I just recently got an offer from Citibank for thier American Airlines mileage card (With TWA and AA merging, this would be a great deal for us if we can get the card). Does anyone know what bureau they pull and if it is hard to get a card through Citibank (any info on thier criteria would be appreciated). Thanks!! Shanna
Here are a couple of helpful links. Just be sure to leave send yours in to the millenium one! http://www.creditmania.com/cconline.htm#list1 http://www.millcbs.com/cr_detail.asp?cid=0&order=0
I have Click Citi AAadvantage card. I called to upgrade. Was told "apply" so I did - online. Got a decline letter in the mail. I called, the girl said I had too many inquiries. I have 13 in 12 months, 3 unauthorized, 2 from insurance companies I represent who routinely do background checks. She said inquiries are inquiries. Then she said I had too many cards - 9 at this point. I told her I wanted better cards so I could close some of the other ones, then she said balance to limit ratio was too high. I said it's 30%!!! She said it was all on 2 cards, though and they looked at balance:limit on each card - 60% on one and 75% on the other. I said it isn't really that high, that Capital One doesn't report limits, and DMB only reports quarterly, wouldn't report again until July. She said send updated reports when I get them, and they'll reconsider. Oh, she also said I had too much credit that I didn't use. I said "What??" She said "we have our own internal scoring system, and you don't qualify. I said "Thanks, never mind. I can't figure out what you want. Hope this helps. breeze
Yikes! So they are penalizing you for having ballances that are too high and for not using your credit ENOUGH?? YIKES! I think I will definately wait to apply till I get some inquiries to drop off and get some stuff paid off!! THANKS!! Shanna
Shanna, Sometimes Citibank's credit decisions seem arbitrary, and different reps are more or less helpful or not in explaining what the issues are. I had some of the obstacles that breeze reported, but I was approved for Citi cards twice. They want to see a 65% or less balance:limit ratio on each card. However, on my second application, I had 83% utilization on two cards, 44% on another, 50% on a third and 0% on the last. Both of the current installment loans I had were reported at 100% and 91% rspectively. My first application was even worse, as every card I had was >80% utilization. When I was denied for these reasons (on the second app), I faxed them an updated report 3 months later showing 0 balances on two cards, and explaining that the one card which remained at 83% was Citi's own card with which I was taking advantage of a BT. I also sent them a Cap One statement to show my true credit limit just in case my reported "high credit" didn't count with Citibank. For the two installment loans - I explained that both were refinances of earlier loans with much higher "high/original credits", showed that my current balances were below 65% of the originals and that I did not expect to be penalized for lowering my debt obligations by refinancing and all the more so, since these were "closed end" installment loans. I got approved and got a great BT rate again. It's just a matter of making your case well. I'm happy. I suggest that you apply for the silver AAdvantage card or Platinum Select card, and if you are denied, call 1-301-733-5501 and ask for a re-evaluation. The fax numbers for the credit dept. are 1-301-714-5958 and 1-301-790-4647. If you get the AA card, convert it to a Platinum Select, which has much better terms and nice BT offers. I personally believe Citi is very easy to work with if you state your case well for why you want the card.