Apply to cards at once

sultanoflondon

I’ve noticed that if I open a quote on, say, MSE & apply to multiple different cards one after the other, I soon get rejected/poor terms. In order to secure the best terms that I see in the list as Pre-Approved, I was wondering if I get my phone & laptop and click apply to two different cards on two separate websites at exactly the same time, would that improve my chances of getting both cards at good terms? Or would this not work? Thank you.

elsien

Would it not simply just be based on affordability so the more cards you have, the less likely you are to be offered additional ones?

flaneurs_lobster

These applications, one after the other, these are full applications with the card companies?

Each of those will involve a hard search on your credit files, a record of which will be retained that will be seen by any subsequent search. They will be retained for (typically) 12 months.

Your posting history suggests that you are an enthusiastic user of credit cards and stoozing. None of this should be of any surprise to an experienced card user.

Using simultaneous applications on multiple devices (as though trying to get Oasis tickets) in order to 'game' the card systems is starting to sound a bit like desperation.

redux

First of all, I don't rate the MSE Credit Club predictor

I have two cards they said no chance, and was turned down on one they said pre-approved

Some cards have their own soft search predictor, which you can try before applying.

Someone on here was recently successful when I made comments as above, on a card MSE said no chance

Beyond there, similar to post above, I'd be careful about trying to game a system that seems pretty inconsistent and not at all clear to understand

kempiejon

It has been a bit over a year since I applied for new cards. I like to leave a gap between applications and last time clustered a few applications together. I don't know if it makes a difference but that time I went round the stable of cards and tried for credit limit increases too. My next refinancing is due in the spring and I'm staying away from hard searches until then.

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82182686#Comment_82182686

One point that people may not be aware of.

If you apply for a new card (or take a phone contract, or swap gas company) that information will make its way onto the credit report that you can see over the following month or two.

That information will be available to other prospective lenders/credit providers etc in real time.

Anyone who is 'clustering' CC applications in the hope that individual providers won't be aware of the other applications is mistaken.

sultanoflondon

lots of interesting responses, thank you.

Re desperation, haha, I would think of this more as being creative :) although I definitely wish to avoid repaying a card out-of-pocket if possible.

Yes, an enthusiastic user :)

won’t be possible to avoid card applications for a year, since I have some cards that will need BTs within less than 12 months.

flaneurs_lobster

By " I have some cards that will need BTs within less than 12 months" do you actually mean that you would be in financial difficulty if no balance transfers were available?

Or are funds readily available to pay off the cards if that was required?

sultanoflondon

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82183283#Comment_82183283

The latter. I would just prefer not to cannibalise the cash that I’ve built up

Nasqueron

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82182708#Comment_82182708

I think the OP wanted to simultaneously apply for 2 cards with different lenders so the searches would land together. I don't know if it would work though

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82184001#Comment_82184001

Indeed, the OP described it as "being creative".

Trying to conceal ongoing applications for credit from another lender so that they might offer a higher credit limit than otherwise?

Borderline fraud in my opinion.