Hello HopeMission, I wanted to just comment and give my opinion..........if they were sending you pre-quals in the mail, you are likely already pre-approved in their system and you don't really need to worry about having an offer code. I would just go on and use their site pre-qual link and see if that produces a pre-qualified card, however, even if you don't get a positive hit on that, still apply for the card they suggest at the top. I cannot guarantee anything, but I would bet the farm that you will be approved. As far as the $425 balance, that will not really affect you and it actually helps your score when you have one card with a balance, as long as it is not too high of a percentage.
Bottom line, GO FOR IT! I get it, you are nervous and don't want to be rejected, but the longer you sit and wonder, the longer it will be before you can get those credit lines open to start helping you! :-) If they were sending you pre-approvals, you are good to go, provided you have not had any negative events on your credit since then. After a while, if you don't respond, they stop sending the offers, you are still approved in their system though. Just go for it and let us know. 
Push.....push......push.....lol
Also, Cap One is wonderful with CLI's. If you read my posts, you will see that I, my husband and sister, have had a CLI every 6 months since we opened the cards in Sept. of 2013 and they have been really nice increases, too. The first one is auto and then every 6 months after that, you can request a CLI online with a SP. Just make sure you wait until 6 statements have cut since your last CLI before requesting another. I literally request my CLI's one day after the statement cuts, I am impatient. lol
Yea! 
I went ahead and pulled the big lever and was approved for a QS for 5K. J I did everything I could to avoid any HP’s but wasn’t able to find a way to use any of my old mailed PreQuals. On the Cap1 site I read that doing their online PreQual wouldn’t hurt my credit…. so I pulled their first lil lever and was pre-qualed for QS and Venture. I went ahead and pulled the big lever on the QS since it was on top and won a $5,000 CL. lol
While in an online chat with a Cap1 rep, she said they don’t like people to apply for 2 cards at the same time. Terms and conditions will come in the mail and tell me how long I have to wait to try and get the “Venture”
The rep was unclear as to whether or not they would need to do another hard pull to get this other card I was pre-qualed for (I hope not 
)
My Question: I’m not planning on having my credit run for any big buys for at least another 2 years. If I’m just planning on going back to the garden for a while, would a hard triple pull really make any difference? Do those lost point from the HP every automaticly come back over time?
Last but not least… Ive reached the 6 month post discharge mark. Based on my creidit mix below and after getting this QS and Venture card?? Or should I pack it up and head back to the garden or add an extra store card etc to my mix? I received another letter from Barclay today. I never applied. I don’t think it’s a pre-qual. Just says “You’re preselected” and has a personal ID code.
Thank you Diva all for your encouragement and everybody for the info. 
PS: I wish I could add the card logo beneath my settings. I have followed the MyFico steps on how to add a “macros” but don’t see any drop down menu where I can find the codes to paste to show each card I have now. Am I missing something? 
Congrats on the Cap1 approval!! Cap1 is pretty known for approving two back to back apps CSR's don't always have the best info. If you plan to garden for two years then the HP's mean nothing to you, I would say you have a very good chance at a Venture card!
Thank you Scupra- Do the lost points from that HP come back eventually automatically? Or are you saying this is just the best time to do the HP’s and wait for good habits to raise the scores?
Thank you DaveinAZ I will definitely apply for another Cap1 card within the next 30 days. Probably in about 25 days after I can show a lil bit of activity and paying back. I am ONLY getting these cards to get my FICO’s back up. Rewards, miles etc don’t really interest me. I can’t decide between applying for the (pre-aproved) “Venture” or the (not approved yet) Spark card for my business. I noticed that Dave (With 700 Ficos) hasn’t been able to get a prequal on the Spark. Is it hard to get?
I think it just comes down to what card offers the greatest opportunity for CLI’s, raising scores and last but not least- getting qualified. Any thoughts for someone that is just being FICO minded?
Received another letter from Barclay today. I never applied. I don’t think it’s a pre-qual. Just says “You’re preselected” and has a personal ID code. With a QS and possibly the pre-qualled Venture, would it be smart to wait on this Barclay offer?
Lasty-- anybody know how to add the “macros” of cards to put at the bottom of my signature. I can’t find the drop down menu of codes I can paste in my “macros”
Thank you for your help!
