No credit card required
Browse credit cards from a variety of issuers to see if there's a better card for you.
Heh, I actually just threw out an offer from Discover the other day. They mailed it to an address that was only associated with Bank of America, too. Everywhere else had an old address and a PO Box.
I'll research where to apply next...I was waiting for the 6 month mark thinking I'd have the CLI button but no. Capital One used to send me offers but kept denying me. The only thing I have with them is an empty checking account that was originally ING. Maybe I'll just look into a retail card.
You might refer to my siggy below and consider something.
When i first started out in 2012 to build credit via cards too after a very long hiatus, i only had a US Bank CC that was likely mailed to me because of a local bank i regularly did personal loans with. A kind of bankers referral thing is my best guess. I always did cash, DEBIT, and check only.
I proceeded to max that thing completely out and paid only minimum for the entire 12 month 0% term before PIF. Not wise, but i was a noob.
During that same MAXED OUT year, and near year's end too, for some reason Discover + Citi mailed out preapprovals which i barely eeked in with from $1400/Discover to $800 Citi card.
I have no doubts i would have ruined things by crash n burn if not for finding this forum and studied my tail off reading virtually as much as possible and educating myself locally on what was the best way to go about managing credit smartly enough to properly balance life finances while working to show lenders my improvement was worthy of attention by demonstrating responsibility.
You can AND WILL do the same but even better. You already taken the first step by just being here and asking questions as well as sharing where you stand so far.
All the best to you
You mentioned requesting a CLI after 3 months. I couldn't find where you noted what happened but assumed it was denied. I wouldn't worry so much about the HP. If you opened it in June, have you tried to do another CLI request? What happened with the 3 month request? If it was denied, did they give a reason? Yeah, you definitely need more credit cards but also getting a CLI increase will do wonders as well. I've never done business with BoA but certainly there are folks on here who can better advise but I wonder how helpful BoA would be if you called, spoke to someone, and asked about CLI. In other words, ask them how often they provide CLI and what are the conditions. Again, folks on here with BoA knowledge may be able to provide that for you. From what you've provided, you've been an ideal customer so it is hard to imagine not getting the CLI ... certainly a 6 month window should be enough.
Thanks CreditMaic and that's awesome. I'd think I'd be better then you though since I pay way more than the minimum.. Lol This forum already made me regret throwing that offer out. Hopefully I get another next month.
Triton53, I called and requested the CLI over the phone and was denied for the card not being open for at least 6 months. I have read of others on this forum and elsewhere online that said they had a link show up in their account online to request a CLI. Well, it's the 6 month mark and I still don't have a link even though I always paid on time, more than the minimum and some months I paid in full. I think I'll just use it again and pay in full before this current statement ends and see what happens. I want to see if I can at least get the FICO back where it was before applying elsewhere..maybe after this cycle ends and they can report a 0 balance.
If BOA reports to the credit bureaus the day the statement cuts then I guess there's no point in paying my last $99 off yet.
@Anonymous wrote:Thanks CreditMaic and that's awesome. I'd think I'd be better then you though since I pay way more than the minimum.. Lol This forum already made me regret throwing that offer out. Hopefully I get another next month.
Triton53, I called and requested the CLI over the phone and was denied for the card not being open for at least 6 months. I have read of others on this forum and elsewhere online that said they had a link show up in their account online to request a CLI. Well, it's the 6 month mark and I still don't have a link even though I always paid on time, more than the minimum and some months I paid in full. I think I'll just use it again and pay in full before this current statement ends and see what happens. I want to see if I can at least get the FICO back where it was before applying elsewhere..maybe after this cycle ends and they can report a 0 balance.
If BOA reports to the credit bureaus the day the statement cuts then I guess there's no point in paying my last $99 off yet.
Thanks for the info NotHighEnough. I had only 2 credit cards for a very long time (2 CapitalOne MC with only $500 credit limits ... dismal credit scores at the time). I received no automatic increases and never knew enough to request a CLI. If not for this board, I would never have known about the "Show Me Love" button. One of the cards now has a $2000 credit limit and the other $1300 (the jumps occurred in a year--i.e. once I found that button, it was 'game on'). I feel pretty good about your chances (though not sure how much impact that has on this lol) given you are at the 6 month window and, as you've stated, you've more than met the requirements.
Hey Triton, can you feel me out some powerball numbers? Thanks. lol
BOA shows my FICO was "updated" on 12/19 but the page itself updated on 12/25. That should make sense to anyone with BOA. I've been logging in everyday to check and logged in again just after midnight to see if an online purchase went through and there was a 7 point jump along with the show me love, CLI button. Not much but at least it's going in the right diection. Merry Christmas from BOA I guess. Lol
What is the overall vote on clicking it ? I think I should give it another cycle and pay in full before the statement cuts as some said and see if can get back to where I was. Right now I'm only about 20 points higher than when I opened the account. If the CLI button is a soft pull then I guess I'm more likely here than applying for another card?