Can Checking for Pre-Approvals have a negative effect on your Credit?

[DaWhole9]

I know that checking for pre-approvals wont change your score...but will it have an effect on your credit when you apply for CC's or CLI's?  The reason I ask is because I got my credit scores up to low 800s from mid 500s.  I got obsessed with checking for pre-approvals and checking what credit rates and limits were if that was given on pre-approvals.  Sometimes I checked repeatedly.  I may have checked 20-30 different credit pre-approval portals.  I got 4 new cards in about 6 months.  One being an AMEX card.  I applied for a AMEX CLI and was denied because of "Based on your credit report, you have too many requests for credit.".  Does that mean too many NEW credit accounts?  I had ZERO new credit apps out there and the only thing I had was many preapproval checks.  I was wondering if AMEX could see those.

[cashorcharge]

The 4 new cards in 6 months..were those 4 HP present when you applied for the other AMEX?

Banks are not going to decline you for SP's 

It sounds like the 4 accounts in a short amoung of time, represented to them as "credit seeking" led to your denial.

No, SP's and Preapprovals will not cause you to get declined

[DaWhole9]

Thats what I thought.  Just wanted to make sure.