What Bureau does Citibank Pull???

Discussion in 'Credit Talk' started by sm691, Jul 1, 2001.

  1. sm691

    sm691 Well-Known Member

    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
     
  2. Laray

    Laray Well-Known Member

    they pulled TU on me
     
  3. sm691

    sm691 Well-Known Member

    ICK!! THANKS!
     
  4. Geo

    Geo Well-Known Member

    equifax in Florida
     
  5. Jim

    Jim Well-Known Member

    EX in Southern CA
     
  6. nursie

    nursie Well-Known Member

  7. eddie

    eddie Well-Known Member

    For most people they pull equifax in Louisiana. For me they dont pull a bureau at all.
     
  8. breeze

    breeze Well-Known Member

    Equifax in Virginia.

    breeze
     
  9. jzilla

    jzilla Well-Known Member

    TU in Missouri.
     
  10. Hope

    Hope Well-Known Member

    Experian in Texas.
     
  11. marci

    marci Well-Known Member

    TU for me (4 times since March 2001, the latest time last week). I live in the south.
     
  12. sm691

    sm691 Well-Known Member

    Thank you all for your help! Does anyone know anything about thier underwriting guidelines??
     
  13. Laray

    Laray Well-Known Member

    tu south nj
     
  14. breeze

    breeze Well-Known Member

    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
     
  15. sm691

    sm691 Well-Known Member

    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
     
  16. marci

    marci Well-Known Member

    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.
     
  17. marci

    marci Well-Known Member

    btw,

    at the time, my credit scores were around 600.
     

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