Costco AMEX & Bank of America Better Balance Rewards questions

[JediNeo]

Congrats on the approvals. Although didn't matter now but curious, Did you apply for the AMEX at Costco? If so they should have told you the CL there and it would have been with the temporary card they give you.

[slweal87]

No, I applied online. Got instant approval. Started my online account, but then it took about 48 hours to be set up, logged back in and saw my limit was 5,000 which makes me happy.

Can't believe I got denied for the BoA Better Balance Mastercard in light of this.

I have a lot of hard pulls this year, and one card with a high utilization, but my overall utilization is under 20% (even less now with this card). 

[JediNeo]

From my understanding BofA is inquiry sensitive. Could be wrong though, as I don't have nor applied for their products.

[slweal87]

That would explain a lot! I'm at 10 now... BoA being my 10th. But I believe 3 were car refinance shopping and should be factored in differently as they were all pulled in the same week. 2 were for renting places (moved for a job). And that means 5 were for cards! 

[JediNeo]

If that's the case and you really want it you could be approved with a recon. The car and rental should count as one each. It's possible the computer calculated each inquiry separately.

[slweal87]

Well the rentals actually were separate. One in January and one in September. I had moved twice in 2013. 

But yeah I figured out the recon number from this site, even though the 3rd guy I talked to on the phone said I had to recon over snail mail, but called and they were closed. I will try tomorrow during lunch. I really don't know how they could turn me down after an AMEX 5,000 limit approval. I mean they could at least give me a 500$ limit or something. I'm kind of anti-BoA from prior experience but they do have free museum entry days in Los Angeles for cardholders and I do want a Mastercard to complete my collection (AMEX, Discover, many VISAs no Mastercard). And since they already HPed me.

Definitely going to garden all of 2014. Got to get in shape for a mortgage app within the next few years. 

[JediNeo]

Man I miss southern California. Lived in Santa Ana for four years. Sounds like you have a great plan laid out for yourself. Good luck with your recon and future endeavors.