@Mailak wrote:Ha, even I always thought it wasn't a real card and was just trying to play with the big boys (that was 15 years ago, though). I think I saw some teletrak issues in other threads as well. I feel sorry about that for you!
I'm close to getting WF or Discover. My initial plan was not to apply for any right now and just apply for the auto loan later with minimum inquiries on file. But AMEX has been really making me angry. I was waiting all day for a supervisor to call me - that call never came ("assure you, within the next couple of hours").
I really need active cards but it seems to me, I'm just rewarding them for bad service.
I could walk in to WF tomorrow but that would mean two inquiries - one HP for a CC and one later for a loan. Other option could be to apply for Discover right now and see if they would later do a CC and loan on a single HP, sometime in fall. Not sure if that could happen though. I don't think I'm looking for a mortgage yet. I think after a couple of CCs and an auto loan, I am done applying for any credit for some years.
I would have been satisifed with just those two AMEX cards but they're making it very hard for me to like them, service-wise.
If you're considering a new car instead of used, with your scores I would guess you could qualify for the special 0% or other very low rates dealers often offer. So you wouldn't be tied to a lender even though it's good to walk in with a car loan approval in hand (WF would no doubt have no prob giving you one at a good rate esp if you had a decent down payment etc). PenFed and NFCU offer great rates on auto loans as well (I'm sure you've heard of both on here). Research about auto financing before going to the dealer, they use a lot of tricks to make a profit, esp with financing.
I still feel that AMEX will eventually work with you on your back dating (Original Member Since date), it may only be after activating though, it's hard to say, sometimes they're odd about it. They may get more agreeable after activating, they want people to use the cards, like I mentioned, they finally agreed to give me my original MS date after activation and sent the the new cards overnight with the new date on them. They wouldn't budge much when I called to activate however, it was a few days later. I had no intentions on letting it slide LOL. However I was always very personable on the phone with them, asking more than demanding the persons help with the issue.
I don't think Discover does auto loans (I've never looked into it) and if they do, I'd doubt they'd do one on the same HP as for a CC. Most banks won't from what I've read. PenFed will for up to 90 days however (they told us they'll use the same HP for up to 90 days). NFCU on the other hand (if one can get in with them) LOVES to HP LOL.
If you're interested in Discover at all, I'd say go for the Discover More, then WF. Then later the auto loan won't mind those inq's (different type of loan etc). Like I mentioned elsewhere, it seems you're careful with your money and credit as well as having a decent income. I doubt you'd have a problem getting the 4 cards and the auto loan as well as managing them all properly (or I wouldn't be suggesting any of this). If you're not looking for a mortgage for at least 12 months you don't have much to worry about really.
Oh, I drove my DM to WF the other day, she went in to move some funds, seemed to take a while. They were trying to get her to put her investments back with them, she tolerated it because they fixed her online banking with them. She's not moving anything back to their bank or investment services however. Esp after she showed me her WF CC has the highest interest of any card she has other than a couple store cards (21.99% I think, I may have read it wrong, it used to be very low). She basicly said "they must think because I'm an older widow that I must be an idiot" and laughed.
Ah ok, the Discover auto loan thing did confuse me a bit lol.
As far as activating AMEX, I'd go ahead with that, then when that person calls back, like I mentioned, tell them you'd "like to use the cards but may wait until they can get your original member since date reflected on your accounts" (that is a more powerful phrase than most realize btw). Just so you run less of a risk of messing up any other records they may have of your membership date after what you went through with the rep that deleted the info they could see (mention this using a tone that implies you feel you messed up, not them) 
After you activate however, you may want to check when you set up your online account with AMEX that it's not already back dated (just in case) before that sup calls back.
I think you'd like Discover More, like I've mentioned, I'm impressed so far with them.
@RyVision wrote:Ah ok, the Discover auto loan thing did confuse me a bit lol.
As far as activating AMEX, I'd go ahead with that, then when that person calls back, like I mentioned, tell them you'd "like to use the cards but may wait until they can get your original member since date reflected on your accounts" (that is a more powerful phrase than most realize btw). Just so you run less of a risk of messing up any other records they may have of your membership date after what you went through with the rep that deleted the info they could see (mention this using a tone that implies you feel you messed up, not them)
After you activate however, you may want to check when you set up your online account with AMEX that it's not already back dated (just in case) before that sup calls back.
I think you'd like Discover More, like I've mentioned, I'm impressed so far with them.
I've been vacillating a bit. I thought I really didn't need another card, so I would sit out another application. But I keep seeing low overall credit as a negative across all CRs, so I think I ought to have a higher CL overall. In a way, the BCP $2k is enough for me (and I have the Green too!) but I think it probably isn't big enough if I want loans, etc. in the long term. I don't really need credit as much as I just want my credit profile to get stronger.
I also wonder if I apply straight away, if I might end up getting a rather small CL from Discover bearing in mind that my reports show only a $300 Cap1 CL albeit with a high FICO score. If I wait till BCP starts reporting, it will show another tradeline but 2 additional accounts will bring down AAoA. TU was already at 2.3 years, so it will come down a lot and there's a good chance Discover might pull TU (FICO 847 before the new accounts show up). EQ FICO is 807 right now.
I see pros and cons either way, so that's why I keep vacillating.