How to get on Discover's radar?

[j_casteel]

I'm still in "rebuild" mode and have been gardening for about a month and plan to for the remainder of the year, but I'm possibly thinking about going for a Discover card eventually.

How the heck do i go about getting on their "radar"? I've opted in on the national opt-out website. I try using their pre-approval links on their sites for the past 3 months and have never gotten it to work on ANY and EVERY internet capable device i use both at home and work. It just gets stuck on the processig screen telling me "Just Seconds away from my new card..." it stays on that screen forever and then i just close the window out.

So am I just not on their radar? What are the min req's before they even start looking your way? I've app'd for them earlier this year and was immediately declined. I called for a recon and the really nice lady told me that to just continue to do what I'm doing and there shouldn't be an issue getting a card in ~6mths or so, but I can't even use their pre approval site to check anything. Chances are i'm not pre approved, but i'd like it to at least tell me i'm not.

Thanks,

John

[john398]

I did not ever have pre approval for Discover but still got the card but the first time I applied I was denied or maybe first 2 times waited 6 months between apps than finally was approved for 2k

Good luck

[j_casteel]

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@john398 wrote:

I did not ever have pre approval for Discover but still got the card but the first time I applied I was denied or maybe first 2 times waited 6 months between apps than finally was approved for 2k

Good luck

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Yeah, i don't know if i have a pre approval or not seeing how i can NEVER get their site to work, and I wonder if it's cause i'm not on their radar, but then again, i seen a thread on here where guys were testing it and were making names and info up just to see what it says.

[ajh5408]

A lot of times preapprovals have as much to do with demographics as they do with your credit, so I wouldn't sweat the lack of them... While they can certainly be seen as an indicator of creditworthiness, you can absolutely be approved without one.

That said, I think Discover More becomes a good possibility when you: a) Have a relatively well-established credit report and b) Have a score in the mid-high 600s.

[Cdnewmanpac]

You really have two separate issues: problems with the preapproval web site and a question about when you will start seeing preapprovals. For the first, Discover's IT system is terrible. I would try this: only use internet explorer, clear all browsing data, cache and cookies, enter only the minimum information required, click on the buttons directly, rather than using tab and enter keys on keyboard. That is what I had to do to finally get it to process. 

You aren't likely to see discover offers until your eq score gets well north of 650. I started getting mailed offers when my score hit 685, thought that might have been coincidence. I never got a website offer, despite getting weekly mailed offers. Their mail and web screening criteria or databases must be different. 

As a side note, I've only ever gotten preapproval letters from discover (at least 20), credit one and barclay's visa black (???). My wife, on the other hand, gets almost daily offers for citi simplicity, csp, usaa rate advantage, b of a and wells fargo, but has NEVER gotten a letter or electronic offer from discover. Their "radar" is nowhere near as scientific or predictable as actual radar.

[Open123]

This often works with Discover.

If you're rejected after an application, call for reconsideration with one of their credit analyst.  Don't be forceful or aggressive, just articulate politely all the reasons why you'd like the card, not that you're entitled to it for "x" reason (they've heard it all).  The usual, "I want it as my main card; love the service, etc...) and thank them kindly for their time if rejected.  The credit analyst can make a note to follow you on softs and have a pre-approval for you in several months when you check the website.

While this isn't a sure thing, I've seen where many have gotten the card with less than perfect credit scores.

[Anonymous]

Doesn't Discover have a soft based preapproval engine on their website?

[j_casteel]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Doesn't Discover have a soft based preapproval engine on their website?

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lol

[Open123]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Doesn't Discover have a soft based preapproval engine on their website?

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Sure, but if you speak with an analyst, they can make certain notes on your application.  For example, "this guy is a pain the a**" or "this guy is too banal" etc...

[j_casteel]

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@Open123 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Doesn't Discover have a soft based preapproval engine on their website?

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Sure, but if you speak with an analyst, they can make certain notes on your application.  For example, "this guy is a pain the a**" or "this guy is too banal" etc...

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what's banal?