My Credit Card Application Was Rejected! Now What?!?
No doubt, you've probably gotten literally hundreds of credit card applications in the mail and online, and each and every one of them has said that you've been "Pre-Approved".
Of course it's natural that this would lead us to believe that the application process is simply a formality. After all, you've been approved already so no worries, right? Wrong! Many of the offers that say you're "pre-approved" don't actually mean for the credit card. I know it's misleading, but what they're really saying is that you've been approved to apply for your card, not actually receive one. Your actual approval will depend on several different factors, any of which can keep you off the receiving end.
We'll go over some of the reasons for rejection and what, if anything, can be done about them.
WHY YOUR WERE REJECTED....
The most probable answer is your credit score. Although several other things may have been taken into consideration, such as your salary or time on your job, your credit score is usually the biggie. The catch here is that your credit history doesn't even have to be bad, it can be blank and that will work against you just as much as a bad score will. Having no credit is almost as bad as having bad credit since the credit card companies have no reference point to see just how you will handle your credit account.
If you have a history of making late payments on bills and other loans, that will work against you. The credit card company wants to know that you are a worthwhile risk before they issue you a card.
As I mentioned above, other issues also come into play. If you have just started a new job, a creditor may want to wait a while to make sure that you keep it. These are other factors that will be considered if your credit history is less than perfect but not a total loss.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT....
Clean up your credit history ASAP! This is the single best step you can take in improving your options when it comes to credit cards and other types of loans as well.
Most creditors are required to tell you why you were rejected and what credit bureau they used to access your report. You should be entitled to a free copy of your credit report if the data contained on it was used to deny your application. Check with the credit bureau to see.
If your credit rating is poor, take action immediately. Start paying your bills on time. Look into consolidating your bills so that you can afford to pay the monthly amount. Eliminate any extra spending that isn't necessary and use that "extra" towards your outstanding debts. Yes, this could take some time, but in the long run it will be well worth it.
Once you have cleaned up your credit a bit or established some basic credit, let some time pass. Apply for the card (or a better one) again. Once the creditor sees how hard you've been working to get your credit report up to par, you may just be rewarded for your efforts. Be careful, though. The last thing you want to do is go overboard with your new credit card and dig yourself into another financial hell-hole! So be wary.
Alain Diza is an Ex-Enron survivor, turned Internet Marketer, Real Estate Investor, and published author who partnered with financial credit industry 'guru' Joe Lloyd, to negotiate the arguably largest & most competitive online selection of highly-targeted credit cards in the industry to date. Get your own free credit card designed specifically for you, at Alain's "insiders-only" site: http://www.onlinecreditcardsdirectory.com
MORE RESOURCES:
 Boston Globe | Former Credit Suisse broker arrested in US Swissinfo, Switzerland - A former Credit Suisse broker has been arrested for fraud and conspiracy over deceptive sales of subprime-related auction-rate debt in the United States. ... Former Credit Suisse broker charged with subprime-linked fraud in ... UPDATE 1-FBI arrests ex-Credit Suisse broker Bulgarian Wall Street broker indicted |
S&P cuts O'Charley's credit ratings CNNMoney.com - S&P on Thursday cut the company's corporate credit rating to "B+" from "BB-" and its senior secured credit facility rating to "BB" from "BB+. ... Cut north-west or bust Upstate NY water authority rated AA |
 CEP News | S&P upgrades Raytheon credit ratings 1 notch CNNMoney.com - S&P upgraded the company's long-term corporate credit rating to "A-" from "BBB+." The outlook is "Stable." The Waltham, Mass. ... S&P puts Fifth Third on credit watch Credit rating soars in District 300 Starbucks downgraded to 'BBB' on weakening credit metrics - S&P |
When the Bank Closes Your Credit Account Washington Post, United States - By Joan Goldwasser Q I received a notice from Capital One that it is closing my credit card account because of inactivity. If the company closes the account ... Capital One Spurned Mortgages For Credit Cards - CFO |
The Upcoming Technology of RFID For Contactless Access Control ... MarketWatch - This technology is now being rolled out in the UK and around the World for so called 'BioMetric passports' and credit cards because there are no physical ... |
Credit Crunch: The Sequel U.S. News & World Report, DC - And that certainly seemed to be the case in March when investment bank Bear Stearns became the highest-profile victim of the credit crisis. ... UPDATE 1-US banks' direct borrowing hits record in week UPDATE:Comml Bks Set Record For Avg Discount Window Borrowing The Market: What the Pros Are Saying |
Merrill Lynch Hires Dick Barrett and Mark Ellman to Strengthen ... MarketWatch - He subsequently led the financial institutions groups at UBS, DLJ and Credit Suisse. Mark began his career in accounting and law before becoming an ... Investment Banking Vets Join Merrill Merrill Boosts Institutional Coverage Merrill Lynch hires senior investment bank duo |
 CBC.ca | Canada bank CEOs see more credit crisis uncertainty Reuters - By Lynne Olver CALGARY, Alberta, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Fallout from the US subprime mortgage crisis and subsequent credit crunch has left nagging regulatory ... Markets still rocky but underlying environment 'benign': Deutsche ... |
Legg Mason's stock hit by Credit Suisse downgrade Reuters - Credit Suisse analyst Craig Siegenthaler downgraded Legg Mason, the No. 2 publicly traded US asset management company, to "underperform" from "neutral," ... After Credit Suisse downgrade, Legg shares fall Legg Mason leads financials lower Legg Mason shares slide after ratings downgrade |
 Minyanville.com | As the Credit Strains Linger, Pimco’s Gross Calls for Intervention New York Times Blogs, NY - Banks and businesses are still having trouble raising money, according to data on Thursday that reinforced the prospect that the year-long US credit crisis ... Freaky Friday Potpourri: Help Wanted in Washington! Pimco's Bill Gross hits the panic button 'Financial Tsunami' To Engulf Markets, Says Pimco's Gross |
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