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TPG reader credit card question: How bad is it to get denied for a credit card?

Nov. 01, 2021
5 min read
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Editor’s note: This post has been updated with new information.


The fastest way to accumulate a meaningful amount of points and miles is by opening new travel rewards credit cards to earn the intro bonuses they offer. However, if you keep at this long enough and apply for a lot of cards, you are almost certain to get rejected on a credit card application eventually. So the question becomes: Are there any long-term ramifications if you get declined for a credit card?

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This is an interesting question and one that readers have asked us many times. It's important to have a thorough understanding of the factors that affect your credit score before you start applying for credit cards so that you understand how a credit card rejection can impact you.

Are there long-term problems if I'm declined for a credit card?

Any time you apply for a new line of credit, whether it’s a mortgage, car loan or credit card, the institution you're applying with will "pull" your credit report. These “hard inquiries” usually lower credit score temporarily by about five points. These types of credit pulls differ from “soft inquiries,” which might happen when you open a new bank account or get your credit screened to sign a rental agreement. In a soft inquiry, the other party looks at your credit report but the inquiry doesn’t then affect your credit score.

(Image courtesy of myFICO)

These inquiries fall off your credit report after about two years, though the temporary score drop usually rebounds before then. In most cases, you’ll receive a hard credit pull whether you’re approved for a card or rejected (although American Express has been known not to perform a hard pull for existing customers when it declines them for a new card).

In this sense, the negative impact of applying for a new credit card is the same whether you get approved or rejected. Obviously, if you get approved, you get a new account and typically an increase to your total credit limit (not to mention a nice welcome bonus) which can help boost your credit score long term. On the other hand, since length of credit history and new credit account for 25% of your total FICO score, opening a new credit card account can also temporarily lower your score by bringing down the average age of your accounts. Overall, though, opening a new card and using it responsibly (i.e. paying it off on time and in full every month) should ultimately help raise your credit score.

As for rejections, there are not any uniquely negative effects if you're not approved for a new credit card. As a single data point, in over three years of collecting points and miles, I’ve been rejected for 12 different credit cards, and still have a credit score of about 780.

Study each issuer’s application rules

While you shouldn’t worry too much if your application gets rejected, you shouldn’t just apply sporadically without understanding the unique eligibility rules of each different card issuer.

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We’re talking specifically about Chase 5/24 status and applying for Chase cards, since the issuer will probably automatically reject you if you’ve opened five or more credit cards in the last 24 months (except certain business credit cards). Even if you don’t know your Chase 5/24 status off the top of your head, it’s worth taking some time to sit down and figure it out instead of just applying randomly and hoping for the best.

The same goes for other issuers such as Amex, which limits you to only receiving the welcome bonus on each of its credit cards once per lifetime. You also have to be careful, as some issuers are especially sensitive to recent inquiries. Even if they don’t have any formal rules like Chase’s 5/24, Citi and Capital One have both been known to reject applicants with otherwise excellent credit for having too many recent inquiries on their credit report.

Read our ultimate guide to credit card application restrictions for everything you need to know.

Bottom line

Getting rejected for a credit card is unfortunate, but thankfully there should not be any permanent harm to your credit score. The five-point hit to your credit score from the hard pull and the inquiry itself will fade over time, meaning you shouldn’t balk at applying out of fear of damaging your score for the long term. Still, you should make sure you know the rules of any issuer whose cards you're thinking of applying for. There’s no good reason to waste a credit inquiry on a card you have absolutely no chance of getting, like applying for a Chase card when you’re over that 5/24 limit.

Let us know if you have any head-scratchers you’d like answered for our weekly reader question series. You can tweet us @thepointsguy, message us on Facebook or email us at info@thepointsguy.com.

Additional reporting by Joseph Hostetler.

Featured photo by karen roach/Shutterstock.

Featured image by Do your homework before applying for new credit cards. (Photo by karen roach/Shutterstock.)
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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2XEarn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets.
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    Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.

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  • Recommended Credit
    Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

    670-850
    Excellent/Good

Why We Chose It

Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.

Pros

  • Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
  • Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
  • First checked bag free

Cons

  • Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
  • SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
  • Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
  • Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
  • Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
  • New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
  • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
  • Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
  • Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
  • Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
  • Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
  • Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • $250 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees