Need Advice Apping Chase Southwest Card

[ClaimJumper]

On 3/30/16 I plan to app the Chase Southwest card before the 5/24 rule hits. I'm trying to garden right now but this is actually the one card I really need as I fly Southwest a lot and put a lot of spend on my cards. If I don't get this card now I'll have to wait almost 18 months.

 

My FICO scores from CCT are:

Experian - 677

TransUnion - 713

Equifax - 694

Utilization - Under 1% (actually just $2 each month)

I have no negs, baddies, or late fees except for a 3.3 year old unpaid gas bill for $195 that slipped through the cracks when I moved. It's only on Experian (of course agency Chase uses) and they update it monthly.

 

Here's the bad news...

For the past few years I would occasionally app cards and could not understand why I was getting turned down when I had a high income. So I basically had a zero FICO score with lots of inquiries. Turns out I was apping the wrong cards, the wrong way, and had no idea that you could recon.

 

I finally picked up a CapOne secured card then four months later after a couple of beers I Googled easy to qualify for cards and snagged 10 sub-prime and store cards then later a pre-approved QuickSilver card that I'm heavily using. Needless to say, I didn't know about this site yet. But, I'm fine with what I did as I have time to garden.

 

What I think will hold me back is the age of my accounts, the number of new accounts and the high number of inquires.

 

Here's the breakdown:

Average Age of Accounts: 3.5 Months

Oldest Account: 7.5 months

 

Inquires over last 12 months:

Equifax: 15 (3 over past 3 months - 13 over past 6 months)

Transunion: 16 (1 over past 3 months - 13 over past 6 months)

Experian: 9 (1 over past 3 months - 7 over past 6 months)

 

 

I realize that I'll probably get a denial, but do to timing I have to try. I can put enough spend on this card to get the free passenger perk so it's worth a shot.

 

How Should I App?

 

Should I go ahead and shoot for the moon and go for the Business Premiere and if I'm turned down reapp immediately for a lesser card to combine the hits?

 

If I apply for the regular Premiere card, if I'm declined for it but qualify for the regular Plus card will they tell me or is it a separate app?

 

Should I apply in person at a Chase branch?

 

Should I freeze TU and EQ to avoid more HPs or leave them unfrozen since they are clean and have higher FICOs (but a lot more inquiries)?

 

Any advice would be appreciated.

Edited March 22, 2016 by ClaimJumper

[mfarmer]

Start by seeing if there are any pre-approvals on the Chase site. If that's reveals nothing, consider going in person as others have reported in-person has info online doesn't.

 

Your AAOA is your worst factor although, from your description, your portfolio isn't strong either.

 

FWIW I was approved with a 640 and 3 baddies, one of which was a CC CO. But I had an AAOA of 2 years and 3 non-store CCs.

 

Also, go read through scarchelli's thread. He's apping right now - albiet for a Freedom - with an AAOA similar to yours.

[ubercat]

Look at CPDB and see if there's a sweet spot.

[ClaimJumper]

Start by seeing if there are any pre-approvals on the Chase site. If that's reveals nothing, consider going in person as others have reported in-person has info online doesn't.

 

Your AAOA is your worst factor although, from your description, your portfolio isn't strong either.

 

FWIW I was approved with a 640 and 3 baddies, one of which was a CC CO. But I had an AAOA of 2 years and 3 non-store CCs.

 

Also, go read through scarchelli's thread. He's apping right now - albiet for a Freedom - with an AAOA similar to yours.

 

I'm not on the Chase pre-approval site because Experian put me on the opt-out list without my permission when I disputed an inquiry. I used to get a Chase offer in the mail almost daily from Chase but those have stopped since then.

 

Thanks for pointing me to scarchelli's thread. He was approved for a $1K CL Freedom card after recon just minutes ago.

[ClaimJumper]

Look at CPDB and see if there's a sweet spot.

 

I've gone over the database many times for this card.

 

There have been lots of approvals with FICOs lower than mine but what puts a damper on it is one entry that was just a point lower than mine and was denied. Said because of two COs over three years old that reports monthly. I have that one small CO that is over 3 years old and it too reports monthly.

 

Another problem is that some people don't report if they were approved for the Plus or the Premiere or if it was a business card.

Edited March 22, 2016 by ClaimJumper

[hyschmied]

What have you got to lose?

[ClaimJumper]

What have you got to lose?

Just another HP or two. But since I plan to garden anyway...

 

Here's my plan. I'm going to app using hyschmied's 50K referral link for the Premiere card. If I get a 7-10 day notice (which I've heard means declined for Chase) I'll reapp the Plus card. Hopefully I'll either get an immediate approval or at least the 30 day or two week message.

 

If I get an instant approval then maybe I'll also app the business card. Would really like the VIP upgrades.

 

If it's a message then I'll call and recon. How long should I wait? I've heard that lots of people call immediately.

[Fltireguy]

I'm pretty sure the UW criteria is the same for both cards

[ClaimJumper]

I'm pretty sure the UW criteria is the same for both cards

I would assume that the Premier would be a harder card to qualify for since it has signup bonus miles and double the anniversary miles as the Plus. Or are you talking about difference between business and personal cards?

[Sparky]

I could be wrong but i believe they select the Plus vs Premier based on your Rapid Rewards Membership activity. I have a very active account traveling about 25 RTs per year (currently have 378k miles in my rewards account), so I applied last March not expecting to get approved (been denied for this card about 4 times previously). They pulled TU and EX for me, I had 3 open collections on the EX and TU is clean. about 54% on overall balances, 7 years AAOA and 7-10 open revolving accounts all in good standing. I was approved instantly for $4,500 Premier card. In my opinion, Chase likes you to develop a history with others before they will give you one of their cards. And I am thinking if you don't have many miles in your account you may only qualify for the Plus card, but I could be wrong.

[Konrad2012]

I could be wrong but i believe they select the Plus vs Premier based on your Rapid Rewards Membership activity. I have a very active account traveling about 25 RTs per year (currently have 378k miles in my rewards account), so I applied last March not expecting to get approved (been denied for this card about 4 times previously). They pulled TU and EX for me, I had 3 open collections on the EX and TU is clean. about 54% on overall balances, 7 years AAOA and 7-10 open revolving accounts all in good standing. I was approved instantly for $4,500 Premier card. In my opinion, Chase likes you to develop a history with others before they will give you one of their cards. And I am thinking if you don't have many miles in your account you may only qualify for the Plus card, but I could be wrong.

 

25 RT's a year on WN? Sorry to hear that. Better luck in the future

[ClaimJumper]

Last week I had my wife do a Chase test run for me by apping the Chase Southwest card herself. For her test I froze her EX report to see if they would default to something else.

 

Her FICO is in the low 600s with a couple of baddies, so I figured she would get declined. Since she doesn't apply for much of anything ever then adding a HP is no big deal.

 

Also, if by some miracle she was approved then great, I wouldn't have to. A Chase Southwest card in her wallet is just as good as one in mine... I could then keep gardening.

 

After apping she instatnly got the 7-10 day message (which seems to mean declined). Then today her denial letter came. Interestingly enough Chase used Equifax for the credit pull.

 

So here's my new plan... I'm going to app today and freeze my Experian report. I know Chase likes to use Experian, but maybe TU and EQ will be enough.

 

Has anyone ever had a Chase approval with a frozen EX report?

 

Luckily I'm in a state where it only costs $3 to freeze and unfreeze so the cost is never an issue. Plus I may get some good data points for others on the board no matter what the outcome.

Edited March 28, 2016 by ClaimJumper

[ClaimJumper]

YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

 

It worked. They did not pull EX (don't know which one they used yet).

 

Approved for $2,500.

 

Whew, got in with Chase before the new 5/24 rule.

[mfarmer]

Congratulations! Yes, let us know what they pulled and if it was a double pull on the other agencies as they almost always double pull me and I would love a technique to get them to only pull one

[mendelssohn]

I could be wrong but i believe they select the Plus vs Premier based on your Rapid Rewards Membership activity. I have a very active account traveling about 25 RTs per year (currently have 378k miles in my rewards account), so I applied last March not expecting to get approved (been denied for this card about 4 times previously). They pulled TU and EX for me, I had 3 open collections on the EX and TU is clean. about 54% on overall balances, 7 years AAOA and 7-10 open revolving accounts all in good standing. I was approved instantly for $4,500 Premier card. In my opinion, Chase likes you to develop a history with others before they will give you one of their cards. And I am thinking if you don't have many miles in your account you may only qualify for the Plus card, but I could be wrong.

It has nothing to do with your RR activity.

[werkinonit]

YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

 

It worked. They did not pull EX (don't know which one they used yet).

 

Approved for $2,500.

 

Whew, got in with Chase before the new 5/24 rule.

congrats!!

YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

 

It worked. They did not pull EX (don't know which one they used yet).

 

Approved for $2,500.

 

Whew, got in with Chase before the new 5/24 rule.

congrats!!

[bigpoppa09]

YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

 

It worked. They did not pull EX (don't know which one they used yet).

 

Approved for $2,500.

 

Whew, got in with Chase before the new 5/24 rule.

[bigpoppa09]

Check CK and let us know who they pulled

[ClaimJumper]

Check CK and let us know who they pulled

 

Will do. My Credit Karma scores update on the 31st so as soon as I know I'll post.

[FixnCred]

CK should auto notify if its a TU HP and it will pull a new CR. You could go to Wallethub and check your TU right now for free ro see if the HP is there.

 

If you didn't get a CK notice it might have pulled EX then.

Edited March 29, 2016 by FixnCred

[FixnCred]

I could be wrong but i believe they select the Plus vs Premier based on your Rapid Rewards Membership activity. I have a very active account traveling about 25 RTs per year (currently have 378k miles in my rewards account), so I applied last March not expecting to get approved (been denied for this card about 4 times previously). They pulled TU and EX for me, I had 3 open collections on the EX and TU is clean. about 54% on overall balances, 7 years AAOA and 7-10 open revolving accounts all in good standing. I was approved instantly for $4,500 Premier card. In my opinion, Chase likes you to develop a history with others before they will give you one of their cards. And I am thinking if you don't have many miles in your account you may only qualify for the Plus card, but I could be wrong.

I got the Premier card with 0 miles.

[Fltireguy]

I believe the difference is the annual fee, plus bonus offers...

 

Check CK and let us know who they pulled

 

Will do. My Credit Karma scores update on the 31st so as soon as I know I'll post.

What does a CK score have to with anything in the real world?

[mec]

I believe the difference is the annual fee, plus bonus offers...

 

Check CK and let us know who they pulled

Will do. My Credit Karma scores update on the 31st so as soon as I know I'll post.

What does a CK score have to with anything in the real world?

 

CK shows account information... like hard inquiries.

[Core618]

My Southwest card was a TU pull last month.

I didn't even think about it until I read this thread... EX is not frozen at the moment but I have never had Chase double pull in the past, so I doubt they did this time.

[ClaimJumper]

CK should auto notify if its a TU HP and it will pull a new CR. You could go to Wallethub and check your TU right now for free ro see if the HP is there.

 

If you didn't get a CK notice it might have pulled EX then.

 

I have WalletHub too, love the daily updates.

 

CK updated today and there was only a pull from EQ.