To a certain degree I’m very much a creature of habit. When I look to book flights for a business trip, I always start at ITA Software (typically filtering results for Delta only) and look for hotel rates at SPG.com. That said, with my personal travel I always broaden my scope due to diversity in my points portfolio.
My favorite program is the program that works for me where I need it, when I need it, at a price that works for me. If you’re more than a casual traveler, I think it is important to have a primary program and a secondary one. Knowing that there is no one-size fits all is why I try to obtain points with the ultimate in flexibility, but the flip side to that is partaking in programs that have amazing benefits … enter Club Carlson.
Last summer they sucked me in with a continuation of a promo they ran in 2011. My family and friends racked up a bunch of points and, with the ability to Transfer Club Carlson points between accounts, it was a great way for them to plan some trips.
At the end of 2012 I declared the Club Carlson Premier Rewards Visa card the “Card of the Year” and in February of this year I applied for and was declined for the card. I called and spoke with customer service and was told that information received through a 3rd party verification service was the reason they were unable to approve me for the card.
After about 30 minutes of back and forth of “why” and “what information” was of concern (and me not making any progress with the agent) I was provided contact information for the source of the data that indicated why I wouldn’t be approved; IDA and ARS … I was expecting TransUnion, Experian, or Equifax.
I had never heard of either of these yahoos and was wondering what they could know about me that would cause US Bank (issuer of the Club Carlson card) to decline me for a line of credit. I have no cards with them, have solid 750+ credit scores, stable income, and never a late payment. At the time, I had the best intentions to write to them and get a copy of everything they have on file about me, but I dropped the ball and never did it. Life got in the way and since I wasn’t getting the approval anyway, at that time it got pushed to the back burner and never done. Accepting the rejection, I still refused to give up on the benefits of the card for the rest of my family and friends.
A month later I suggested mom, dad, and a friend each apply for the card to help with upcoming trips (and a honeymoon) … all three of them were instantly approved. My credit scores were in line with theirs, my outstanding credit in line, payments on time for all of us, income all in acceptable ranges … but I had a history of applying for credit cards and have significantly more credit than them.
Think of IDA and ARS as aggregators of public information that aide financial institutions in making risk decisions. But isn’t that what our credit report/scores are supposed to do? Well, for most US creditors that is the case and it is sufficient for them. For US Bank, not so much.
I’m not one for playing the game of denying someone access to information to make a decision, but in the case of these guys, I’d never run into IDA or ARS ever before when applying for a loan, a credit card, a car, or a mortgage for our home – all the big financial life decisions. Then they come out for the card that I declare the card of the year.
Well, a few weeks ago I sent letters to each of them asking them to put an indefinite security freeze on my accounts; effectively limiting this information to me and only me. Sure, I want to get the cards (personal and business), but at this point it really is more on principle of protecting and understanding what information is out there that will have an impact on me.
I happily share information about myself, my wife, my dog and pictures of us here on the blog. You can reach me via @thehowieee on twitter, but my facebook and foursquare information is relatively private. I draw lines at certain things, and not having control over data that can impact me financially is where I draw the line. Part of the reason I use ScoreSense, CreditKarma, and CreditSesame is to keep tags on that information. If I could easily keep tabs on my IDA/ARS information, I’d do that instead of placing the security freeze; but alas, I don’t know how.
Yes, I will be applying for the cards again shortly, and will share the results. I hope to have better results and think you as well will have a higher chance of success by doing the same thing I’ve done, but also hope you keep in mind the importance of knowing what information is out there about you and how it is leveraged.
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Delta® Reserve for Business
- Annual Fee: $450 fee
- Foreign Fees: No
- Card Type: Travel
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- Earn 40,000 bonus miles and 10,000 MQMs after you spend $3,000 in purchases with your new Card in the first 3 months.†
- Earn 15,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and 15,000 bonus miles after you reach $30,000 in eligible purchases on your Card in the calendar year.
- Earn 2 Miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
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Delta® Reserve for Business
- Annual Fee: $450 fee
- Foreign Fees: No
- Card Type: Travel
| FTG Review | Reward Breakdown | Points Breakdown |
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Breakdown
Earn (pt.)
Spend
3 months
0
$3,000
Per dollar on eligible purchases with Delta Purchases
2.00
$1
All Purchases
1.00
$1
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