cards go?

[daveg38]

Well, this is all "preemptive thinking".

I am devising a plan when I get through this CH7. Part of that plan is education on applying, utilization, gardening, timing.

I know YMMV applies to everything credit related, but a decent idea how things work will help me make better choices.

Ultimately, Discover IT, Citi Double Cash, Venture, QS1, a store card like Lowes and then a mortgage is my plan of attack - still working on what order to do it all in.

Editor's note: 2 Cap 1 cards (one Capital one, one Orchard Bank bought by Cap 1) are IIB

[UncleB]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I would make sure this is an absolute need first.  You really dont need to use two different devices. And its not going to change your odds.  You can use one or the other.

Have you been preapproved for any capital one products? What is your actual goal as far as adding cards go?

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+1000

Just to add some background, on the 'technical' side of the 2-for-1 there's a bit of "mystery' as to exactly where the inquiries are combined.  Specifically, Amex CSRs have historically been adamant that they do a HP for every application, yet if you apply for a charge and revolver on the same day it usually results in only one HP.

Keeping with the Amex example, some folks say that there actually are two HPs, but the credit bureaus will 'merge' them into one if they are from the same day (possibly thinking it to be in error).  This idea has been supported when folks apply late in the day (close to midnight for the issuer), and end up with 2 HPs, each in a different day.

Personally, I don't concern myself with if the HPs are combined at the bureau or with the issuer... as long as it works (and while it's not guaranteed, many times it does) I'm a happy camper.  Using multiple devices would simply add moving parts that could cause each HP to be separate, so if it were me (and when it was me last year) I would just keep it simple, and do one app after the other, on the same device.