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Preapproval FAQs Preapproval FAQs
If you would like to receive your pre-approval decision and your application decision electronically and, if approved, receive future disclosures and other important information about your Discover card Account electronically instead of paper, please read and accept the terms and conditions below.
Please note that you are not signing up to receive statements by e-mail.
Please read the following important information about receiving disclosures electronically.
You agree that we may provide you with your pre-approval decision and application decision and, if approved, any disclosures, notices or other information (collectively "disclosures") legally required in connection with your Discover card Account electronically rather than in paper form. These disclosures include, but are not limited to, our privacy policy, change of terms notices, and amendments or addenda to the Cardmember Agreement or to the terms of any benefits, products, or services offered in connection with your Account. You have the right to receive these disclosures in paper form, and may at any time withdraw your consent to receive them electronically. There will be no fees or penalties for withdrawal of your consent. You can withdraw your consent, request paper disclosures, or update your e-mail address in the profile section of account center if you are a cardmember, or by calling 1-800-DISCOVER (1-800-347-2683). There is no fee for paper copies of disclosures.
If you are eligible, your pre-approved offer will be delivered on the next page. Your application decision will be delivered on the next web page after submitting your application and you will have the ability to save it and print it out. If you are approved, your account disclosures will be delivered to you as a message at your Secure Message Center, or when indicated for some disclosures, be delivered to you on a web page on Account Center.
For the Secure Message Center, you will receive an email notification at your email address on file with us notifying you of a new message. If you use a spam filter, which blocks or reroutes emails from senders not listed in your email address book, you must add "" to your email address book. In addition, to ensure that you are able to receive notifications about new messages, you must keep your email address current via the "My Profile" section on Discover.com. You can access the Secure Message Center by clicking on the link in the email notification or by logging in to your account at discover.com. If you are unable to access the Secure Message Center, please call us at 1-800-DISCOVER (1-800-347-2683).
Each message on your Secure Message Center will be accessible for 120 days from delivery before it is deleted. After a message is opened by you, it will be accessible for 30 days before being deleted. You will have the ability to print out your messages.
To ensure you receive the necessary messages and disclosures, you must have a valid Internet email address, Internet access and access to a printer. You must also have one of the following hardware/browser combinations, with cookies enabled and the following software:
- Microsoft® Windows®
- Internet Explorer 11.0 and above
- Mozilla Firefox 30.0 and above
- Google Chrome 30.0 and above
- Safari 7.0 and above
- Google Chrome Mobile 30.0 and above
- Safari Mobile 5.0 and above
- Macintosh®
- Safari 7.0 and above
- Google Chrome Mobile 30.0 and above
- Safari Mobile 5.0 and above
- Adobe Reader 8.0 and above
- JavaScript 1.0 and above
We reserve the right to terminate this service, change terms of your use of this service or send disclosures in paper form at any time. We will provide you with notice of any such termination or change as required by law.
By checking the box below, you certify that you consent to receive disclosures electronically and have the ability to do so.
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By clicking 'Check Now', you authorize Discover to obtain information from your personal credit report or other information from one or more credit reporting agencies to determine if you are eligible for a credit card offer. You understand that this is not a credit card application and by clicking Check Now, you acknowledge receipt of the Discover Card Consumer Privacy Statement
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September 15, 2022 |1:20 min video September 15, 2022 |1:20
min video What does it mean when you see “pre-qualified” or “pre-approved” on a credit card offer you get in the mail? It typically means your credit score and other financial information matched at least some initial eligibility criteria needed to become a cardholder.
Understanding the distinction between the two terms can get tricky because companies can use them differently—and sometimes interchangeably. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you have questions about pre-qualified and pre-approved credit card offers. Key Takeaways
Before you read on about pre-qualified and pre-approved offers, remember this: “Pre” is the key part of both terms. When a credit card offer mentions that someone is pre-qualified or pre-approved, it typically means they’ve met the initial criteria required to become a cardholder. But they still need to apply and get approved.
Think of these offers as invitations to start the actual application process. Once someone has already been pre-qualified or pre-approved, these offers can give them more confidence when they start the application process.
What Does Pre-Qualified Mean for a Credit Card?
In general, pre-qualification means that a credit card company has done a basic review of your credit and found that you might qualify for a card. If you’re interested in the card, you can give the company personal and financial information—like your Social Security number and monthly income—to help it take a closer look.
Keep in mind that pre-qualification isn’t a guarantee. But it can give you a sense for whether you may be approved if you take the next step and apply for a card.
What Does Pre-Approved Mean for a Credit Card?
Pre-approval also typically involves a pre-screening that’s done by a credit card company. The company may work with a credit bureau to target people who are likely to qualify for a certain card—and for that reason, the criteria may be more rigorous than it is for pre-qualified offers.
One major difference between pre-approved and pre-qualified offers: Pre-approved offers can be stronger indicators of approval. That means you can generally move forward to the application phase with a high degree of certainty.
Does Pre-Qualification or Pre-Approval Affect Your Credit Score?
Simple reviews of your credit—including checks that lead to pre-qualified or pre-approved credit card offers—usually use soft inquiries and don’t affect your credit scores.
A second type of credit check, called a hard inquiry, is made only after you respond to a card offer by applying for the card. MyFICO.com explains that a hard inquiry typically has only a minor effect on your FICO® score if most other factors—like timely bill payment—are in order.
This full credit check will help in determining whether you could be approved to get the card. If you’re approved, the issuer must offer you the same terms that appeared in the original pre-qualified or pre-approved offer.
If there are changes to your credit information in the time between the pre-screening or pre-selection process and when you apply for a card, your eligibility might change too. For example, this might happen if there were any major changes to your employment, salary or debt.
How Do You Get a Pre-Qualified or Pre-Approved Credit Card Offer?
Some pre-qualified or pre-approved offers might come to you in the mail or by phone or email. If you’re interested in a new card, you can respond to these offers and apply to become a cardholder.
Keep in mind: You haven’t actually applied for the credit card when you receive one of these offers. But if you’re interested in a new credit card, you can use pre-qualified or pre-approved offers as an opportunity to compare options before applying.
If you're interested in either pre-qualification or pre-approval but haven’t been contacted by a credit card lender, what’s your next step? One option is to look online or go directly to an issuer. For example, Capital One’s pre-approval tool lets you see if you're pre-approved for card offers—with no harm to your credit.
What’s Next After Getting Pre-Qualified or Pre-Approved?
When you apply for a card, that’s when you’ll share more of your financial information, including your income level. That’s also when card issuers will conduct a full credit check.
If you decide you want to apply, that’s a good time to take a close look at things like interest rates and the other card terms to determine which card is right for you. Many cards offer additional benefits like earning cash back or travel rewards, $0 fraud liability for unauthorized purchases, travel insurance, premier access to events and more.
If you’d rather not receive pre-qualified or pre-approved credit card offers, you can opt out of receiving them by calling toll-free 888-5-OPT-OUT—that’s 888-567-8688—or by visiting OptOutPrescreen.com.
Pre-Qualification vs. Pre-Approval in a Nutshell
Getting pre-qualified or pre-approved for a credit card can be reassuring—for instance, if you’re thinking about applying for a card and wondering which you may be eligible for.
One way to get started? See if you’re pre-approved with Capital One. Simply answer some pre-approval questions, check out your eligible offers and decide which card may be right for you.
We hope you found this helpful. Our content is not intended to provide legal, investment or financial advice or to indicate that a particular Capital One product or service is available or right for you. For specific advice about your unique circumstances, consider talking with a qualified professional.
Capital One does not provide, endorse or guarantee any third-party product, service, information, or recommendation listed above. The third parties listed are solely responsible for their products and services, and all trademarks listed are the property of their respective owners.
September 15, 2022 |1:20 min video
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