Why no prequals; and only subprime offers in mail?

Anonymous · ‎08-20-2015

I have a qestion that I'm assumuing there is no real answer for but thought I'd ask anyway. I never get a pre qual offer anywhere on any of the different real prequal sites. I read on here about making sure I was opted in and I went and mad sure I specifically opted into offers 3-4 months ago. Still nothing at all from anyone.

As important info I have a few cards, Quicksilver, Hyatt, and Wyndham all with 5k limits. Also have IHG, Barclays, and Discover cards with 2-3k limits, five of those were received this year and my real scores are 670-710 depending on the agency reporting. 2-3 inqs only on each agency over the full 2 years. AOAA 4 years plus. Not much older history as only car loans, did not use cards at all for 14 years so I now have a thinner profile. PIF all cards, 2% utl average reporting on a single card per month. 3 year old late - one paid tax lein hence my lower scores I guess.

Now for the mail offers, I do get those but every singe one I get is a sub prime offer, like the lowest starter cards made. Even Cap One only sends me offers for the Platinum card when I already have a decent limit Quicksilver with them! First premier bank, no name lender "checks" in the mail and such too. Not a single offer ever from what I'd consider a real lender other than that Cap 1 Platinum card lol.

Frustrating to me, my wifes scores are unknown to me but I know they are much lower than me, no revolving loans, no good history in general where mine is pretty clean just not much of it. She got an offer for Citi Double Cash the other day, and a Quicksilver, and others. She is doing nothing to monitor credit, or build or anyhting at all in general, they just randomly show up for her. Sigh, just wanted to vent I guess.

Anonymous · ‎08-20-2015

@Anonymous wrote:
I have a qestion that I'm assumuing there is no real answer for but thought I'd ask anyway. I never get a pre qual offer anywhere on any of the different real prequal sites. I read on here about making sure I was opted in and I went and mad sure I specifically opted into offers 3-4 months ago. Still nothing at all from anyone.

As important info I have a few cards, Quicksilver, Hyatt, and Wyndham all with 5k limits. Also have IHG, Barclays, and Discover cards with 2-3k limits, five of those were received this year and my real scores are 670-710 depending on the agency reporting. 2-3 inqs only on each agency over the full 2 years. AOAA 4 years plus. Not much older history as only car loans, did not use cards at all for 14 years so I now have a thinner profile. PIF all cards, 2% utl average reporting on a single card per month. 3 year old late - one paid tax lein hence my lower scores I guess.

Now for the mail offers, I do get those but every singe one I get is a sub prime offer, like the lowest starter cards made. Even Cap One only sends me offers for the Platinum card when I already have a decent limit Quicksilver with them! First premier bank, no name lender "checks" in the mail and such too. Not a single offer ever from what I'd consider a real lender other than that Cap 1 Platinum card lol.

Frustrating to me, my wifes scores are unknown to me but I know they are much lower than me, no revolving loans, no good history in general where mine is pretty clean just not much of it. She got an offer for Citi Double Cash the other day, and a Quicksilver, and others. She is doing nothing to monitor credit, or build or anyhting at all in general, they just randomly show up for her. Sigh, just wanted to vent I guess.

I don't consider those offers, but reminders to pay bills on time.

CreditDunce · ‎08-20-2015

Barclay, Chase and Citi all probably think you have too many new accounts. I haven't gotten any offers from Discover since I got my IT, either. Discover doesn't have a whole lot of other cards. I can't explain Cap1, though. They don't seem to be bothered with new accounts. Assuming you don't have any of your CRA's frozen, you probably just need to wait for your accounts to age.

I am going to assume you have already made sure you are typing your address exactly as it is on your CRA's. That if you have move recently, you have tried your old address, too. Etc.

I wish I could give better advice. I don't think there is much you can do but wait. The offers will come.

Anonymous · ‎08-20-2015

Thanks for the advice, I know this is not a quick thing by any means. It is just odd that I can get approved when I try, but no one seems to actually want me lol! I have not been denied other than at AmEx about a year ago. Other than that every app has been approved and for decent cards too. I am at a point of aging my cards for at least 6 months (Barclays again next for me) but I get annoyed every time I see those "offers" in the mail, but that does show I'm opted in somewhere.

No freezing of anythhing, I monitor on CCT and address are correct, no oddities. Scores keep climbing so that is good, one day I'll get offers I suppose!

OmarGB9 · ‎08-20-2015

I don't think there's much you can do besides opting in which you already are and waiting.

Last App: 1/10/2023
Penfed Gold Visa Card

Currently rebuilding as of 04/11/2019.

Starting FICO 8 Scores:

Current FICO 8 scores:

ddemari · ‎08-20-2015

The banks that send out preapproved or qualified credit card applications do it in bulk. because of their volume, they have criteria requirements that either say yes or no. possibly lates or tax liens could could just throw you out of the yes and no process.

a creditor or insurer establishes criteria, like a minimum credit score, and asks a consumer reporting company for a list of people in the company's database who meet the criteria; or
a creditor or insurer provides a list of potential customers to a consumer reporting company and asks the company to identify people on the list who meet certain criteria.

onstar · ‎08-20-2015

The only mailers I get are things like the NetCredit offer I got today.

"You're pre-approved for at least $2,500 at an annual percentage rate of 66%. Some qualified customers may get a loan with an annual percentage rate as low as 33%."

I don't know how this is even legal. Ugh!

BK DC 4/9/2018
FICO 08 (4/9/2018): EQ 647 EX 609 TU 620
FICO 08 (01/27/2025): EQ 725 EX 736 TU 745

Anonymous · ‎08-20-2015

@onstar wrote:
The only mailers I get are things like the NetCredit offer I got today.

"You're pre-approved for at least $2,500 at an annual percentage rate of 66%. Some qualified customers may get a loan with an annual percentage rate as low as 33%."

I don't know how this is even legal. Ugh!

It's just as legal as taking candy from a baby. But not as fun.

taxi818 · ‎08-20-2015

As stated. your scores are good enough. But they decide as well based on inquiries and new accounts. Once you have some age behind the new accounts you just got. Don't worry. you will get plenty of mail offers. even when your scores are very good. The subprime will still send you mail. Just in the off chance you jump on that. 6 months from your last card tops. and your mail box will be flooded.

ddemari · ‎08-20-2015

I have never received anything in the mail preapproving me except blaze, legacy, first premiere, merrick. I get a lot of citi AA mastercard invitations, inviting me to apply with nothing saying i am qualified. Yet, through that process I have obtained credit cards with good rates and my scores are in the good range.

whenever i go to my friends apartment and she checks the mail, her mailbox is flooded with offers, flooded and she doesn't care about credit cards lol. OP, i still want them too lol.