Credit score needed for the Discover it Miles card

The Discover it® Miles card is a popular travel credit card from Discover. It offers 1.5X miles on every purchase, which you can redeem for cash or travel purchases. It also offers other perks, including no annual fee, flexible reward redemption and a match for all your miles at the end of the first year.

Are you considering adding this travel credit card to your wallet? If so, you’ll have to meet Discover’s credit score requirements. Keep reading to learn what credit score you need for the Discover it Miles card, what to do if your application is denied and how you can boost your score to qualify for this card.

What credit score is needed for the Discover it Miles card?

To qualify for the Discover it Miles card, you’ll need either a good or excellent FICO credit score. A good credit score is one anywhere from 670 to 739, while an excellent credit score is one that’s 740 or higher.

Keep in mind that while your credit score is one of the most important factors Discover will consider when deciding if you qualify for this card, it’s not the only factor. The company will also look at your credit report for a history of late payments or other disqualifying factors. Your income, credit utilization and other factors will also determine if you qualify.

What if my application is denied?

If Discover denies your application for the Discover it Miles card, you may not be entirely out of luck yet. First, like most credit card companies, Discover has a reconsideration line you can call to ask them to take another look at your application. The number for Discover’s reconsideration line is 1-800-347-2683.

Asking Discover to reconsider your credit card application doesn’t mean the answer will change. However, even if Discover doesn’t agree to approve your application, calling the reconsideration line can give you some helpful information as to why you were denied. You can use that information to improve your financial situation so you’ll be approved the next time around.

A few things to check for are whether you made any mistakes on the application, whether there are items on your credit report you need to fix and whether your credit score is actually in the good or excellent range.

How can I improve my credit score to get this card?

If your application for the Discover it Miles card was denied based on your credit score, you have a few options to help increase your credit score.

Improve your payment history

Your payment history is the single most important factor in determining your credit score, accounting for 35% of the calculation. Therefore, one of the best ways to increase your credit score is to improve your payment history.

First, be sure you’re making every monthly payment on time. Even one late payment on your credit report can have a huge impact on your credit score and prevent you from getting a new credit card. Additionally, catch up on any past-due accounts. Those late payments will remain on your credit report for seven years, but getting caught up on the bills can help minimize the damage.

Dispute credit report errors

A 2021 survey from Consumer Reports found that about 12% of respondents had an error on their credit report the last time they checked it. Errors can have a serious impact on your credit report and can pull your score down, so it’s important to find them as soon as possible

If you do find errors, you can dispute the errors directly with the credit bureaus. Unless the credit bureau can provide proof that an item is legitimate, it’ll be removed from your credit report.

Decrease your credit utilization

Your credit utilization is the percentage of your available credit that you’re using, and it’s an important factor for your credit score. In general, it’s recommended that you use no more than 30% of your available credit.

There are two ways to decrease your credit utilization: decreasing your debt and increasing your available credit. If you currently use credit cards, you can boost your credit score by paying off any remaining debt on them and using no more than 30% of your available credit each month – and less is even better. You can also contact your credit card company and ask for a credit limit increase. Some companies allow you to request this directly from your online account, while others have a customer service number you can call.

Expand your credit history

Having too short a credit history can hold you back when it comes to boosting your credit score and qualifying for new credit. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to grow your credit history without access to new credit, and it can feel like an endless cycle. Luckily, there are a couple ways to expand your credit history without access to new credit.

First, you can become an authorized user on someone else’s credit card. Doing so can increase your available credit and, therefore, decrease your credit utilization. Plus, depending on how old the credit card is, it may increase your average age of credit, another factor that affects your credit score. Finally, you’ll get credit for all the on-time payments the cardholder has made on that card over the years.

Before you decide to become an authorized user on someone else’s card, be sure they’ve used the card responsibly. The last thing you want is a card with a poor payment history or high utilization showing up on your credit report.

Another way you can expand your credit report is through a service like Experian Boost, which allows you to add your monthly bills to your credit report. You’ll get credit for your monthly phone bill, streaming services, utilities and more. It’s also entirely free to use.

As a final option, you can apply for a secured card, which you can get without a good credit score or long credit history.

Bottom line

The Discover it Miles card is one of many popular travel credit cards on the market. It stands out with its 1.5X miles on all purchases, the bonus miles after your first year and the fact that it doesn’t have an annual fee. But you won’t be approved for the card unless you meet the card’s requirements for your credit score and other eligibility factors.

If you don’t think you’ll qualify yet, you can use the tips in this article to work on boosting your credit score to help ensure your application is approved when you’re ready.