My Chase & AmEx Credit Card Denials

Dear Diary,

For the past number of months, I’ve tried repeatedly to signup for Chase and American Express cards with no success.

Twice I tried for the Chase INK Preferred card and got denied. On my recent applications, I even lowered my credit lines significantly which is supposed to help odds of approval (even instant approvals). Alas, to no avail. They continue to deny me due to: the number of my active cards, my available credit, too many requests for credit, low usage of Chase credit line, and new Chase business card opened (it’s been many months since my last approval, but it’s still too new per the memo).

With regards to AmEx, for years I had never been hit with the infamous pop up ineligibility message. But a few months ago they put me in pop up jail. Despite numerous attempts at some of the excellent recent card offers from AmEx, I’ve yet to be released from prison.

For now I’m giving up on new cards with Chase and AmEx. I’ll revisit in six months or a year and see if they’re willing to let me back in the fold.

Instead I applied last night for the Citi Business AAdvantage card with a bonus of 65,000 points (which is not the highest its been) and go an instant approval. Yay! I also lobbed in an application for the U.S. Bank Triple Cash card and was approved the next day; that card comes with a bonus of $750 and with 0% APR for 12 months. #winning

Until tomorrow,
Chuck
    Chuck
  • On September 17, 2024, 10:00

View Comments (135)

  • Feels like I have the opposite experience - Chase and Amex seem to love me even though I burn and churn like crazy on Chase. Cancelling some biz cards and lowering credit limits seemed to help (after a denial for P1 and P2 a few months ago when I had 4 biz cards open for each of us). Amex even took me out of pop up Jail a couple years ago.

    Citi hates me. I even tried to get my CitiGold Private Client banker to reach out to their credit card underwriting folks and they still couldn't approve me.

    US Bank loves me at least - Got a Cash rewards biz card for P1 and P2 and a pair of the elevated referred Inks back in early September.

  • Thanks for sharing this DoC, as I have been experiencing similar issues starting earlier this year with both Chase and AmEx, which has been very frustrating!

    820+ credit score, well under 5/24, multi-year business and personal relationships established with both Chase and AmEx, and nothing but denials since Q1 of 2024. I too am going reduce credit limits, # of open accounts, etc...to shift focus to the other major issues for the next six months to a year, and hope that they will relax approval restrictions in 2025.

  • I have been getting odd denials from Amex and Chase as well. I am under the 5/24 limit on Chase. I have 800+ credit scores. Havn't opened any new credit card accounts in 4-5 months. Chase denial letter for the Hyatt personal card literally had one thing on it, "to much credit with Chase". I do have probably 400-500k between business and personal cards. I called and asked them to just move 5k-10k off my Sapphire(25k limit) over. The lady on the phone for some reason coulnd't move any of my lines from anything! She said she sent over for a supervisor to review, still received the same denial later in the week. I keep no balanced on any cards either.
    With amex, can't get the welcome bonus on Hilton for myself or my wife even though we have never had a Hilton card ever. During Covid Amex even let me have 4-5 business platinum opened at once and got bonus each time.

    Not for sure what is going on.

  • Applied for an INK card and was denied for already opening two other INK cards earlier this year in January and April. Called Recon line and the rep told me that even if I shifted available credit from other cards the denial would still stand. I thanked him for his time and referred my wife who was instantly approved. Her last INK card was in 2023 so maybe there is now a 2 per year limit on INK cards. Glad to hear that it's not just me!

  • Lol I’m getting worried about this. I have nine enquiries and about 30 credit cards and at 5/24 and was gearing up to add the last Ink card (premier) to the quartet I already have. Now I’m worried I may not get approved. I also have a 250k AMEX rewards pre approved offer expiring on 1 October, is it going to get approved? I have 9 inquiries on Experian and an 840 score. Worried now.

    • Preapproved at AMEX does not mean approval. I got denied for too many cards and inquiries (2 in the previous 12 months alone) and of course that application denial counts against me in the future.

  • I’ve been riding the Ink train for a while recently, since we’ve been under 5/24. Three for P1 and five for P2 across the last 15 months. Got my first denial earlier this month for same generic reasons as everyone else. I guess it’s finally time to move on and start picking up the small bank cards (still in PUJ with AMEX).

  • Similar situation (but only with AMEX); I called and they told me it was because of too many recent cc openings (none are AMEX). Rep suggested I call Experian and speak with someone about the info they are sharing with AMEX. I don't know what to say to them but I'll try and post back if something comes of it.

  • @6 How many active Inks do you have? If you have more Inks than you need, and they are more than a year old, close some. That seems to be a factor lately, and was mentioned in your reasons for denial. Good luck.

    • I try keeping my cards and credit lines lean. I'll probably close out another one or two and also lower some of my personal credit lines, and maybe try again in a few months.

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