The Incredibly Useful But Relatively Unknown Chase Reconsideration Line

Chase offers some of the best credit cards on the market (for actual use and for scoring big signup bonuses). I have several of them, and quite a bit of outstanding credit with Chase, so it is hardly surprising that I am no longer instantly approved by Chase’s computer system when I apply for a new card. Instead, as was the case with my last two (personal) Chase applications, I receive a message stating that my application is “pending” and that I will receive a decision by mail within 7-10 business days.

But what most people don’t realize is that if you ever find yourself on the receiving end of a Chase purgatory notice, you can actually short-circuit the decision-making process and improve your chances of approval by calling the strange operation known as the Chase “reconsideration line” at 888-245-0625. “Strange” in the sense that I would expect a fair amount of skepticism from a credit analyst after my applications were flagged for further review, and yet it seems that if Chase perceives you to be a potentially profitable customer, calling the reconsideration line with any legitimate rationale for applying for the card (i.e., a reason other than “I’m planning to cash in on the lucrative signup bonus and then cancel the card before the annual fee hits my account”) will do the trick.

My first call related to my application for the Chase United Explorer card. I already had the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, which really renders the United card obsolete for actual spend, because it earns points that are instantly transferable to United miles, and earns more of them due to its broad bonus categories. But I had received a targeted offer for 50,000 miles after my first purchase (no minimum spend requirement, which is rare), so I wanted to capitalize on the offer. Fortunately, the United card offered some United-specific benefits that permitted me to make a semi-reasonable argument as why I “needed” the card:

Me: Hello, I just applied for the United Explorer card, and my application is pending. I was wondering if I could provide you with any additional information so that we could process the approval.

[I am asked for my reference number and I provide it]

Chase: Sir, I see here that you already have the Chase Freedom card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, and that you have $30,000 in outstanding credit from Chase. Why are you interested in the United card?

Me: I fly United quite a bit, and would really like to take advantage of the checked bag privileges and priority boarding. I don’t need any additional credit, so if you’d like to transfer some of my outstanding credit to the United card, that would be perfectly fine with me.

Note: Offering to transfer credit from an existing account is a great way to make an analyst’s decision to approve an application easier, as it all but eliminates the additional risk that Chase would otherwise assume by extending additional credit.

Chase: Excellent. How much would you like to transfer over?

Me: How about $5,000.

Chase: Sure! I’ll put that through right now and process the approval.

My second call was a bit trickier, because it related to my application for the Chase Hyatt card, which, again, is rendered nearly obsolete for actual day-to-day spend by the Sapphire Preferred Card, as the points earned on the Sapphire card are instantly transferable to Hyatt points, and the Sapphire card earns at least as many points per dollar spent as the Hyatt card (with the narrow exception of dollars spent at Hyatt itself). I wanted the card because, after spending $1,000 within 3 months, I would receive 2 free nights at any Hyatt in the world and, as a Hyatt Platinum, would also receive two certificates to upgrades for suites. My fiancé has always wanted to go to Paris, so I figured we’d spend the two free nights at the Park Hyatt Vendome, which would otherwise cost upwards of 750 euros per night.

But, for a few minutes before I called the reconsideration line, I was truly at a loss for a legitimate reason to need the card. The Hyatt card earns Hyatt points, but the Sapphire Preferred card earns more points that are instantly transferable to Hyatt points. The Hyatt card has no foreign transaction fee, but neither does the Sapphire Preferred card. And then I found it:

Me: Hello, I just applied for the Hyatt card, and my application is pending. I was wondering if I could provide you with any additional information so that we could process the approval.

[I am asked for my reference number and I provide it]

Chase: Sir, I see here that you already have the Chase Freedom card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred card [I had already cancelled the United card and moved the credit back to my Sapphire Preferred card], and that you have $30,000 in outstanding credit from Chase. What interests you about the Hyatt card?

Me: Well, I plan to travel extensively in Europe in the upcoming months, and I really need a card with chip and pin technology, because I understand that sometimes credit cards will not work in Europe unless they have that technology [which is true, but rare]. I don’t need any additional credit, so if you’d like to transfer some of my outstanding credit to the Hyatt card . . .

So if you’re ever “pending” on a Chase application, calling the reconsideration line at 888-245-0625 is a great way to move things along and improve your odds of approval. (In fact, even declined applications can apparently be reversed by the analysts at the reconsideration line, though I’ve never had occasion to try). Just have a facially legitimate reason to want the card, and keep in mind that offering to transfer credit from a pre-existing card is a great way to obtain approval. Please note that the 888-245-0625 number is for personal cards (as opposed to business cards), and the business reconsideration line is a bit trickier (more on that in a future post).

Finally, in case you were wondering, American Express (877-399-3083), Citibank (800-695-5171), Bank of America (866-458-8805), and Barclays (866-369-1283) also have reconsideration lines, but I have no experience with them.