Strategy to obtain US Amex

[DC3]

Is Chase 4/24 now? I had an idea that it was 5/24, but maybe not.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Is Chase 4/24 now? I had an idea that it was 5/24, but maybe not.

Chase is 5/24 but it just means that I can only get 1 more Chase card between now and 2 years from when I opened my initial Aspire card.

 

[Tiki]

As a datapoint, I did not use a VPN when I applied for the CSP and was instantly approved. I am not sure if having a SSN and Fico over 800 made the difference. I was at 4/24 until last week when I got the CSP. Now I have to wait until July/Aug 2024 before I can apply with Chase again.

I may go for a Cap 1 Venture or Citi Premier around October if there is a good bonus. I need to pad my UA account first for upcoming travel plans. UA increased the flight schedule from BNE so they are very valuable right now.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

As a datapoint, I did not use a VPN when I applied for the CSP and was instantly approved. I am not sure if having a SSN and Fico over 800 made the difference. I was at 4/24 until last week when I got the CSP. Now I have to wait until July/Aug 2024 before I can apply with Chase again.

I may go for a Cap 1 Venture or Citi Premier around October if there is a good bonus. I need to pad my UA account first for upcoming travel plans. UA increased the flight schedule from BNE so they are very valuable right now.

I believe you have an existing relationship with Chase right? If so that might be why.

 

[anyonebutqantas]

For anyone interested in CapitalOne, I can highly recommend the Venture Rewards card - 75k sign up bonus for only a $95 annual fee. Minimum spend requirement $4,000. Points transfer 1:1 to most airlines and hotels - as flexible as Amex but with the advantage of having a Visa that earns 2ppd on all spend categories.

I have a referral link if anyone is interested: Capital One

 

[levelnine]

I want both WoH and IHG.

Great news on the CSP front.

Why do you want the WoH card? Is it just the FNC?

I only got it for my partner because we needed some extra Hyatt points for a redemption a while back. Wish we'd spent the 5/24 slot on another card with the benefit of hindsight. We'll be cancelling if we don't get a retention offer, but that's because we churn Ink cards and so have no shortage of UR coming in for Hyatt redemptions. The IHG card is great by comparison — the discount on 4 night stays is amazing. Only wish they allowed free family pooling/transfer of points like all the other major hotel chains offer.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Great news on the CSP front.

Why do you want the WoH card? Is it just the FNC?

I only got it for my partner because we needed some extra Hyatt points for a redemption a while back. Wish we'd spent the 5/24 slot on another card with the benefit of hindsight. We'll be cancelling if we don't get a retention offer, but that's because we churn Ink cards and so have no shortage of UR coming in for Hyatt redemptions. The IHG card is great by comparison — the discount on 4 night stays is amazing. Only wish they allowed free family pooling/transfer of points like all the other major hotel chains offer.

FNC and there seems to be some base value for the AF vs CSP. Do you have any recommendations besides WoH or IHG? Many have recommended Aeroplan so I might have a look at that.

Is it possible to downgrade CSP to WoH/IHG?

 

[levelnine]

Is it possible to downgrade CSP to WoH/IHG?

No. CSP can be downgraded to one of the Freedom cards only.

IHG is great, especially if you can get an elevated sign up bonus.

Really depends on your needs. In terms of Chase personal cards, I would rate the Aeroplan over the WoH due to PYB for travel expenses on the Aeroplan card and the better sign up bonus. The Marriott card currently has an excellent sign up bonus: 5 FNCs.

This might be of help to you: Card Recommendation Flowchart v19

But for me, the objective is to stay under 5/24 to keep getting Ink cards. I don't need any of the personal cards except a Sapphire for transfers & the IHG for 4th night free.

 

[Tiki]

I believe you have an existing relationship with Chase right? If so that might be why.

I do, but I had not applied for a new card in many years but kept my Freedom and IHG cards open. Then I changed my address and last year they made me jump through some hoops to prove my identity, although no where near as bad as B of A and Amex who made me do a Notarycam. This was my first instant approval with Chase in at least 8 years!

 

[blacksultan]

I do, but I had not applied for a new card in many years but kept my Freedom and IHG cards open. Then I changed my address and last year they made me jump through some hoops to prove my identity, although no where near as bad as B of A and Amex who made me do a Notarycam. This was my first instant approval with Chase in at least 8 years!

Don’t think I used a vpn for either of my successful 3 chase card applications

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Don’t think I used a vpn for either of my successful 3 chase card applications

I'm not sure if it had an impact but this time seemed a lot smoother.

 

[levelnine]

Don’t think I used a vpn for either of my successful 3 chase card applications

Were they instant approvals?

I've always used a VPN & always had to call, or or been called by, the fraud department to confirm I submitted the application.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

Were they instant approvals?

I've always used a VPN & always had to call, or or been called by, the fraud department to confirm I submitted the application.

I think one of the main difference was that it was my first application with them and even though I provided documents I was still sent a letter saying my application was denied due to fraud or that they thought it was a fraudulent application.

I guess the VPN made it seem less risky given that I was in state verses a completely different country.

 

[QF_Flyer]

Thanks. I actually have an HSBC account in the UK using the Premier option. They wouldn’t give me a credit card but I guess the credit rating system is more like Australia than the US

Actually the UK system is like the Aussie system on steroi_s, with the added bonus of the electoral register - UK has had reporting of positive and negative aspects of credit histories for years, including past addresses, links to other people and addresses and importantly, where you're registered on the electoral roll, particularly important if your history is light.

The exceptions I've noted are Amex (who haven't done a hard pull on any of my CRA files in years in the UK, they seem to base it on the monthly feed they get from CRAs and their own internal data), and circumstances where you have an extensive history, in which case electoral roll data doesn't seem to matter (if you've got 100 accounts open at a specific address, it seems agiven that you live there, whereas if you've got none, then not being on the ER can lead to a lot of need for manual reviews or outright rejections).

 

[Finale]

I think one of the main difference was that it was my first application with them and even though I provided documents I was still sent a letter saying my application was denied due to fraud or that they thought it was a fraudulent application.

I guess the VPN made it seem less risky given that I was in state verses a completely different country.

I never used VPN on any application with Amex, Chase, Citi and Cap1. I personally think it is more risky using VPN since it is used to hide an identity. Banks can detect it especially well known ones like purevpn, nordvpn etc. You can see it when you try to login using VPN and they need another verification like code in text or email. If using VPN, I would use lesser known ones like Windscribe, Urbanvpn etc as a lot of sites don't/can't detect it.

It's funny to see people worrying about being at 4/24 or 5/24. I'm at 1/24 and still cannot get the 4th Chase card lol

 

[_TheTraveller_]

I never used VPN on any application with Amex, Chase, Citi and Cap1. I personally think it is more risky using VPN since it is used to hide an identity. Banks can detect it especially well known ones like purevpn, nordvpn etc. You can see it when you try to login using VPN and they need another verification like code in text or email. If using VPN, I would use lesser known ones like Windscribe, Urbanvpn etc as a lot of sites don't/can't detect it.

It's funny to see people worrying about being at 4/24 or 5/24. I'm at 1/24 and still cannot get the 4th Chase card lol

Going forward I would just login to my Chase account to apply without a VPN but the initial one and a few DPs online seemed indicate location of application mattered.

You can't get a 4th card because there's nothing that interests you or something else?

 

[Finale]

You can't get a 4th card because there's nothing that interests you or something else?

There are Chase cards I want to apply for but I made a mistake (with Cap 1). I got approved for Ink in November which resulted in 2 HPs. Then in Jan, I tried to get Venture (already have X) which was denied pretty much due to recent inquiries. Then I tried Venture again in Mar and denied again. That was another 2 HPs. I then applied for another Ink which was denied too due to recent inquiries. They wouldn't even move my credit line from another Ink card and that app costed me 3 HPs. Chase did a HP every time I called them. I basically have 7 HPs since November with 1 successful card lol I will have to wait until I have a clean file for at least 3-6 months. I think only Amex will approve me now but already have 6 cards with them. I'm also holding 12 US cards and that might be one the reasons as well.

 

[blacksultan]

Were they instant approvals?

I've always used a VPN & always had to call, or or been called by, the fraud department to confirm I submitted the application.

No . Took a while

Post automatically merged: Apr 27, 2023

No . Took a while

Was asked to call to confirm

 

[_TheTraveller_]

There are Chase cards I want to apply for but I made a mistake (with Cap 1). I got approved for Ink in November which resulted in 2 HPs. Then in Jan, I tried to get Venture (already have X) which was denied pretty much due to recent inquiries. Then I tried Venture again in Mar and denied again. That was another 2 HPs. I then applied for another Ink which was denied too due to recent inquiries. They wouldn't even move my credit line from another Ink card and that app costed me 3 HPs. Chase did a HP every time I called them. I basically have 7 HPs since November with 1 successful card lol I will have to wait until I have a clean file for at least 3-6 months. I think only Amex will approve me now but already have 6 cards with them. I'm also holding 12 US cards and that might be one the reasons as well.

I wonder if the same thing has happened to me. Every time I've called I gotten a email saying "Thanks for applying for a Chase credit card". Does this mean a HP?

 

[Finale]

I wonder if the same thing has happened to me. Every time I've called I gotten a email saying "Thanks for applying for a Chase credit card". Does this mean a HP?

That is not the case. I got 7 of those emails last time. My first 3 cards gave me 2 HPs each, always an extra one when I called after applying. 2 extra HPs from 3 calls on the last app.