Update: Offer expired.

Many people are applying for the card_name due to the highest ever offer of  120k points after spending $8k in 3 months. It’s an insane offer!

But what if you applied for an card_name and got declined? Getting declined for a credit card is never exciting, especially when it means losing 120k points. In this post, we’ll go through some creative tips on how you can take that “decline” and turn it into an “approval”. 

Calling reconsideration

Thankfully, Chase has a very friendly reconsideration department that can be reached at 1-888-609-7805. In most cases, the underwriter you speak to has the power to recommend an approval or denial. You can very likely convince the underwriter to approve your application even after getting declined. 

Things that will help you on the phone call:

• Talk politely: Don’t scream or harass the underwriter about the chutzpah of Chase declining the application, etc. It will not help but only put the underwriter on the defensive side.
• Be convincing: Talk positively and sound convincing on all the claims you make.
• Good relationship matters: Point out your previous relationship with Chase (“my checking account has $10k”, etc.).
• Explain why you applied: When you call the reconsideration department, point out a good reason to the rep as to why you applied for the card (especially if many credit cards are already showing on your credit report). A good reason would be “I think the card_name works well for my business as it earns 3 points on PPC Marketing”. A bad reason would be “I want to receive the welcome bonus”.
• Use negotiation skills: Sometimes, tell the rep that you will agree to start out now with a lower credit line, and you will build it up slowly. If you already have an existing credit line on another Chase card, then ask the rep if you can split up and reallocate your current limit to the new card (you can only transfer limits to get approved for an Ink card from Chase business cards, not personal cards).
• Tell them you need their help: Someone once told me this trick and it works wonders. At the start of the call tell the rep “Hi {name}, I need your help”. He/she will usually say, “Sure! How can I help you?”. And then go on and say your request. In our case it’s “I got declined for the credit card but I need it because XYZ”.  This works wonders to get the rep interested in really wanting to help you and ultimately approve your application. 
• HUCA (Hang Up Call Again): Sometimes, even if the first underwriter did not want to approve you for the card, you can call back and try your luck again (I once got an underwriter to approve me after getting rejected 4 times!).

Before the phone call

Be prepared to answer security questions, such as your credit limit on other Chase credit cards or your current balance in your Chase checking account. 

Also, make sure you’re able to provide a code texted to your phone (if you can’t, then additional verifications will be needed). I recommend calling Chase with the phone number you used on the application.

Prepare good answers

Depending on the reason you got declined, here are some points to keep in mind.

If declined due to the Chase 5/24 rule

If your application was declined due to “too many recent accounts opened” then first double check your report to see if you opened more than 5 cards within the last 24 months (not counting authorized users). If you opened more than 5 personal  cards within the past 24 months, Chase will not approve your application no matter how much you beg. Recently, there have been some reports of exceptions, but that’s only if the automated system approved you. The underwriter does not have the power to approve if the automated system rejected it due to 5/24. 

Learn more about the Chase 5/24 rule here.

If you did not open more than 5 cards within 24 months then call the Chase reconsideration department and politely ask if they can double check your credit report to properly count the amount of cards you opened within the last 24 months. Tell them to make sure not to count authorized users as part of the 5 cards. The underwriter will be happy to double check and if you’re right, then they will usually overturn the decision.

If declined due to insufficient credit history

Chase usually requires 12 months of your own credit history on existing credit cards (not authorized user) before they will approve you for the card_name. But even if you have less than 12 months of credit history it is always recommended to call the underwriting department to have your application reconsidered. 

Point out to the underwriter a few reasons why they should trust you (I never was late, even to school, etc). Point out that you never missed payments on your existing credit cards and promise to be a good boy. If you have a few thousand dollars in your Chase checking account, make sure to point that out as well. 

I have seen people being able to convince an underwriter to approve their application even with very little previous credit history, especially consumers who hold a nice amount of money in their Chase checking or savings accounts.

If declined due to excessive balances on other cards

If you have high balances on other cards then Chase may decline your application as a concern that you’re overextending yourself and swiping too much money on your credit cards, which may result in you not being able to pay back the debt. 

If the balances are only a one time thing due to an upcoming wedding or vacation, make sure to point that out to the underwriter when asking for a reconsideration so the underwriter knows that it’s a one time thing and not the true way you manage your finances.

If declined due to a bad relationship with Chase

If your application is declined due to a previous Chase shutdown, then an underwriter will usually not be able to overturn the decision. You can read this post on how to potentially get removed from the Chase blacklist.

If declined due to being unable to verify information on your application

Ask Chase why they can’t verify your information, maybe they will ask you for additional documents. Or maybe you by mistake entered information incorrectly on the application. 

If you entered information incorrectly on the application, you can either convince the underwriter to update the info or, in some cases, they will require you to reapply.

If declined due to the business address not matching

Sometimes, Chase will ask you to prove your business address. If you only have documents that show your home address and you put your office address on the application, or vice versa, then you can call the underwriting department to update the address to the correct address and then they will be able to approve the application. 

If declined due to too many recent inquiries

If you applied for multiple loans or credit cards within a short period of time, Chase may decline your application. They are scared you are desperate for funds and are therefore applying for new loans or credit cards every second day. 

Give the underwriter valid reasons you were applying for so many cards or loans. Maybe you were shopping for a home and shopped a few lenders. Maybe you shopped for the best rate on an auto loan. Maybe you were in the store and the cashier offered you a 10% discount for applying for their credit card, etc. 

You need  the underwriter to understand that you’re not desperate for funds and the inquiries were a result of  normal, healthy, credit activity.  

If declined due to too much credit already extended

If you already have high credit limits with Chase or on other credit cards, then Chase may hesitate to approve you for a new credit card. 

In such a case, the best would be to offer the underwriter to reallocate your credit limit from one of your existing cards to the new Chase card and hopefully this way, the underwriter will feel comfortable recommending an approval as they are not extending new credit.