My Experian report is derog-free now (score 699) thanks to CNet... so I applied for HD online, since they are supposed to pull Experian in VA. When I hit the "submit" button, a screen popped up instantaneously saying "unable to approve your credit application at this time". It was so quick, I figured there is no way they could pull my report and analyze it in less than one nanosecond. Does this mean I am necessarily rejected? I'm afraid that it does because I just pulled my tri-merge report from Privacyguard, and those HD jerks pulled both my Experian and Equifax reports. (My Equifax report still has that tenacious 8-year-old dismissed ch13 that I keep writing about). If my app was rejected because of that, I'll be really upset. I almost feel like I've worked so hard on this credit repair journey in vain and that damn withdrawn bk from 8 years ago is going to negate all progress I've made whatsoever. If that's the case, Equifax will soon be experiencing my full wrath. Sorry, I really had to vent! Thanks for listening. As always, any advice is greatly appreciated.
HD has recently started pulling EQ as well...as you just found out. However, isnt there a 7 year limit on ch 13? Or is it becasue it was dismissed they are not removing it? Hmmm... When I got my HD account, they pulled eq...I had an old 94 bk on it at the time along with about 7 other derogs and it was approved for 250. The lady asked if I wanted her to call Monogram to see if they could allow more of a limit. She called and they upped it to 1K. I would call monogram or call local HD store to get their credit number. They will have your app on file and you may get somwhere. If you do, let us know...sometimes monogram wont give it a second look and sometimes they will. I had eq score of 650ish (lotsa derogs) when I was approved. I think my exp was only like 620 (clean) or so.
Actually my guess is that one or more pieces of their credit approval system might have been down at the time which is why you'd get that response back so quickly.
I applied for a Lowe's card (same lender as HD) last year online and got the same message. Two weeks later a card showed up. Go figure.
Odd...I cant get a Lowes to save my life!! I know each co has its own requirements, though. Maybe the card will show up in the mail. Or call and raise a little hell!!!
Thanks y'all. That makes me a bit less depressed. The instant notification did say I would be notified in the mail as well, so I think I'll wait and see what that has to say first, then call them if it's bad news. And regarding the 8 year old dismissed ch13....you may not even want to get me started on that one. But I'll recap anyway the Equifax reporting policy as I see it: *It's reported for 7 years if...you filed for ch 13, confirmed a plan, and paid off maybe some or part of you bills under full protection of bk laws, it will be "discharged". (Considered a "good" thing) *It's reported for 10 years if...you filed the petition for ch 13, then decided not to go through with it & withdrew before confirmation, then proceeded to pay off all your bills in full to all your creditors sans any bk protection laws. (Considered a "bad" thing). Note: The above case of a voluntarily dismissed ch 13 is evidently punishable for the same duration of time as a chapter 7 (<--that'd be when one pays nothing back ever, and could blow off 10s or 100s of thousands of dollars). Uhhhhh....if there is logic and fairness to that thinking, it eludes me. Oops, guess I'm still venting. But I know you guys understand. Thanks again for reading my catharthis.
GE/Monogram is pretty strict about not approving with a BK on file... if you apply. For some unknown reason, they will send out pre-approved cards to folks w/a BK and will do limit increases (I'm up to $15.6k)... but I couldn't get other Monogram cards to save my soul, even when debating with the rep on the phone ("you mean you'll give me $15k on my HD, but not even $200 on Lowes? Can't you just xfer a few thousand of the HD limit?" -- the response was a resounding NO). Call them -- 800-677-0232 and see if you can get anywhere. Good luck! -mj
Hi. No, I haven't heard a thing from them. I think I will call them....If they are going to put two hard inquiries on my credit, they at least owe me an answer. I don't know what the big decision is--Exp I have perfect credit, and Eq is perfect other than an 8 year old dismissed ch13. I don't see the credit risk here. I have a feeling I know what their answer will be though...that's OK, Lowes has HD beat in every regard, so I'll just take my business there instead.
Wow, not even a letter and it's been a month? Keep us posted but I guess I won't be waiting for my card to show any time soon!
This is too funny. Do you wander what Lowes would think if they knew their um vendor was giving preferential treatment to their competitor? I mean, how many of you have a Lowes on one corner, and an HD caddy corner?
Well, I just called and after being on hold for 20+ minutes, I was informed that it was not approved. They blamed my not getting the letter on "the computer"--always a viable explanation. I asked how I could get a manual review, since "the computer" probably rejected my application automatically. She gave the the address of Monogram Bank. Guess I'll write another letter. mj- Is that how you got a HD card w/ a BK on your report? What is the secret? I really don't need this card (or any card) right now, but I just hate the rejection for such a stupid reason.
Re: Re: Home Depot "unable to approve"? Yes, 7/98 chapter 7 - guess I'm out of luck (which actually would be good because DH practially lives there!)
I got the same message, so I applied several days in a row. I ended up receiving three different credit cards with HD. Pretty funny.
My HD was a pre-approved offer received in the mail (which was followed within a few months by pre-approved offers for Wal-Mart, Exxon, and JCPenney). If I apply for anything from the GE family of cards, I am automatically declined (BK, 1995). Good luck -mj
Hubby had score of upper 500's when he was approved in-store for 500. (4 derogs at the time) I think we did a joint app, but they never ran my credit. I had a bk on reports, score mid 600 and approved for 200. (bk and 8 derogs at the time) The HD lady asked me if I would like her to call the bank and ask for a bigger limit...it was raised to 1000. Cant get a Lowes to save my life, though.
I was declined for a card also and I called them for a manual review. What I learned was that if you call them you can request which CRA you want pulled. I was finally able to talk them into a $300 card. since then about 6 or so months ago I have continuously used it and paid it off but they pull experian soft inquiries for an AR and of course I sued exp because they screw me royally so I have yet to see a cl increase.
