I have been taking care of my credit lately and have been able to raise my FICO credit scores from 585/TU FICO , 595/ECP FICO (3/2014) to 688/TU 651/EXP FICO (6/2014). I disputed a few things, won a deletion of a 2 year old 90d/with Sallie Mae (I was in grad school and actually made the payment before 90 days when I became aware of the deferment issue) and got that deleted.
My biggest issue is I was not paying attention to utilization on the small cards I had (3 with $500 CL). I would use them and pay 80% or more of balance in the month, but not pay attention to reporting dates. In March I figured out what they were at have been at 17% ot so utilization since. I got two credit increases on the cards last month (5/2014). One to $700 (credit one), and then one to $2000 (Capital One Cash rewards) after CL request.
Better...but then I applied and was approved for Capital One Platnum card with a 3K limit a few weeks ago and then today a Chase Bank Freedom Card for $4500 CL with an opportuntiy to call and request an increase after I receive the card. I have a high income and low debt to income level, so they want proof of income (it probably looks too high for my credit level) for a higher CL. I would like to get a $7500 CL.
I know my credit has been kept in a low fair range also due to low credit availability even when my utilization was low. One credit person told me I needed a 5K or higher to start getting taken seriously with mainstream card vendors.
I am really hoping these CL increase approvals will help.
I went from 1500 total CL 3 months ago to now a total $10, 700 now.
If I can get Chase to bump up above 5K, I will just tend to these for a while.
My cards:
1st Premier $499 CL; Credit One 700 CL; Capital One Cash Rewards 2000 CL; Capital One Platinum 3000 CL and now Chase Freedom 4500 CL
Discover IT $17k / US Bank Ace (VSig) $13.5K / US Bank Cash+ (VSig) $13.5k
