CC Advice Please.

[Mace]

Reading these boards has been VERY helpful for me over the past several months. Now, instead of just lurking, I hope to get some advise from you guys regarding my specific situation.

I am looking to get another credit card and am hoping for an initial CL of $2000 to $3000 (of course more would be nice too). I'm not too worried about being declined, mostly I'm worried about another small CL. So, here are the circumstances:

      Creditor                      Opened                  Limit           Bal           Note

1. AAFES/MIL Star        5/1993                    $500           $0          (last reported 4/2005. Never late)
2. HSBC BBRZMC       3/10                         $100           $0          (Never late)
3. Orchard (AU)            3/10                         $300           $249     (paid down to $150, balance not updated yet, never late)
4. USAA Plat MC          9/10                         $3000         $0          (No Balance reporting yet)

EQ FICO: 710 with 5 inquiries (1 is ATT, 1 is Dish Network, Only 3 are for credit) AAoA - 5 years 11 months

TU FAKO: 730 (according to Equifax Complete) with 1 inquiry  AAoA - 4 years 8 months

EX FAKO: 730 (according to Freecreditreport.com) with 3 inquiries (AAFES/Mil Star does show on EX) AAoA - 1 year 6 months

EX FAKO: 701 (according to Equifax Complete) 

Obviously, I would prefer someone who only pulls TU because of the inquiries.

So far, I've been thinking Barclay's (but which card), Discover, or Nationwide. Do I stand a chance with Citi or Chase? I think I could get an AMEX but I don't think that would help.

ANY advice would be GREATLY appreciated.

[Anonymous]

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@Mace wrote:

I am looking to get another credit card and am hoping for an initial CL of $2000 to $3000 (of course more would be nice too). I'm not too worried about being declined, mostly I'm worried about another small CL. So, here are the circumstances:

      Creditor                      Opened                  Limit           Bal           Note

1. AAFES/MIL Star        5/1993                    $500           $0          (last reported 4/2005. Never late)
2. HSBC BBRZMC       3/10                         $100           $0          (Never late)
3. Orchard (AU)            3/10                         $300           $249     (paid down to $150, balance not updated yet, never late)
4. USAA Plat MC          9/10                         $3000         $0          (No Balance reporting yet) 

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First, Congratulations on your USAA Plat MC.

It is better to use AAFES Star CC once in a while and PIF before closing date to keep this card active and get reported.

By the way, my very first job was at AAFES and I love their price.  It's reasonable, not like NEX and MCX.

Did you asked to add you as AU on this card?   I don't think this is helping you the all, instead, this is hurting you.   may better to remove from this card as AU.

Do you have any banking accts with Navy Fed?   If not, open it and apply for one of their ccs ... may be cashRewards VISA?    Are you interested in Chase Freedom?    *Not sure about which one they pull on you.

How about visit Credit Card Center, between the Education and Community, on this web site. 

[Mace]

I don't qualify for NFCU.

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@Anonymous wrote:

First, Congratulations on your USAA Plat MC.

It is better to use AAFES Star CC once in a while and PIF before closing date to keep this card active and get reported.

By the way, my very first job was at AAFES and I love their price.  It's reasonable, not like NEX and MCX.

Did you asked to add you as AU on this card?   I don't think this is helping you the all, instead, this is hurting you.   may better to remove from this card as AU.

Do you have any banking accts with Navy Fed?   If not, open it and apply for one of their ccs ... may be cashRewards VISA?    Are you interested in Chase Freedom?    *Not sure about which one they pull on you.

How about visit Credit Card Center, between the Education and Community, on this web site. 

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Thank you. I was shocked to get the USAA card. I let the pre-approval sit there for almost two months before I hit apply. Six months prior, I had no credit cards whatsoever.  I had even been denied by Credit One.

I don't qualify for NFCU. I have been a civilian since 1995. I had discovered USA Fed Credit Union a few weeks ago and saw that as a veteran, I'm eligible for membership. A week and a half later I went to join, but they had started the merger with NFCU and I was no longer eligible. Had I known..........

I don't think I can use the AAFES account anymore and I think on my actual TU report it shows as closed. On EQ it shows as an installment account. If there IS a way to use it without a current military ID, I'd love to know how.

I would do Chase if I knew I would get approved. I would especially like the United Mileage Plus Visa. Not only have I read that Chase is a difficult approval, but I had a CO Providian credit card several years ago.  Providian was bought by Washington Mutual who was bought by Chase. This no longer shows on any of my CR's, but I don't know if they'll still hold it against me.

[Anonymous]

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@Mace wrote:

Thank you. I was shocked to get the USAA card. I let the pre-approval sit there for almost two months before I hit apply. Six months prior, I had no credit cards whatsoever.  I had even been denied by Credit One. 

I don't qualify for NFCU. I have been a civilian since 1995. I had discovered USA Fed Credit Union a few weeks ago and saw that as a veteran, I'm eligible for membership. A week and a half later I went to join, but they had started the merger with NFCU and I was no longer eligible. Had I known.......... 

I don't think I can use the AAFES account anymore and I think on my actual TU report it shows as closed. On EQ it shows as an installment account. If there IS a way to use it without a current military ID, I'd love to know how.

I would do Chase if I knew I would get approved. I would especially like the United Mileage Plus Visa. Not only have I read that Chase is a difficult approval, but I had a CO Providian credit card several years ago.  Providian was bought by Washington Mutual who was bought by Chase. This no longer shows on any of my CR's, but I don't know if they'll still hold it against me.

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Mace,  Are you a really a Veteran?   Did you retired?  or got out?    

You must be got out, because you said that you don't have a valid Military ID.   Then it makes sense that you are disqualify for the NFCU membership.

About your Military Star Credit Card:  Yes you are right.  You can make the payments to the remaining balance but not able to use it without valid Military ID.   Sorry  (

That, I have no idea.   Why don't you try?

Try these site (these are just some of it) to find a card that you want to app:  

http://www.cardwisdom.com/

http://www.creditcardguide.com/good-credit.html

http://www.comparecards.com/

http://www.cardratings.com/credit-cards/credit/good

http://www.comparecreditcards.com/

http://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards.aspx

[Mace]

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Mace,  Are you a really a Veteran?   Did you retired?  or got out?    

You must be got out, because you said that you don't have a valid Military ID.   Then it makes sense that you are disqualify for the NFCU membership.

About your Military Star Credit Card:  Yes you are right.  You can make the payments to the remaining balance but not able to use it without valid Military ID.   Sorry  (

That, I have no idea.   Why don't you try?

Try these site (these are just some of it) to find a card that you want to app:  

http://www.cardwisdom.com/

http://www.creditcardguide.com/good-credit.html

http://www.comparecards.com/

http://www.cardratings.com/credit-cards/credit/good

http://www.comparecreditcards.com/

http://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards.aspx

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Yes, I'm really a veteran (and quite proud of it). I didn't retire. I got out after five years.

In what way would being an AU on the Orchard card hurt me? Is it the UT, low limit, or the age of the account? I thought it wold be better to have another credit line reporting just to thicken my file a little.

I will take a look at the websites you listed, but I was really hoping to get some feedback from those of you with the real world experience in regards to getting credit.

Mostly, I'm wondering about my chances with Nationwide (pretty hit-and-miss from what I can tell), Barclays (approval likely from what I've read, CL is the guess), and Discover. I have AMEX pre-selected offers from Zync to Gold, but that's not really what I'm looking for. Chase, Citi, and/or US Bank would be GREAT, I'm just not sure if I can get approvals from them with high balances just yet.

[LIGHTNIN]

Hi Mace,

I've been looking for another CC too. IMHO, I would let the Orchard card go,balance of 150 out of 300 CL is 50% util.

FICO scoring like to see 9% or less for util. You can always get put back on as a AU.

I've been checking out the Credit Card Center (blue tap above) Have you check it out yet?

What are you looking for in a CC? just wondering.