cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Finally Ready to App, Suggestions?

tag
SoCalBound
Contributor

Finally Ready to App, Suggestions?

A posted about a month or so ago about my low credit esteem after working to build my credit from nothing over the past 3 years. 

 

Here is my current situation:

Income: 36k (another few thousand from investments)

Home: Own, no mortgage

Installmen loans: never any of any type

 

AAoA: 2 years 5ish  months years

Oldest Account: 3 years 2 months

 

Current Utility: $4/500 (BoA) , $38/500 (Cap1), $0/2000 (Orchard Bank)

 

No lates. 4 accounts reporting, 3 active 1 closed (BoA reported as lost/stolen, it's a duplicate of an open account)

 

Inquiries: 1 Experian, 0 Equifax, 1 Transunion, all now older than 1 year.

 

Credit Scores:

Transunion: 727 Fico (from here, 48% utility, it hasnt updated yet)

Equifax: 670 Fico (from here, 48% utility, hasnt updated, 1 Medical collection from 2007, listed 2010 for $304 reported as unpaid, going to dispute this)

Experian: 734 Plus score? from FreeCreditScore.com, this one IS updated with 1% utility

 

I was waiting to put in all my apps at once and got so excited after two years of no apps that I couldnt wait, got up the courage and put in double apps for Zync and BCP... AND... I was approved on both. Of course I wont believe it til I actually see the BCP in the mail... Afraid they will say "oops we made a mistake".   So add one more inquiry to Experian now.

 

Since my AAoA will take a big hit with Amex, I kind of just want to get out of the way a few more apps.  Here is a list of my long term credit goal cards (not in any particular order):

 

US Bank Cash+

Rei US Bank

Amazon Rewards by Chase*

Discover More

Paypal Extras Mastercard

Chase Freedom*

Chase Sapphire Preferred*

A couple store cards for deals/offers

Bill Me Later

 

*I am probably blacklisted from Chase due to $52 owed to them from a closed bank account froman annual fee for a United Mileage Plus Debit Card. Debating what to do about this since this was shortly before the July 2011.

 

Any suggestions of what else I might want to try currently?  I was thinking definately Paypal since I have no GE cards and they grow nicely. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zync NPSL, BCP ($2000), Chase United ($2000) Chase Amazon ($1500), Chase Freedom ($3000), Discover More ($2000), Paypal Extras ($5000), Citi Forward ($2000), Orchard $2000, Amazon ($5000)
Pre-App Scores: TU98 779, TU04 797, EQ 682, EX 788 (Amex) 8/12
Message 1 of 25
24 REPLIES 24
CruzImperial
Established Contributor

Re: Finally Ready to App, Suggestions?

Have you tought about some credit unions? With such few inquiries, one would think you could get very very nice cards.

The only drawback I could come up with is your Equifax. Creditors may not like it much at this point.

 

Are you going to try all 9? Cat Wink

 

 

 

Fico Scores: . Walmart TU 748 . Garden 8/19 2014 .

Cap One Journey 500 | Discover IT 500 | GE Home Design 5.6k | GE HHGREGG 5k | Amex Zync NPSL | Amex BCE 6k | Citi Forward 4.2k | Citi Dividend 3k | GE BrandsMart 1k | GE Lowes 8.5k | Discover Walmart 7.5k | Barclays Apple 2.5k | BoA CR 2.7k | CSP 7.2k | Platinum Prestige 5k | IT Chrome 4k | Slate 2.3k |
Message 2 of 25
SoCalBound
Contributor

Re: Finally Ready to App, Suggestions?

I have minorly looked into credit unions.  None locally because I plan to move across country in the next year,  and I don't qualify for any of the amazing military CU.  I know a lot of credit unions use Equifax and my score is so bad there right now.  I've been dragging my feet on the dispute, I really should get that done asap.  But the equifax score/report is why I havent looked to much into that.

 

And no, I dont plan on applying for all 9, those are just the cards out of all the ones I looked into that I found would enhance my purchasing.  I dont really want more than 1-2 Inquiries per report, and I am afraid any inquries to Equifax will end up being wasted due to denials.  However I would like to at least double, hopefully triple my current available credit due to utilization issues and more traveling coming up.  I know strictly due to limits I would not qualify for the US Bank Cash+ and the CSP at this time, but they are two goal cards.

Zync NPSL, BCP ($2000), Chase United ($2000) Chase Amazon ($1500), Chase Freedom ($3000), Discover More ($2000), Paypal Extras ($5000), Citi Forward ($2000), Orchard $2000, Amazon ($5000)
Pre-App Scores: TU98 779, TU04 797, EQ 682, EX 788 (Amex) 8/12
Message 3 of 25
dcal
Valued Member

Re: Finally Ready to App, Suggestions?

Could someone advise me what Barclay cards I could maybe get with a TU-716 or any other cards with a Equifax of 673 or should I just wait a couple more months and see whether score will be higher. I have only one credit card and feel I need two more for sure. What do you guys think?

 

Appreciate the feedback.



Starting Score: TU 572,EX-578,EQ-539 1-1-2014
Current Score: TU98-591, EQ-582, EX-595 (1-17-2014)
Goal Score= EQ- 760, TU- 760 EX- 760
Goal Score: 750


Take the FICO Fitness Challenge

Take the FICO Fitness Challenge
Message 4 of 25
tray
Valued Contributor

Re: Finally Ready to App, Suggestions?

Have you tried the web site,  who gave me credit , to see what other people were approved for barclay cards and with what scores at least you will have an idea, and it also shows what states?


Starting Score: EQ 546 TU 566
Current Score: EQ 693TU 08 729 EX 08 738Need to Garden/New Accounts
Goal Score: 800
Message 5 of 25
jamie123
Valued Contributor

Re: Finally Ready to App, Suggestions?

You definitely need to wait until your UTI is updated then I would start with the prime banks first and work your way down the list.

 

Perhaps something like this:

 

US Bank Cash+

Discover More

CitiBank

Another Bank of America card

 

And only one store card. Walmart for the free TU FICO score every month.

 

How old are your current cards and have you ever called for CLI?


Starting Score: EQ 653 6/21/12
Current Score: EQ 817 3/10/20 - EX 820 3/13/20 - TU 825 3/03/20
Message 6 of 25
LilNYC
New Contributor

Re: Finally Ready to App, Suggestions?

Do you know what your  limit on the BCP is? If not, call & ask.

I could be wrong about this but if you're on Chase's blacklist they'll just kick ur app back & won't even bother running your credit. For such a measly amount it might be a smart idea to just pay it & clear it up with them. Chase closed a cheking acct I had with them with a negative balance last year & they still approved me from a Freedom card last month, so you might be ok. Based on what I've read the last couple of months on these forums Chase has been more lax in their underwriting criteria fir the Freedom card. However, they are pretty stingy with CL, so you are better off waiting till your BCP reaches 61 days, try for a 3x CLI & then apply for the Freedom. Even tough your AAoA will be lower in 2 months you'll have a much better chance at a higher CL with Chase.

You may want to look into Citi's cards as they seem to pretty generous w/ CL which would help you out with util. However, they base their CL in large part on income. Check out the Forward & the ThankYou cards. 

Btw, congrats on your double Amex approvals! I'm jealous of your BCP as I just got denied last week. 

Citi Thank You $13,200 - Chase Freedom $3,100 - AMEX Zync NPSL (init. ability $17.5K) - Citi Forward $7,000 - AMEX BCP $6,000 - USAA Rate Adv $15,000 - USAA World MC $12,000 - Discover More $4,000 - Amex Hilton Honors $4,500 - Amex SPG $2,000 - Barclay's Priceline Rewards $6,400 - Chase Sapphire Pref. $7,500

EQ: 794. TU: 704. EX: 755
Message 7 of 25
LilNYC
New Contributor

Re: Finally Ready to App, Suggestions?

Also, your best bet with US Bank is to wait till your BCP is 61 days & try for the 3 x cli, which will hopefully bring your cl above the $5k mark needed for that card. Also, if you apply for the cash+ card & aren't qualified they'll auto consider you for the flex rewards card. 

Citi Thank You $13,200 - Chase Freedom $3,100 - AMEX Zync NPSL (init. ability $17.5K) - Citi Forward $7,000 - AMEX BCP $6,000 - USAA Rate Adv $15,000 - USAA World MC $12,000 - Discover More $4,000 - Amex Hilton Honors $4,500 - Amex SPG $2,000 - Barclay's Priceline Rewards $6,400 - Chase Sapphire Pref. $7,500

EQ: 794. TU: 704. EX: 755
Message 8 of 25
LS2982
Mega Contributor

Re: Finally Ready to App, Suggestions?


@CruzImperial wrote:

Have you tought about some credit unions? With such few inquiries, one would think you could get very very nice cards.

The only drawback I could come up with is your Equifax. Creditors may not like it much at this point.

 

Are you going to try all 9? Cat Wink

 

 

 


I agree, assuming they pull EX/TU, your going to get as very nice CL from them!

 




EQ FICO 548 3/3/16
Message 9 of 25
Repo-ed
Senior Contributor

Re: Finally Ready to App, Suggestions?

My local CU as well as USAA will be my first apps of 2013 w/ hopes of decent CL, so I can set a hopeful tone for future cards beyond theirs.

5/2012: 560 credit scores across the board
12/2014: 750+
3/2017: 780+
11/2019: 833
2/2023: Experian via Chase United Explorer CC pull - 891
Message 10 of 25
Advertiser Disclosure: The offers that appear on this site are from third party advertisers from whom FICO receives compensation.