Recently there has been reports of people being automatically denied for U.S. Bank credit cards if they have had their ARS credit reports frozen according to card investigation representatives. This is one of two credit reports that we recommend freezing to improve your chances of being approved. According to some this is a new policy at U.S. Bank. I thought it would be helpful to look at the data:
Contents
Approved
Denied
My Thoughts
I think there are a few possible explanations:
- This is an easy excuse for representatives to use for denials
- If you’re instantly approved for a card then ARS isn’t necessary but if you’re denied and it’s frozen then reconsideration isn’t possible
- This is a new rule and hasn’t been 100% implemented or the data points are sufficiently old that they aren’t relevant
Feel free to share your datapoints in the comments below.
Applied for FlexPerks Business card at the end of August after freezing ARS/Sagestream. Already have FlexPerks Amex and Perks+ VISA with US Bank. Mid-September called to learn that it was denied, but Recon re-opened the application because they could see no reason for denial. Now (after deadline for Olympic promotion has passed) they have finally decided to deny the application because of the frozen agencies. Will only consider a new application after the agencies are unfrozen.
My SO & i applied for both personal and business visas. My personal and business and my SO’s personal were auto approved or approved after a couple of days. My SO’s business card was denied and then “approved” on reconsideration, but was then denied again due to sagestream/ARS freeze. No negotiation possible – unfreeze and reapply.
Side note: none of my olympic promos posted. Need to call and complain.
Applied for the USbank Flexperks BUSINESS card hoping to get the Olympics bonus offer. Received a letter in the mail stating that “we were unable to verify information on your application” and asked me to call them. When I called this morning, was told I was denied because I had “frozen vcl”. I had previously frozen both my ARS and my SageStream reports about 5 months ago. They said it was too late to apply for the Olympic offer, that if I wanted the business card I’d have to unfreeze my reports and apply all over again for the current offer. Sigh.
a few months ago I was approved for both a us bank card and one from a local bank that uses us bank as there card issuer. I had ARS frozen and no problems with instant approval..
Applied for Flexperks Business on Sept 03 and app went to pending. Called recon Sept 11 and denied for too many inquires on my credit report. Underwriter said to wait 4 months before reapplying.
Both ARS and Sage are frozen. The underwriter did not say anything about ARS or Sage.
In my opinion, US Bank appears to be more difficult and careful in their approval process now. YMMV.
Denied for VCLs being frozen on Flexperks biz, applied 9/2.
Maybe I don’t understand. I froze my credit so that it would prevent people from assuming my identity and opening credit in my name. Wouldn’t it be a good thing if a bank did not issue credit because they were frozen. That was the whole point I thought. I would be more upset if they did extend credit.
This is a small credit bureau which isn’t widely used.
Called recon after applying for olympics promo on 9/3. Denied for too many accounts. I offered to move CL from existing card, still would’t do it. Guess I should be glad they haven’t closed the current card yet? I do have a checking account w/ them.
ARS & Sage frozen in July 2016 right after opening a checking acct. with US Bank.
Applied for Cash + 18 July – 8700 CL
Applied for Olympics Flex Perks 1 Sep – 10K CL
2 pulls, Equifax.
Personally I think I would have been approved, frozen reports or not, because those reports have almost no data on me. But, I took the advice just to play the safe side.
I forgot to add – both approvals were not instant and took a couple or few days.
Applied for FlexPerks Business on 9/3. Automatically approved on 9/9. Neither CR was frozen. I was 4/24.