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Can't get approved

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softballgirl29
Valued Member

Re: Can't get approved

My bankruptcy was just discharged last week and I am wondering how long I should wait before attempting to apply for credit. I want to buy a house sometime in the next couple of years and I have heard that if you don't start rebuilding your credit right after your discharge that the process to get a mortgage could be substantial. Any advice or input regarding this is appreciated. The attorney gets the BK done but then I feel like I don't have the information to move forward and start rebuilding, the information he gave me was very vague.

BK7 Filed 5/14/12 BK7 Discharged 8/17/12
Latest EQ Fico - 651 Latest TU Fico - 632 Latest EXP FAKO - 651
In my wallet: Cap One CL $250, Cap One Rewards CL $2750, Credit One CL $1350, NFCU CL $14k, HH Gregg CL $1800, Care Credit CL $1000 Express CL $1050, Victoria Secret CL $2450, Kohl's CL $300, Discover IT $1000, Barclay Rewards $2000, Target $2000, TJ Maxx $300, Ashley Furniture $2000 Cap One Auto Loan $25k
Message 11 of 29
indecison
Regular Contributor

Re: Can't get approved

I think the first thing you would want to do is get a copy of your reports and make sure everything is reporting properly as far as the accounts that were included in your BK. Then if all is good there you can start getting cards. Some get secured cards and some get unsecured cards to get things started. Was your BK a 7 or 13? This will make a difference on when you will be able to buy a house as well.

Message 12 of 29
StartingLifeOver
Regular Contributor

Re: Can't get approved

@ProudMomof5--Yes, secured cards DO work!!! I'm a firm believer!! My credit scores have increased 100 pts in the last 8 months and only using one secured card. 

 

@softballgirl29 --Congrats on the discharge!! You've made it out of debtor's prison!! Depending on the rules of your trustee, you probably could have already started to rebuild your credit.  It really would have depended on the state and county you're in and the rules of the trustee as some are MUCH, MUCH, stricter than others.   I don't see any reason why you can't get started right away--you've completed your plan.  As of when I filed (September 2009) in NC, permission was only required from the trustee when desiring to finance anything over 1K.  Due to this, I was able to get a secured card without going to my trustee.  I also received a packet of information from my lawyer, telling me that I could begin rebuilding credit immediately and ways to go about doing so.  You can purchase a home while still in Chapter 13 with trustee permission after 12 consecutive (timely) payments.  I was told by a lender that as soon as I received my discharge from Chapter 13, I can begin right away.  Of course, YMMV.  I'm choosing to wait so I don't have to jump through the extra hoops.  Just crossing my fingers in hopes that I receive my discharge paperwork quickly!

NFCU Cash Rewards $16,100/FNBO Platinum $9.100/Best Buy Citibank $2,500/Care Credit $7,600/TJ Maxx $1000/Neiman Marcus $7000/Saks5thAve $2500

Starting Score: 426 Ch. 13 BK Filed Sep 2009; Discharged Jan 2013 Smiley Happy
Current Score: TU 706 EQ FICO 701 EX 704
Goal Score: 720

Message 13 of 29
softballgirl29
Valued Member

Re: Can't get approved

I did pull a copy of my reports. The only thing not reporting correctly was my car that I reaffirmed. When I contacted Chase, which is the lender for my car, they said that because there is a recision period of 60-days that it will report that way until after Sept 14th. On Sept 15th they will be moving it out of the bankruptcy department and into regular customer service again. At that point it should start reporting correctly on my CR's. I filed a Ch7. Do you think I should wait until the car loan begins reporting correctly before applying for credit cards? Thanks for your info!!

BK7 Filed 5/14/12 BK7 Discharged 8/17/12
Latest EQ Fico - 651 Latest TU Fico - 632 Latest EXP FAKO - 651
In my wallet: Cap One CL $250, Cap One Rewards CL $2750, Credit One CL $1350, NFCU CL $14k, HH Gregg CL $1800, Care Credit CL $1000 Express CL $1050, Victoria Secret CL $2450, Kohl's CL $300, Discover IT $1000, Barclay Rewards $2000, Target $2000, TJ Maxx $300, Ashley Furniture $2000 Cap One Auto Loan $25k
Message 14 of 29
softballgirl29
Valued Member

Re: Can't get approved

It is so good to hear that secured cards DO work!!! So many people have said that I should hold out for unsecured but my feeling was if a secured card will help begin the rebuilding process faster then it would be worth it! I filed a CH7 and was told that it would probably be two years before I would qualify for a mortgage. I was lucky enough to sell my house before the bankruptcy so I do not have a foreclosure or bk for any previous mortgages. Also, I reaffirmed my car loan since it is almost paid off with the hopes that it would be a good line of credit and help re-establish faster. I

 

I hope you receive your discharge paperwork soon!!!! Keep me posted and thank you so much for all your information!

BK7 Filed 5/14/12 BK7 Discharged 8/17/12
Latest EQ Fico - 651 Latest TU Fico - 632 Latest EXP FAKO - 651
In my wallet: Cap One CL $250, Cap One Rewards CL $2750, Credit One CL $1350, NFCU CL $14k, HH Gregg CL $1800, Care Credit CL $1000 Express CL $1050, Victoria Secret CL $2450, Kohl's CL $300, Discover IT $1000, Barclay Rewards $2000, Target $2000, TJ Maxx $300, Ashley Furniture $2000 Cap One Auto Loan $25k
Message 15 of 29
ProudMomof5
Contributor

Re: Can't get approved

@luvmeirahbug, which secured card are you using?  I noticed that when I filed my Chapter 13 that my car company stopped reporting on my credit report.  They completely deleted the account from all three.  I spoke to someone and he told me to ask them to put it back on there since it is still getting paid through my 13.  I'm wondering would it help or hurt me if I did that because I had a few lates on there from over a year ago.

 
Message 16 of 29
Comet21
Regular Contributor

Re: Can't get approved

@SoftballGirl - Do not wait on your car to start reporting. Use the Capital One Preapproval to see if they will approve you for a card. You will not take a hit until you actually apply. Make sure it gives you an offer and does not say, "No offer but we suggest". I will rank in order the cards you should try. Be warned that you may have to "pay" for credit but they have a high approval rate. Do not try for others unless you get an offer in the mail.

 

1. Capital One (Preapproval)

2. Credit One (Processing Fee)

3. First Premier Credit (Processing Fee)


Starting Score: TU 477 EQ 533 BK 1/27/2012
Current Score: EX 702 TU 681 EQ 652 1/10/2014
Goal Score: 700


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Message 17 of 29
Guyatthebeach
Valued Contributor

Re: Can't get approved

I got two secured credit cards the day my bankruptcy was discharged. I got one from a local credit union and the other from PNC. My FICO score went up about 100 points in 6 months. I know if I can do it, you can too. It just take time, patience, and determination. I'm a firm believer in secured cards and second chances.

Message 18 of 29
Poorboi
Contributor

Re: Can't get approved

^ when I got three cards at one time my score dropped , it said reason was that I opened too many new credit accounts. did that happen to you?

Message 19 of 29
Guyatthebeach
Valued Contributor

Re: Can't get approved

To be honest with you, it didn't affect my score at all. I opened both accounts the same day my bankruptcy was discharged. I had to give a copy of my discharge papers to both the bank and the credit union, because the Experian had not updated my credit report. My FICO score was 515 that day. Six months later, it floats between 619 and 628.

Now I do think it will go down, because my credit union approved me for an unsecured Visa. Unfortunately they gave me a new credit account number and made me close the secured card with them. I went from $2500 secured to $1000 unsecured. I'm waiting to hear if my bank approved my app for an unscured card. I also got approved for a Barclays Apple card for $2200. I hope my score only goes down about 35 points.

It's all good, because I don't plan on doing anything else to my credit until next year.
Message 20 of 29
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