HSBC/Orchard Bank Q. Can I Upgrade My Orchard?

[Anonymous]

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pattycake wrote:
Orchard is a good builder card, but with an AF and rare CLI's, you're better off hanging on to it until you can get something better.

In time, you'll be able to qualify for a much better card. Good luck!

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I agree. Don't waste an inquiry applying for another orchard card. Just work with the one you have and when your scores improve, app for a better card with another bank that will allow the card to grow more.

[jbh]

Thanks. I appreciate that advice. The only reason I considered it is because I think my collection was re-aged and even though it falls off late 2010, I worry that Amex/Citi will see that and run away, even though my scores (all things equal) project to boost up within the next 6 months.

I just want to have a nice back-up plan and at least have one good relationship with an entity.

Thanks, guys.

[tri3nity]

I have had my orchard secured card now for 4 months.  I started with a credit limit of $200.00 and will be at $700.00 by the end of this month, making regular deposits to get to $1000.00 CL by end of year. Will they upgrade to an unsecured card?

[creditreformer]

 Ymmv w/orchard.  My experience has been 2 ccs (ea. w/300 CLs), NO clis in 18 mos. despite perfect payment history, PIF, letting a balance carry, low utilization, high utilization, multiple payments/month, etc.  Yes, I’ve tried everything to get some luv from them LOL  So far, no dice.  Last time I called for a cli, I got a long condescending speech about my PAST mistakes.  Mind you, my last baddie was in 2003.

I just comboed my 2 ccs into 1 and it did NOT cost me a hard inq. and I got to keep my CL, so now I have 1 cc w/a 600 CL.

If I were you, I would start lining up ‘replacements’- e.g., I lined up cap 1 (who DOUBLED my CL after just 2 mos.), hooters, and BA 99/500.  all of those ccs WILL grow w/me and NONE have been as annoying/condescending as orchard has.  W/that said, orchard’s done its job- e.g., helped me rebuild and raise my ficos.

3/09- orchard is fired.

[jbh]

Thanks for the reply .Sadly, in 2001/2 I defaulted on Cap 1 (I can't even remember what I did with it, honestly) and I know they denied me last year when I re-applied .I figure I am black listed.

I'm going to just knock down util and apply for a real card later. My ficos are lower 600 before CJ posts and before I knocked my util from 90+ to 50+

So it's just a waiting game.

TY, again.