Dodging 5/24. What works, what doesn’t, April 2017.

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Dodging 5/24Most Chase credit cards fall under their dreaded “5/24 Rule”.  That is, Chase will deny your application if you have opened 5 or more credit card accounts in the past 24 months (see: How to count your 5/24 status).  Included in the count are cards from any bank (not just Chase), as well as cards in which you are an authorized user.

What follows is a list of approaches for bypassing 5/24, along with an assessment of whether or not the approach currently works.  If you have additional information about what works and what doesn’t, please comment below.

Apply for Chase cards that do not fall under the 5/24 rule

Status: Still Works!

Several Chase cards do not fall under the 5/24 rule.  On our Best Credit Card Offers Page with each card we list whether or not it is known to fall under the rule.  At the time of this writing, the following cards seem to be exempt from the rule:

  • British Airways Visa Signature
  • Hyatt Visa Signature
  • Marriott Rewards Premier Business
  • IHG Rewards Club Select
  • Ritz Carlton

Also, while not shown on our Best Offers page, the following cards are also exempt from 5/24:

  • Amazon
  • AARP
  • Disney

Call recon to remove authorized user cards from the 5/24 count

Status: Still Works

If you are over 5/24 due to being the authorized user on one or more cards, and your application for a new card is denied, then call Chase’s reconsideration line (Found here, under App Tips) and ask the agent to remove those cards from the count since you are not responsible for paying balances on those cards. If the front-line agent won’t help, ask to speak to a supervisor (this is usually necessary for some reason).

Apply after pre-approval

Status: Should still work, but received one report otherwise

The idea here is to go in-branch to a Chase banker and ask if you are pre-approved for any cards.  If you are pre-approved, most data points suggest that the application will bypass 5/24.  That said, one detailed data point from a March 31st application (found here) suggests that this approach may not be foolproof,, or that Chase may have changed their rules very recently.  Please comment below with your recent experiences and I’ll update this section if needed.

Apply for business card via a Chase Business Relationship Manager (BRM)

Status: Still Works

As reported by Doctor of Credit, if a Chase Business Relationship Manager submits a paper application (not an online application), the application should bypass 5/24.  One great side-effect of this approach is that Business Relationship Manager’s have access to better signup offers for select business cards. Read about my attempt to dodge 5/24 through a Business Relationship Manager here: Going for the latest 100K Ultimate Rewards business card offer despite 5/24.

Apply for business card via a Chase banker then submit special reconsideration form

Status: Mixed results. No recent success stories.

When you are denied for an application for a business card, a Chase banker can submit a special reconsideration form (details here).  While I’ve heard a couple of stories of this working to bypass 5/24, most recent reports have been the opposite: that it didn’t help.  It may be that the Chase banker simply has to do a very good job of writing up why you deserve the card.  I don’t know.

Chase Private Client

Status: Dead

It used to be the case that those in the Chase Private Client program were exempt from 5/24.  Chase then changed the rules so that even their treasured Private Clients cannot get new cards if they’ve opened 5 or more cards in the past 24 months.

Stay under 5/24 by applying mostly for business cards

Status: Still alive

Most business cards are not reported as new accounts to personal credit bureaus.  As a result, they do not count towards your 5/24 status.  For additional details, see: Flying under 5/24.

Cards from the following banks are known not to appear on personal credit reports:

  • American Express (except for Canadian Amex)
  • Bank of America
  • Barclaycard
  • Chase
  • Citi
  • US Bank
  • Wells Fargo

Obviously Chase can see that you’ve opened Chase business cards even if they do not appear on your credit report.  Whether or not Chase counts these cards towards 5/24, though, is a matter of debate.  The preponderance of evidence suggests that they do not count their own business cards.  That said, I’ve heard a few compelling stories in recent months suggesting that they do.  I consider this an unresolved question at this point.

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