Based in the advice above, I canceled my Amtrak card. First I went to the three credit bureaus and temporarily unfroze my accounts at each. (I had requested they be frozen after the large data breach earlier this year that exposed upwards of 70% of our social security numbers to the dark web.) I then waited two days and applied for the FNBO card. My application was denied. Since my credit scores are excellent with Experian, Trans Union and Equifax, I tried again the next day and was again denied. I called FNBO to inquire what happened, but they could only tell me to wait until I received their letter of denial.That letter told me nothing more than the instant email denial did: that some of my personal data did not match. Come to find out I had placed a fraud alert in addition to the freeze at Experian, and that triggered fraud alerts at the other two. I removed the fraud alert, applied for a Hilton credit card and was instantly approved, right down to receiving the account number, expiry and CVV, allowing its use even before receiving the plastic in the mail. So it must have been the the fraud alert that led to my denial at FNBO. I called FNBO and had my old card reinstated. I'll wait until the next big FNBO welcome offer rolls around before trying again. Meanwhile I'll be earning several free nights at Hilton properties.
