10 Reasons You Were Rejected for Credit

If you’ve never been rejected for credit, count yourself fortunate. Somewhere between 25 – 35% of most credit card applications are typically approved, “depending upon the pricing value proposition and other factors,” according to Robert Hammer, president of R.K. Hammer and Associates, a consultant to the card industry.

That means one out of every three or four applicants may be getting a rejection letter. With some issuers, the approval rate may be a mere 10% or so.

Image: Avenue G

If you’re not turned down for credit, you may be told instead that you didn’t qualify for the best rate. Either way, if a credit score (or credit-based insurance score) was used in the decision-making process, you must be told the main factors that contributed to your score.

Deciphering those reasons can be maddening though. “What do you mean I have no recent revolving balances?” Or, “So it says my account balances are too high. What does ‘too high’ mean anyway?”

Here’s a guide to some of the main reasons you may be turned down — and what you can do about them.

Keep in mind these are just some of the factors that may be used to evaluate your credit. Not all of them will apply in all situations, and there may be variations on these as well.

[Free Resource: Check your credit score and report card for free before applying for a credit card]

Reason 1: Proportion of balances to credit limits is too high on bank revolving or other revolving accounts »