You are currently viewing Unique peculiarity of the TD credit card application process

Like all credit cards, the vast majority of savvy travelers with a good credit score who apply for a TD product online will be approved instantly. But with the TD card application process, there’s a unique peculiarity that means slightly fewer people will have that efficient and effortless experience compared with other banks.

Here’s what you need to know about the TD card application process.

 

What to know about the TD card application process

Seriously, the best method is really still to use our secure Flytrippers link to apply for the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card, the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card, or any other TD card online.

Thanks! By the way, we always sincerely appreciate when you use any and all of our links to support us at absolutely no cost to you (and even sometimes for higher offers than on bank websites). It allows us to help you with more content to maximize your rewards.

Applying online will work for the vast majority of you, I don’t want to scare you needlessly… but a bit more people will be declined than with other banks.

And it doesn’t mean you’re actually declined!!!

The TD application process is just very flawed. It happened to my girlfriend the first time she applied for a TD card, and her credit score is just as good as mine (because she applies for many cards too and follows the 3 simple rules).

Most of the time, if you are amongst the few unlucky ones who get declined after filling out the online form, it actually just means they need more information to identify you for security reasons.

None of that is written anywhere on the screen when you’re declined; it just says you’re declined. So it’s very badly designed, but that’s how it is.

You just need to call them if that happens; it’ll take 5 minutes to clear up. TD has some of the best offers and best cards, it’s absolutely worth applying because it’ll likely work fine and because if it doesn’t work fine, the 5-minute call is worth the slight effort for bonuses often worth $600+. That’s like being paid $7200+ per hour, if you want that math.

If you call from the same number you entered on your application, the agent will see the application right away, and it’ll be quick. If you can’t call from that same number, you might want to note the “file” number that appears when you’re declined, just to make sure they find it.

You’ll answer a few questions, and then you’ll likely be approved, as my girlfriend was.

I’ll share her experience in a second.

If you’re really unlucky, you might need to go to a branch for that identity verification, but that’s even rarer. But I do still want to mention it, in case you don’t have a TD location near you.

Basically, the TD card application system is a bit more stringent than others and pushes out more KYC (Know Your Customer) legal verifications to make sure no one is trying to steal your identity. It’s for your protection, but it’s still unfortunate that it happens a bit more than with other banks.

 

Why it’s important to know this TD peculiarity

With TD, another thing is different from just about every other bank: the welcome bonus offers require you to be approved by the end date, not to apply by the end date.

So if you do end up being on the losing end of the TD security Russian roulette, you’ll have to call in before the offer ends to make sure you’re approved in time to get the offer you’re interested in.

 

How the TD peculiarity works (step by step)

If you’re like me, it’ll be simple:

The end. That’s it, just like with every other bank.

If you’re like my girlfriend (for her first TD card, because every subsequent one worked fine), it was just a single extra step requiring a call:

  • She applied online for the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card
  • She got a “declined” message with no mention at all of calling them
  • She called the number on the screen
  • She answered a few questions for 5 minutes
  • She got approved “manually” over the phone

She did have to go pick up the card in branch though, which isn’t great, but at least that can be done whenever you want as there’s no deadline for the pickup (the deadline is for being approved).

And in reality, that pickup part can actually happen with any major bank, as sometimes they too want to verify ID before giving you the card (except with American Express, MBNA, and the other banks that don’t have branches — their process is guaranteed to be 100% online).

 

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Summary

Unfortunately, the TD credit card application process has a unique peculiarity that might require you to call in instead of doing everything online. For bonuses worth hundreds and hundreds of dollars like on the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card or the TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Card, it’s definitely worth it — especially since it’s more likely that the extra step won’t be required.

 

What would you like to know about the TD card application process? Tell us in the comments below.

 

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Featured image: Pragser Wildsee, Italy (photo credit: Pietro De Grandi)

 

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Andrew D'Amours

Andrew is the co-founder of Flytrippers. He is passionate about traveling the world but also, as a former management consultant, about the travel industry itself. He shares his experiences to help you save money on travel. As a very cost-conscious traveler, he loves finding deals and getting free travel thanks to travel rewards points... to help him visit every country in the world (current count: 71/193 Countries, 47/50 US States & 9/10 Canadian Provinces).

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