topic Re: Cleaned up report and need recommendations :) in Credit Cards

Cleaned up report and need recommendations :)

KausticRage — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 19:01:46 GMT

Hey everyone,

First off this board is awesome!!! I started the cleanup process in late 2010 and have fought my way up from the low 500's to where I am today.

My report currently has a SL showing late on TU and EX but I just finished rehab last month and loans were picked up a few days ago so I am hoping those will report positive in a couple of months. Other than than I have a 90+ late on both Tu and EQ that last reported in 2009 and is currently in dispute because that is simply not the case. My AAofA is 4 years and my util is report at 18% today but all balances are at $0 (just waiting for the reports to update). I am pre-approved for Walmart for $500 and will app in store and recon of I don't get a higher limit.

I would really like to app for a card or two besides Walmart but I am not sure where I should head first. I would like a card with rewards to take advantage of the $$ I spend in gas and groceries but I am scared to app and get denied. Any recommendations on a card that I may have a good shot to get?

This has been a long journey and the light at the end of the tunnel is getting bigger and brighter :smileyvery-happy:

Re: Cleaned up report and need recommendations :)

webhopper — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 19:15:58 GMT

KausticRage wrote:
Hey everyone,

First off this board is awesome!!! I started the cleanup process in late 2010 and have fought my way up from the low 500's to where I am today.

My report currently has a SL showing late on TU and EX but I just finished rehab last month and loans were picked up a few days ago so I am hoping those will report positive in a couple of months. Other than than I have a 90+ late on both Tu and EQ that last reported in 2009 and is currently in dispute because that is simply not the case. My AAofA is 4 years and my util is report at 18% today but all balances are at $0 (just waiting for the reports to update). I am pre-approved for Walmart for $500 and will app in store and recon of I don't get a higher limit.

I would really like to app for a card or two besides Walmart but I am not sure where I should head first. I would like a card with rewards to take advantage of the $$ I spend in gas and groceries but I am scared to app and get denied. Any recommendations on a card that I may have a good shot to get?

This has been a long journey and the light at the end of the tunnel is getting bigger and brighter :smileyvery-happy:

I recommend looking at the Bank of America 123 rewards card. PayPal Rewards Mastercard, maybe an American Express Charge card to get your foot in the door with Amex. Chase Amazon Visa.... Chase Freedom and Discover More are also excellent options but the rewards catagories are not the same all the time.

Use your PayPal Extras MasterCard

to get 2x points for all your PayPal and eBay purchases.

3x points/ $1 spent on Gas & Restaurants

2x points/ $1 spent on PayPal & eBay

1x points/ $1 spent on all other MasterCard purchases

Chase Amazon Visa

3x POINTS on Amazon.com purchases1

2x POINTS at gas stations, restaurants and drugstores1

1x POINT on all other purchases1

Bank of America 123 Card

1% cash back on purchases, 2% on groceries and 3% on gas for the first $1,500 in combined gas and grocery purchases each quarter Plus earn a 10% customer bonus when you redeem into a Bank of America® checking or savings account Get a $100 cash back bonus after you make at least $500 in purchases within 90 days of account opening Introductory 0%† APR for your first 12 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made within 60 days of opening your account. After that, a Variable APR that’s currently between 12.99% and 22.99% will apply. 3% fee (min $10) applies to balance transfers. Please see Terms and Conditions for payment allocation information

Re: Cleaned up report and need recommendations :)

brother7 — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 19:38:18 GMT

webhopper wrote:

Use your PayPal Extras MasterCard
to get 2x points for all your PayPal and eBay purchases.
3x points/ $1 spent on Gas & Restaurants
2x points/ $1 spent on PayPal & eBay
1x points/ $1 spent on all other MasterCard purchases

Thank you webhopper for making me aware of this card. I've been using either Costco Trueearnings or Chase Amazon which are only 2% cash back at restaurants. Since I dine at restaurants a LOT, you may have just given me a reason to step out of the garden. :smileyembarrassed:

Re: Cleaned up report and need recommendations :)

webhopper — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 19:40:43 GMT

brother7 wrote:
webhopper wrote:
Use your PayPal Extras MasterCard
to get 2x points for all your PayPal and eBay purchases.
3x points/ $1 spent on Gas & Restaurants
2x points/ $1 spent on PayPal & eBay
1x points/ $1 spent on all other MasterCard purchases
Thank you webhopper for making me aware of this card. I've been using either Costco Trueearnings or Chase Amazon which are only 2% cash back at restaurants. Since I dine at restaurants a LOT, you may have just given me a reason to step out of the garden. :smileyembarrassed:

Before you go and app, make sure that the points are worth 1 point per $1 in rewards... sometimes point values can be misleading....

Although, some points are better than no points :)

Re: Cleaned up report and need recommendations :)

KausticRage — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 19:44:46 GMT

I would LOVE to get in with Amex but I'm a little hesitant. Any recommendations on which charge card I should app for? The backdating to 2012 would be awesome and my annual salary is $73K. I'm reading that the Green would be a waste of time and PRG would be better but wouldn't the Green be easier to get?

Re: Cleaned up report and need recommendations :)

koalablue — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 19:46:11 GMT

You might also think about the Citi Forward card - it has great rewards for restaurants and entertainment. I agree with the poster who said its a good idea to get your foot in the door with Amex. Maybe app for a Green or PRG now - I think you'd have a very good shot - and go for a Blue Cash Preferred in 5 or 6 months. Good luck!

Re: Cleaned up report and need recommendations :)

Repo-ed — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 20:37:43 GMT

great write-up hopper

Re: Cleaned up report and need recommendations :)

webhopper — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 21:08:39 GMT

KausticRage wrote:
I would LOVE to get in with Amex but I'm a little hesitant. Any recommendations on which charge card I should app for? The backdating to 2012 would be awesome and my annual salary is $73K. I'm reading that the Green would be a waste of time and PRG would be better but wouldn't the Green be easier to get?

The criteria for charge cards are all about the same... maybe a little tougher for Platinum. I think PRG would be a good goal, and considering your EX Fako score, you have a good shot at it. My FAKO was 713 when I picked up my Amex Charge Card

also going to mention that Amex is income sensitive... so definately your income is a solid positive

Re: Cleaned up report and need recommendations :)

armbenderc — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 21:30:20 GMT

1) I would definately go for AMEX. Get the Green charge card first. 6-12 months, get BCE. (for everything cashback)

2) Since you have high EQ score, try Citi Dividend Platinum Select. It's just like freedom with rotating 5% and $100 cash back (for place that doesn't take Amex)

3) Chase Freedom. Get in the door. Garden some... 12 months, get CSP (for travel).

Re: Cleaned up report and need recommendations :)

webhopper — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 21:57:02 GMT

I think the PRG has no Annual Fee for the first year, so definately you could get the card and try it out, if you don't use it that much then it is downgradeable to green.. no big deal. PRG has some good sign up bonuses going on too!

Re: Cleaned up report and need recommendations :)

trumpet-205 — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 22:14:22 GMT

brother7 wrote:
webhopper wrote
Use your PayPal Extras MasterCard
to get 2x points for all your PayPal and eBay purchases.
3x points/ $1 spent on Gas & Restaurants
2x points/ $1 spent on PayPal & eBay
1x points/ $1 spent on all other MasterCard purchases
Thank you webhopper for making me aware of this card. I've been using either Costco Trueearnings or Chase Amazon which are only 2% cash back at restaurants. Since I dine at restaurants a LOT, you may have just given me a reason to step out of the garden. :smileyembarrassed:

STOP Right away. PayPal points are subjected to frequent fluctuation. Its points typically worth 0.5 cent to 0.8 cent. Sometimes PayPal have 1:1 redemption on gift card during holiday (which just expired couple weeks ago btw), but most of the time it is less than 1 cent.

Your Chase Amazon is FAR better than PayPal MC.

Re: Cleaned up report and need recommendations :)

distantarray — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 23:48:17 GMT

i really wish they would actually SPIT out how much things are worth...... that's why I like Chase 1 point always = 1 penny no matter what, even Amex is being wierd with the members mall =\

Re: Cleaned up report and need recommendations :)

Imua — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 06:16:59 GMT

if it's consistent points for groceries and gas, i would suggest the BofA Americard CashRewards

1% on purchases with the card

2% on groceries

3% on gas

no fluctuating categories

and if they still have the purchase $500 within 90 days and get $100 bonus offer, that's an extra enticement

i just got the 1-2-3- card at the end of September, purchased $500 within the first month, and already (as of yesterday) have my $100 bonus

(deposited into my bank acct).

good luck in choosing a card that's right for you :)

PS - the only time i will use another card for gas is when chase freedom again offers their 5% for gas category

Re: Cleaned up report and need recommendations :)

distantarray — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 06:20:17 GMT

Imua wrote:
if it's consistent points for groceries and gas, i would suggest the BofA Americard CashRewards
1% on purchases with the card
2% on groceries
3% on gas

no fluctuating categories
and if they still have the purchase $500 within 90 days and get $100 bonus offer, that's an extra enticement

i just got the 1-2-3- card at the end of September, purchased $500 within the first month, and already (as of yesterday) have my $100 bonus
(deposited into my bank acct).

good luck in choosing a card that's right for you :)

PS - the only time i will use another card for gas is when chase freedom again offers their 5% for gas category

No thanks I have BOA and the 1-2-3 card is subpar to my BCP :) and even BCE I also got $150 for spending $1,000 :)

I also have a CostCo Amex now at 4% gas off any gas station including CostCo , and Freedom, Sapphire etc lol

Re: Cleaned up report and need recommendations :)

webhopper — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 07:03:13 GMT

distantarray wrote:
Imua wrote:

good luck in choosing a card that's right for you :)

PS - the only time i will use another card for gas is when chase freedom again offers their 5% for gas category

No thanks I have BOA and the 1-2-3 card is subpar to my BCP :) and even BCE I also got $150 for spending $1,000 :)
I also have a CostCo Amex now at 4% gas off any gas station including CostCo , and Freedom, Sapphire etc lol

Hey guys... my suggestions were based on the OPs scores. I'm not sure she should app for BCE with no prior amex relationship... Definately I tried to give some options that.required good but not excellent credit. Thanks for the info about those paypal points... I didn't know what point value was on the exchange of points for cash.equivalent. I love my amazon visa.... I still think its an excelled card to carry. I don't know much about citi cards so I cant really speak to the forward or other cards.

Re: Cleaned up report and need recommendations :)

KausticRage — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 08:27:35 GMT

OP is a he :smileywink:

The plan is to go to Walmart and app in store. If I am approved I will try for the PRG then Chase Amazon if the Amex is approved.

Re: Cleaned up report and need recommendations :)

webhopper — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 15:05:04 GMT

Good luck! Let us know how it turns out!

Re: Cleaned up report and need recommendations :)

KausticRage — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 20:26:36 GMT

Woohoo so far im batting 1 for 1. Just apped in store at Walmart and got approved for $1600 after i had to call in verify some info although i forgot to ask if it was a Discover :D. On to the next one when i get home.

Re: Cleaned up report and need recommendations :)

webhopper — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 20:45:56 GMT

Whoo hoo! That's great! Good luck on the next one!!

Re: Cleaned up report and need recommendations :)

KausticRage — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 22:10:52 GMT

Not a bad app day :) Got instant denial on the Amex due to the SL not showing positive yet. I tried the recon line and todl them they are current and I have documentation to prove it. They will reconsider once I fax over the docs that show im current. The Amazon card was approved for $1000 and the DW was bugging for a VS card and I was approved for $750.