Hi folks. Time for me to tap the knowledge and experience of others:
We recently received "prequalified" offers for a US Bank Visa Platinum (me) and LL Bean Visa/Barclays (DH). Purchase APRs for both are variable at 9.99%, no 0%/intro/purchases. Both BT APRs also 9.99%. LL Bean provides for 0%/6 months/3% fee BTs. US Bank waives BT fee one time at card acceptance, but no 0%/intro BT. USB is supposedly known for generous CLs and balance friendly, LL Bean for their particular rewards.
At first we weren't actively looking for new cards, because earlier we thought we might _might_- do a mortgage sometime next year. That's on hold for now. But we've each been getting RJ'd all over the place, also recently. (As have so many others, I know.)
DH scores are TU FICO 792 EQ FICO 815; mine are TU FICO 780 EQ FICO 809. No "baddies" for either of us. We PIF 4-5 of 7 cards/month with 2 sometimes having balances between 250-350 and current AX balance of 1200 for DH. So occasionally we will leave some balances. This doesn't seem to have negatively affected our long term scores. (Except for one instance? I'll explain below.)
Okay, sorry for all the detail, but some folks always ask for additional, so I thought I'd include it.
I've read good things here about USB and not so good about Barclays. But we are considering the apps. DH loves LL Bean. If history and AAOA didn't count that much, I would have loved to close both Chase and Paypal, and the same for DH with Sears. But I get the bulk of my 29 yr history through my AU on his AX and 13 yrs via AU on Sears, and Paypal's my oldest at two + years, Chase, BOA, and AX near one year. So I know I have to just do the old SD on those cards, if I'm not happy. Although in a little more than a decade we oldsters will both be septuagenarians, and I wonder if by then we'll care!
Anyway, here are my questions.
-Are either of these cards worth the effort? Eventually we want to move to CUs, just not right now.
-Are there better bank CCs than USB for a general balance friendly card? Not including Simmons (not worth it).
-Since we're satisfied enough with current rewards, would DH be better off cold apping for his own USB vs LL Bean?
-Does AX ever "punish" for transferring one of their balances to another card, or would some consider that wise?
-We are in Illinois. Who does USB pull, who does Barclays pull? (If anybody knows)
Last "related" question:
-What would make a CB report say that though both scores are excellent a negative factor is that there's recently been heavy usage of credit - at 4% utilization ?
This shows up on both our recent TU FICO reports, while we used to be higher at 7% and later 6%. There's been SOME recent shopping but no card reflects above 4% usage.
Anyway, all answers to my many queries will be most welcome. Thanks, in advance.
