But there's always one thing that has bothered me when talk about credit cards come up. Why the heck have my application for a Citibank credit card been declined--five times in a row?!
Until two weeks ago, when I met a person who works for Citibank, this situation has bothered me. But, God bless her, she finally explained to me--off the record, of course--why this has happened (they never do tell you the reason why your application has been denied). Keep reading to know why! :)
The first time I applied for a Citibank credit card was back in 2007 when I've only been with the Philippine Daily Inquirer for several months. So the application getting denied was very understandable--perhaps people who evaluated my application thought I was too new at the job to be granted one. Fair enough!
Since then, I have tried every year. Why I do this, I'm not certain. Perhaps it's because Citibank, in fairness to them, really has a great reward system. Perhaps still, it's to prove to them that my financial status has improved so much they can't turn me away any longer.
I mean, they spend millions of advertising and marketing pesos to get people to sign up. Here I am applying for one, yet they wouldn't give me that much coveted card?! That really doesn't make sense. After all, they could check my history with HSBC and know that I'm a very, very good client.
The last time I did try to apply was last February when an agent in Shangri-la Plaza finally convinced me to sign-up one more time. Two weeks later, I get a text message from Citibank telling me my application for a credit card has been denied yet again!
Apparently, this Citibank employee explained, my application has been denied because I am simply working in a media outfit. Yep, you read that right. It turns out, applications from people from the media automatically gets declined.
Why, you ask? Apparently, a job at a media company is considered as a "negative job," along with lawyers and several other jobs.
According to this Citibank friend, the credit card issuer does not want to grant media people credit cards because we might write about them in our respective publications (or TV or radio shows, for that matter) should we find fault with their service.
But then again, I said, we'd be more than happy to feature excellent service from their end should we get an abundance of it. Oh well, right?
Now that I know about this, it has at least given me some closure, for lack of better term, as to why Citibank has been declining my credit card application (when other issuers are sending pre-approved cards with very high credit limits).
Will I try to apply one more time? Perhaps! I'll put "self-employed" instead. Let's see how that turns out! :D
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Hi there,
ReplyDeleteSo have you tried applying again? I got rejected too. I'm of the advertising industry and I'm also looking for that reason why did it not go through.
I sincerely doubt you got rejected just because you work in the media business. My mom works in the media and so does a lot of her friends, and they never had issues. Being a lawyer doesn't automatically decline you either. A lot of lawyers make A LOT of money.
ReplyDeleteWhat banks look for is that you have a stable job, one you've had for a while and the finances to pay back whatever credit they extend you. They will be taking a risk giving you credit so they have to make sure you can afford it. Now I'm not saying you can't, what I suggest is to have a substantial bank account with them. After which I guarantee you, the credit cards will be offered to you instead
Hi Gadiy, sorry for responding so late. I apparently missed your comment and didn't see it until now. Apologies! Anyways, no, I haven't tried again. But I just mighttry again just for the sake of it. How about you? :)
ReplyDeleteHi Braveheart12, thanks for the comment. Do you mind giving us more information about your mom? I mean, you told us she works in the media, too, right? What is her nature of her job there? I am a writer. It's possible she works in the media, but in the Human Resource department, you know? :)
ReplyDeleteAlso, not all lawyers make money. I know several ones who are buried in debt! haha
Going back to my case, it just astounds me. I mean, I have been using HSBC for 4 years (when I tried the last time, which was last year). This year, I have been a loyal HSBC credit card holder for 5 years. In my 5 years of using the card, I have been an excellent client, missing my dues for just a couple of months. I would consider myself a very very good customer. So there, would appreciate more info from you.
Thanks! :)
Gosh i can so relate to this. i just received a text message from citibank few mins ago informing me that my application has been denied. Im self employed and i have a stable income and i have a good record with rcbc's bankard and metrobank card so i dont understand why they would reject my application. Its just so unfair citibank!
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome article and it really shows just how broad a highway the approval standards can be when it comes to getting approved for a line of credit. It's almost as if certain lenders like to randomly pick reasons to deny potential applicants and then of course they totally sequester the reason why! Funny on one hand and extremely frustrating on the other. What works for me is researching the lenders approval standards first and then determine if my credit report reflects them enough to make the attempt to apply. Here is some related info I found useful http://gettingcreditcardwithbadcredit.com/
ReplyDeletei am a lawyer and my application for a citibank credit card has been denied for 6 times na.. so i can relate to this article.. i just want to know if you tried to apply again and if the citibank employee you've talked to has any advice to you on how people with negative jobs can be approved for a citibank card?
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting. I just filed my application for a Citibank credit card last night. Someone called me yesterday asking me if I want to apply for a Citibank. I don't know how they got my postpaid number, but off I visited their website and filled out the online forms then sent the documents to their @citi.com. It hasn't been a year yet since I got my credit card from BPI which I got via the Express Start program. Oh well, my hopes are not that high. I will probably get rejected. But at least, I tried.
ReplyDeletei was looking for something like this.. Thanks for the info
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Hi iZach! Thank you visiting my site! Yes, she did mention trying to apply without mentioning those "negative" jobs. For example, if you're a lawyer and you also have a business, might as well just put you're a businessman instead of lawyer! Goodluck and let us know if you apply again (and hopefully get approved hehe) :D
ReplyDeleteHi Lawrence! I do hope you get approved for your application. What is it that you do, if I may ask? :)
ReplyDeleteHi again Scyt! And thanks for commenting on the posts! Any credit card story of your own? :)
ReplyDeleteHi Lonely Pinay! Sorry for the super late reply. Didn't see your comments right away. I should check my notifications more often! hehe. Anyways, I'm sorry about your application getting denied. Any new updates on any credit card applications yet?
ReplyDeleteHi Alex! Thanks for the link. Please keep coming back the site. Godspeed! :D
ReplyDeleteI can relate to this, even if our payroll is with Citibank, I am always being rejected. :|
ReplyDeletehi.. Somebody called me from CitiBank and I submitted all the requirements to an email address which the agent has given on me.. Shortly after two days, I got text from Citi informing me that they'll process my application within 10 days. Does this text gurantee me of geeting the credit card. I've been always declined by a lot of banks (BDO,Eastwest, BPI etc) because I'm working under BPO sector.. so sad :(
ReplyDeleteHi Omr3h! That is weird How many times have you applied? May I ask what the nature of your job is? Thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Aljon! As I understand it, the text you got was merely to inform you that they are processing your application. This does not at all guarantee anything because during review, they may still decide NOT to award you with the credit card after all. But I'm crossing my fingers for you! :)
ReplyDeleteAljon. Im interested to know. its been almost a month now since you posted your comment here. was there a progress?? have you ever received your citibank credit card?. because I can relate to your comment I have also received same text message from citibank.
ReplyDeleteJust wanna say na after so many years of applying for citibank and hsbc's credit card I got finally approved early this year. I just reapplied and I guess nakita nila perseverance ko lol so eventually they gave in lol
ReplyDeleteThat's one way to do it! Happy for you, Lonely Pinay! And thanks for sharing your experience! :)
ReplyDeleteIm a current BPI card holder to date. Also had an HSBC and BPI Blue card before which has been closed. Agents always called me up to check if im interested to apply for Citibank, which I dont think I got approved before. But years after years, when i saw the Ad about zero Annual Fee recently. I tried applying thru online form. 2days after citi agent call me for the documents, 1 week after they texted me i am approved for Shell Citi GOLD Card. Not bad, coz i dont expect it to be Gold.
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Same thing happened to me. But now i have 2 cards from CITI (Rewards and Cash Back), Just for fun i tried applying to them at their booth in Megamall just for free umbrella, The agent told me if i have at least a nine months old card with other banks. My HSBC was just 6 months old back then. He told me that we will try if im going to be approved so he ticked the box for rewards and Cash back. After 2 weeks (not expecting from CITI) they've sent me a message that if they need additional info from me they'll just contact me back. Aha, thought i will be declined, after a week to my delight they've sent me a message (they didnt even call me for verification) that both the rewards and cash back application has been approved. I am not using my rewards only the cash back and my HSBC. Way before banks do not approved my application, i'm just being declined without them even verifying my details. Now i tried another one Security bank, after one week, i got approved for a gold mastercard, but same with rewards that goes straight to my envelope put them inside my closet and not using them. =p
ReplyDeleteYou are not alone, I applied Citibank 3 times. I am working in a Designing firm - American company. I am frustrated and say to myself Citibank will never ever profit from me. I don't lose them, Citibank lose me. I choose local banks, I have EastWest and BDO.
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