The offer kept coming and I was enticed to apply for a new card from Chase but I resisted until a month back.

For quite some time I’d been receiving a mailer (or e-mail) to apply for the Chase United Credit Card. I’ve had the card in the past but I felt that it was better to wait.

Then I got the bug. With all kinds of chatter about new rules related to getting approved for Chase cards, I felt I might as well apply for the United card through one of these targeted offers.

I applied for the United card on February 16 and was told that I’d receive a decision within the next 30 days. I waited and wondered what the outcome would be.

A few days back I received a letter in the mail from Chase. It was dated March 9, 2016.

Hoping for good news, I read the message

“After reviewing the information you provided in your application and your credit report, we regret that  we are unable to approve your application at this time. Our decision was based on the following specific reasons:

• You already have the maximum amount of credit we can offer you
• Too many credit or loan accounts have been opened recently
• You have too many active accounts or too much available credit”

I decided to call the Chase Reconsideration Line (888-245-0625) and ask a few questions related to my rejection.

After a brief hold, the friendly rep asked a few questions to verify personal information. I then mentioned my recent application. I was then placed back on hold for him to take a look at my account.

He came back on the line and mentioned the reason for not being approved as the first two reasons in the bullets above.

I then mentioned how I only applied due to being harassed with mailers and e-mails about the offer. He mentioned that the offers aren’t specifically sent to customers. My response was that they had my info so it sure seemed like it was!

Rather than give up, I asked if there was anything that I could do to get approved and he said that he could take another look to reconsider.

A glimmer of hope…

A few moments later, he came back on the line and asked a bunch of questions.

1. Rep: Why do you have so many cards? My response was that I use certain cards for groceries others for gas etc. I also mentioned that my business cards were for my small business. The rep then said, “so to separate spending“.  Exactly…
2. Rep: How much spending do you plan to do each month. Having no clue, I responded with $200-$1000 per month depending on if I am paying for my son’s school!
3. The last question: The rep mentioned how I have a bunch of Chase cards, some that I never use- would I like to move some credit to open this card? I then said yes and asked if I could close or move credit from my Southwest card. I was told that the max amount that could be moved was $10,000.

I agreed to move that amount over to open a new Chase United credit card! (I’ll call at a later date to cancel my Southwest card.)

So in the end, a 25-30 minute phone call and a bit of hope got me approved for the United MileagePlus Explorer card once again!

After spending $2,000 in the first three months and adding an authorized user (I think I did so on the app), I’ll have another 55,000 miles in my account!

Have you had any success recently with the Chase Reconsideration Line? If so, feel free to share your story with us.