Declined? Time to Try, Try Again with Reconsideration

 It happens. You apply for a credit card and whomp, whomp, get the dreaded notification of...

... an inevitable decline to your credit card application.

If you follow the steps above, you'll find a letter in your Chase account giving you the reasons for declining your recent credit card application (much quicker than if you wait for a letter in the mail). Generally reasons for decline are:

• Too many recent inquires
• Too much credit extended
• Too low of revenue (<applicable for Business Cards only)
• Error on application (more than once I've accidentally used my P2's birthday instead of my own!)

Reconsideration

Fear not! If this happens with Chase, you have an option. You can pick up the phone (ugh, I know!) and call to ask to be reconsidered for your recent credit card application. You have 30 days from your application submission to request "recon".

Steps for Recon

1. Simply call the phone number listed below:

• For Chase Personal Cards, call 1-800-432-3117
• For Chase Business Cards, call 1-800-453-9719

2. You'll likely receive an automated messaged about your application. Click "0" to be taken to a live agent

3. Tell the agent "I recently applied for a card and was declined. I'd like to be reconsidered"

4. They'll ask for verification of identity, then verify your application, and may ask you questions about why you're applying for another card

Tips and What to Say

• Don't say you're applying for another card for a sign up bonus. They don't like that! Instead, you can say something along the lines of "You know, I'm an existing Chase customer and really value my relationship with the bank so far. I noticed this credit card has X,Y,Z benefits which I would like to utilize". 

• You can say you're worried there was an error on your application and you'd like to confirm your inputs

• If you were declined for "too much credit extended", you can say "I understand Chase is concerned with how much credit has already been extended to me; is it possible to move crediting from an existing line to approve this new line of credit?" (This way Chase is keeping the total amount of credit extended to you the same)

• Always be kind. I consciously pay attention to the name of the agent when they first introduce themselves and be certain to thank them during the recon process, using their name.

• Lastly, if you're still declined - try try again! Generally do not give up until you've called recon at least three times for an application. Trust me! This is what happened to me in the past week! Third time was a charm! ;) 

• Buuuut before you call recon repeatedly; know that you are only allow one reconsideration every 24 hours!

Summary

Being declined for a credit card isn't the end of the world; it's more annoying than anything! But it's also not the end of the road, you can call reconsideration and have luck turning that denial into an approval!

Have you called Recon? It's always a bit nerve-wracking for me, but worth it!

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> Looking for more information on points/miles? You can find all of my points talk posts linked here.

> Curious what cards I (and/or my husband) have, and why? Read here!