Having a credit score of 800 or higher is not something to take lightly. This is especially true if you start with a low score — perhaps the result of past mistakes — and build it to 800 or higher. It takes a lot of on-time payments, a mix of credits, a low credit utilization ratio, and a long history of using credit to get into the 800 club.

With all that work, you might think that a credit score of 800 will make it easier for you to apply for and get approved for the best credit cards. That’s not entirely wrong: Credit card companies Down take credit scores into account. But it is entirely possible to maintain a credit score of 800 and Still get rejected – it happens all the time.

How can a credit card application be rejected with a credit score of 800? Here are the three most common reasons.

1. You’ve applied for too many credit cards recently.

While having more than one credit card is not a problem, it is usually a good idea to spread your credit card applications over several stages. If you apply for multiple credit cards in a short period of time, you may ruin your chances of getting approved.

It’s usually a big, bright red flag when a credit card company sees a bunch of new credit card accounts on your credit report. On the one hand, they might think you’re bracing for some financial trouble. On the other hand, they might think you’re switching credit cards — meaning you’re only opening new credit cards for the welcome bonuses.

For example, Chase automatically rejects applications from people who have opened more than five credit cards in the past 24 months. This is called the 5/24 rule, and it has dashed many credit card enthusiasts’ dreams of opening a new Chase card.

A good rule of thumb is to open no more than one new account every three to six months. While this doesn’t mean you’ll be approved for every card you apply for, you’ll have a better chance than applying for multiple cards over a one- to three-month period.

2. You applied for too many credit cards for one issuer

Some credit card companies have specific rules regarding the number of cards his cards that can be opened in a specific frame.

One example is Capital One credit cards. Supposedly, you can only get approved for one card every six months. That means you could theoretically have a perfect 850 credit card and still get rejected if you apply for two during that time.

Other cardholders may have different policies. If you are unsure whether the issuer has its own internal policies, contact their customer service or speak to an online representative. It is better to be informed than to find out and be rejected.

3. Your income may not be sufficient

When you apply, credit card companies typically ask you for two pieces of information: your income and your monthly mortgage payment. The companies want to make sure you can afford your new credit card payments. If your income is too low relative to your mortgage payment, the credit card issuer may not feel comfortable giving you a new line of credit—yes, even if your credit score is spotless.

And no, it’s not smart to lie. Credit card companies aren’t stupid; they can tell when you’re intentionally misreporting your income or mortgage payments. If they sense you’re fudge the numbers, they might ask for proof of income. That could get you in even more trouble, because lying on a credit card application is fraud and could result in a fine in the low 100s.

If your income isn’t high enough or you’ve opened too many credit cards, you may need to wait until your situation changes. Maybe your mortgage payments will go down or you’ll start earning more money. Or you’ll let some of the hard inquiries on your credit report go away. That will increase your chances of being approved for a new credit card — especially since you have a credit score of over 800.