You probably have seen our multiple posts about the 80k offer after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

Did you apply for the Sapphire Preferred and got declined? Getting declined for a credit card is never exciting especially when it means losing 80k 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 who 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 travel often and the Sapphire Preferred card has a lot of great travel protections“. 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.
• HUCA (Hang Up Call Again): Sometimes, even if the first underwriter does 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!).

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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 cards within 24 months, Chase will not approve your application no matter how much you beg (having a million dollars in your Chase bank account will also not help).

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. Some people were also successful in convincing the underwriter not to count store cards as well (as they are not regular credit cards because they can only be used for the store purchases). 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 Chase Sapphire Preferred card. 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 that 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 the fact that you currently already have a Chase Sapphire card

If you currently have any Chase Sapphire product (Sapphire, Sapphire Preferred, or Sapphire Reserve) then you’re not eligible for a new Sapphire card. 

It’s important to note that Chase will not pull your credit report if you are to be declined for this reason.

You cannot reconsider an application that was declined for this reason. You should first downgrade your Sapphire card to a Freedom card, then wait approx 72 hours and reapply. If you still are getting declined, retry after another few days.

You may also want to read: Am I Eligible For The Sapphire Preferred Card If I Already Had One In the Past?

If declined due to the fact that you already got the bonus on a Sapphire card

Chase will not approve your application if you already received a bonus on any Chase Sapphire card (Sapphire Preferred, or Sapphire Reserve) within the past 48 months. If you received a bonus within 48 months then you will need to wait till 48 months pass (it goes based on the date you received the bonus, not the date you were approved). Once 48 months have passed, go ahead and reapply.

It’s important to note that Chase will not pull your credit report if you are to be declined for this reason.

You may also want to read: Am I Eligible For The Sapphire Preferred Card If I Already Had One In the Past?

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 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.