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Is address considered a factor in credit card approvals?

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MisterWives
Regular Contributor

Is address considered a factor in credit card approvals?

Been wondering if it matters as I have been putting my home permeant address that I have lived there for over a decade, but I am currently in a different state for a summer internship. Easily enough for me I just ask family to mail me all my mail, but it would be of course easier to just have the mail sent to my current residence.

 

Though I wonder if they see I am at an address for only a month compared to my home residence that I have been at for 10+ years which is reported on my credit report if it will make a difference to use the alternative short term address?




Wants: PenFed Pathfinder Rewards(4x pts travel), PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature (5pts Gas, 3pts Restaurants and Grocery), U.S. Bank Cash+ (5% Categories), Chase Freedom Flex (5% Rotating Categories, 5% Travel, 3% Restaurants)
Message 1 of 12
11 REPLIES 11
K-in-Boston
Credit Mentor

Re: Is address considered a factor in credit card approvals?

Length of time at current address can certainly be a factor in lending.  That is why you often see the "length of time at residence" field, and usually a place to list previous address(es) if length of residence is under 2 years.  I would not use a temporary address for any credit applications or as residence of record with your lenders if you plan to maintain a permanent residence elsewhere.

Message 2 of 12
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Is address considered a factor in credit card approvals?

When you apply for a card or loan, the bank will review your credit history and other biographical information. If the new address is not listed anywhere on your credit report or LexisNexis et al databases, they will, at a minimum, require that you submit proof that you are associated with the address. This can include:

 

Driver license or ID card with the address

Lease agreement 

Utilities listing you as the account holder with the address listed on the application for credit

 

You indicated that your mail is being fowarded. Why not just apply for the new card using your typical address and have the card forwarded? 

 

Or are you somewhere currently that would make you eligible for a credit card that you would not be eligible for at your typical address?

Message 3 of 12
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Is address considered a factor in credit card approvals?


@MisterWives wrote:

Been wondering if it matters as I have been putting my home permeant address that I have lived there for over a decade, but I am currently in a different state for a summer internship. Easily enough for me I just ask family to mail me all my mail, but it would be of course easier to just have the mail sent to my current residence.

 

Though I wonder if they see I am at an address for only a month compared to my home residence that I have been at for 10+ years which is reported on my credit report if it will make a difference to use the alternative short term address?


I just did a big type up but it somehow got deleted.

 

I would say use your permanent address for a few reasons:

 

Length of residency

 

Verification may be required by the fraud dept at the FI, delaying your app since it isn't an address already on your credit reports

 

Tax purposes

 

I travel heavily for work and have a "tax home", my permanent home across the country, but I am there only a few weeks out of the year. It is important in my case (could be different for you) because I cant even "appear" to be taking up residency in the state that I am contracted to work in. It could be the tiniest thing that really blows up my tax world. Even though I have been contracted across the country for nearly 3 years, I still leave every single thing in my tax home (permanent) address.

 

If it is an option (not all FI offer this), use your permanent address as your home address and your mailing address where you are doing your summer internship.

 

Or alternatively, set up temp mail forwarding from your permanent address to where you are now through USPS. I do this all the time and it is very easy to do online. It may take an extra couple days to get your mail, but not always.

 

Also note that sometimes when using the CC it will ask for billing address or zip and it is easier to just keep it all the same. Especially ordering online it can be a pain, but not always.

 

If you are only there a month, I would not bother with it because then you will need verification of residing there and then have to switch it all back (which can raise flags with the FI) and then it will be associated on your CRs (and smaller nuscaince reporting agencies) and will break up your time at address.

 

Good luck!

Message 4 of 12
MisterWives
Regular Contributor

Re: Is address considered a factor in credit card approvals?


@Anonymous wrote:

When you apply for a card or loan, the bank will review your credit history and other biographical information. If the new address is not listed anywhere on your credit report or LexisNexis et al databases, they will, at a minimum, require that you submit proof that you are associated with the address. This can include:

 

Driver license or ID card with the address

Lease agreement 

Utilities listing you as the account holder with the address listed on the application for credit

 

You indicated that your mail is being fowarded. Why not just apply for the new card using your typical address and have the card forwarded? 

 

Or are you somewhere currently that would make you eligible for a credit card that you would not be eligible for at your typical address?



When I say forwarding my mail I mean I have a family member, my sister, grab all my mail for the past 2 week and stuff it into a 2 day priority mail shipping envelope and mail it to me which I pay for shipping.

 

I assume there's an actual forwarding address way where you set any mail to your previous address to a new address and they sort it out at the USPS post office, but I didn't do it that way probably should though it's only for 2 months before I head back so kinda don't feel like it.




Wants: PenFed Pathfinder Rewards(4x pts travel), PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature (5pts Gas, 3pts Restaurants and Grocery), U.S. Bank Cash+ (5% Categories), Chase Freedom Flex (5% Rotating Categories, 5% Travel, 3% Restaurants)
Message 5 of 12
MisterWives
Regular Contributor

Re: Is address considered a factor in credit card approvals?


@Anonymous wrote:

@MisterWives wrote:

Been wondering if it matters as I have been putting my home permeant address that I have lived there for over a decade, but I am currently in a different state for a summer internship. Easily enough for me I just ask family to mail me all my mail, but it would be of course easier to just have the mail sent to my current residence.

 

Though I wonder if they see I am at an address for only a month compared to my home residence that I have been at for 10+ years which is reported on my credit report if it will make a difference to use the alternative short term address?


I just did a big type up but it somehow got deleted.

 

I would say use your permanent address for a few reasons:

 

Length of residency

 

Verification may be required by the fraud dept at the FI, delaying your app since it isn't an address already on your credit reports

 

Tax purposes

 

I travel heavily for work and have a "tax home", my permanent home across the country, but I am there only a few weeks out of the year. It is important in my case (could be different for you) because I cant even "appear" to be taking up residency in the state that I am contracted to work in. It could be the tiniest thing that really blows up my tax world. Even though I have been contracted across the country for nearly 3 years, I still leave every single thing in my tax home (permanent) address.

 

If it is an option (not all FI offer this), use your permanent address as your home address and your mailing address where you are doing your summer internship.

 

Or alternatively, set up temp mail forwarding from your permanent address to where you are now through USPS. I do this all the time and it is very easy to do online. It may take an extra couple days to get your mail, but not always.

 

Also note that sometimes when using the CC it will ask for billing address or zip and it is easier to just keep it all the same. Especially ordering online it can be a pain, but not always.

 

If you are only there a month, I would not bother with it because then you will need verification of residing there and then have to switch it all back (which can raise flags with the FI) and then it will be associated on your CRs (and smaller nuscaince reporting agencies) and will break up your time at address.

 

Good luck!



So when doing online ordering you use your permeant address zipcode even if you are located somewhere else? I would assume that would alert the fraud department at the credit card companie since they should be able to pull your zipcode based on technical IP address. Always wondering that too with gas stations that ask for zipcode and I am somewhere else if it will flag and deny the card if I am too far away from my normal address zipcode.




Wants: PenFed Pathfinder Rewards(4x pts travel), PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature (5pts Gas, 3pts Restaurants and Grocery), U.S. Bank Cash+ (5% Categories), Chase Freedom Flex (5% Rotating Categories, 5% Travel, 3% Restaurants)
Message 6 of 12
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Is address considered a factor in credit card approvals?


@MisterWives wrote:

@Anonymous wrote:

@MisterWives wrote:

Been wondering if it matters as I have been putting my home permeant address that I have lived there for over a decade, but I am currently in a different state for a summer internship. Easily enough for me I just ask family to mail me all my mail, but it would be of course easier to just have the mail sent to my current residence.

 

Though I wonder if they see I am at an address for only a month compared to my home residence that I have been at for 10+ years which is reported on my credit report if it will make a difference to use the alternative short term address?


I just did a big type up but it somehow got deleted.

 

I would say use your permanent address for a few reasons:

 

Length of residency

 

Verification may be required by the fraud dept at the FI, delaying your app since it isn't an address already on your credit reports

 

Tax purposes

 

I travel heavily for work and have a "tax home", my permanent home across the country, but I am there only a few weeks out of the year. It is important in my case (could be different for you) because I cant even "appear" to be taking up residency in the state that I am contracted to work in. It could be the tiniest thing that really blows up my tax world. Even though I have been contracted across the country for nearly 3 years, I still leave every single thing in my tax home (permanent) address.

 

If it is an option (not all FI offer this), use your permanent address as your home address and your mailing address where you are doing your summer internship.

 

Or alternatively, set up temp mail forwarding from your permanent address to where you are now through USPS. I do this all the time and it is very easy to do online. It may take an extra couple days to get your mail, but not always.

 

Also note that sometimes when using the CC it will ask for billing address or zip and it is easier to just keep it all the same. Especially ordering online it can be a pain, but not always.

 

If you are only there a month, I would not bother with it because then you will need verification of residing there and then have to switch it all back (which can raise flags with the FI) and then it will be associated on your CRs (and smaller nuscaince reporting agencies) and will break up your time at address.

 

Good luck!



So when doing online ordering you use your permeant address zipcode even if you are located somewhere else? I would assume that would alert the fraud department at the credit card companie since they should be able to pull your zipcode based on technical IP address. Always wondering that too with gas stations that ask for zipcode and I am somewhere else if it will flag and deny the card if I am too far away from my normal address zipcode.


So that can be tricky. I have had keep a record to reference to at home lol

 

For gas stations some use the permanent address zip and other use the mailing zip. Easy enough if they only have 1 address I am allowed.

 

I have never been flat out denied use of card if I get the zip correct (on the first or second try).

 

Online same thing, it is a gamble unless I have already figured it out from previous trial and error. Some merchants won't ship to a seperate address from the billing address making it even more tricky.

Message 7 of 12
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Is address considered a factor in credit card approvals?


@MisterWives wrote:

@Anonymous wrote:

When you apply for a card or loan, the bank will review your credit history and other biographical information. If the new address is not listed anywhere on your credit report or LexisNexis et al databases, they will, at a minimum, require that you submit proof that you are associated with the address. This can include:

 

Driver license or ID card with the address

Lease agreement 

Utilities listing you as the account holder with the address listed on the application for credit

 

You indicated that your mail is being fowarded. Why not just apply for the new card using your typical address and have the card forwarded? 

 

Or are you somewhere currently that would make you eligible for a credit card that you would not be eligible for at your typical address?



When I say forwarding my mail I mean I have a family member, my sister, grab all my mail for the past 2 week and stuff it into a 2 day priority mail shipping envelope and mail it to me which I pay for shipping.

 

I assume there's an actual forwarding address way where you set any mail to your previous address to a new address and they sort it out at the USPS post office, but I didn't do it that way probably should though it's only for 2 months before I head back so kinda don't feel like it.


it takes less than 5 minutes to set it up on USPS website. Just make sure to do "temporary address forwarding" and not "permanent address forwarding", set your dates and forget it. You won't have to switch it back when you internship is over, it will be automatic.

 

Alternatively, you can just fill out a card at a USPS location. Same thing. Check "temporary" and give the dates.

Message 8 of 12
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Is address considered a factor in credit card approvals?

@MisterWives  When asked for a zip code....this should be your billing address zip code.  I believe it is kind of like a verification that it’s you.  Should your card be lost, someone finds it would be unlikely they would know your billing zip code and they would be unable to use.  So even if your billing address is in one state and getting fuel in another state, you still use your billing address zip code.  

Message 9 of 12
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Is address considered a factor in credit card approvals?


@Anonymous wrote:

@MisterWives  When asked for a zip code....this should be your billing address zip code.  I believe it is kind of like a verification that it’s you.  Should your card be lost, someone finds it would be unlikely they would know your billing zip code and they would be unable to use.  So even if your billing address is in one state and getting fuel in another state, you still use your billing address zip code.  


I have had it, in fact, be the mailing zip code and not the billing (permanent address) zip code.

 

Billing address could be "permanent address" or "mailing address", it doesn't specify which when they state "billing address", so it can be a guessing game.

Message 10 of 12
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