topic Re: Last approval for a while in Credit Card Approvals

Last approval for a while

Rex95 — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 22:19:08 GMT

I said I was done a few weeks ago... I lied. But, NOW I'm done.

On a bit of a whim, and because I have a United flight coming up this week, I applied for the United Explorer card today and was approved for $10,200 and 18.49%. This card is a no-brainer for me as I live in a United hub city and fly a few times a year, but not enough to have status. This card will pay for itself a few times over each year, and no AF the first year is icing on the cake. It's the last card I really wanted, even though I had pre approvals for both Sapphire cards. No pre-approval for the United.

This marks my third new credit card account since October when I applied for my Amex Gold. A few weeks ago, I was approved for BCE with no hard pull, and I don't think it has reported yet. I also took a B of A auto loan early January which is almost paid off. I'm done applying for anything for a while. I feel that I have all the cards I want now.

Here's my current wallet:

Amex gold (groceries, dining out, Grubhub, Uber Eats)

BCE: gas

United Explorer: everything else

"Sock drawer":

Chase Freedom Unlimited: (I run a subscription through this and have it set to auto pay)

Barclays View: Will likely close in a year to simplify/downsize

Paypal Credit line: Will likely close in a year to simplify/downsize

Re: Last approval for a while

gdale6 — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 22:55:53 GMT

Grats on your United approval

Re: Last approval for a while

Red1Blue — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 22:59:02 GMT

Hi @Rex95 Congrats for your new card approval.

Re: Last approval for a while

pizzadude — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 23:08:24 GMT

Congrats on the United Explorer approval, and nice CL too !

We'll take you at your word that you're really done applying....this time..

Re: Last approval for a while

MasonK — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 23:11:57 GMT

Congrats! I like where your setup is going in the Amex and Chase systems!

Re: Last approval for a while

SouthernCredit — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 23:27:14 GMT

Congrats on the approval!

Re: Last approval for a while

CYBERSAM — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 23:52:42 GMT

Congrats on your approval! 🤑👍

Re: Last approval for a while

cashorcharge — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 02:03:49 GMT

That's terrific!! Congratulations on your Approval!! 🎉🥂👏

Re: Last approval for a while

Rex95 — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 03:20:10 GMT

@MasonK Thanks! After some deliberation, I think I've found the right setup for myself. The Gold card is used exclusively for groceries and dining. Since I use all of Uber/Uber eats and Doordash credit every month, the annual fee for me is effectively $10. At that point, I'm only paying $10 for a grocery card that gets 4x at grocery stores. Awesome!

The BCE is for the 2% on gas. Nothing else goes on that card. I could've gone with the B of A custom cash to get 3% on gas, but the only reason I went with the Amex instead was because it was a soft pull approval as I already had the Gold card.

Everything else will go on the United card, an easy choice since that's the only domestic airline I fly since one of the airports in my city is a United hub. That covers all the bases for me.

I'm a little concerned about the possibility of adverse action since I've been approved for a few cards in the last 5 months, albeit only 2 of the 3 were hars pulls. My other was an auto loan in January which is almost paid off. The BCE and United were both in the last 30 days and I realized that the BCE had not reported to Experian when my profile was pulled for the United approval today. My fingers are crossed that I'm under their radar. My last chase approval prior to this was about 7 years ago.

Re: Last approval for a while

HeavyResist — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 04:58:36 GMT

Mazel tov on the approval @Rex95 . I am curious as to why you would close an account and not keep total available credit higher?

Re: Last approval for a while

CreditAggie — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 05:31:39 GMT

Congratulations on your United approval!

Re: Last approval for a while

Rex95 — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 13:52:52 GMT

@HeavyResist I don't like managing 6 cards, and I think closing the two I never use anymore would simplify my finances. I'm okay with taking a bit of a hit to my AAoA in exchange for a setup that I think is easier to manage. If I put a small amount of spend on those to keep them open, solely for the purpose of having more available credit that I don't really need, the opportunity cost would be the United miles or MR points that I could I would miss out on.

The Barclays card and PayPal credit line we're both starter products for me, and I've moved on to greener pastures. My oldest card is my CFU, and I won't be closing that one.

Re: Last approval for a while

Reviewers — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 14:21:00 GMT

Congratulations on your United approval!

Re: Last approval for a while

HeavyResist — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 14:24:45 GMT

@Rex95 wrote:
@HeavyResist I don't like managing 6 cards, and I think closing the two I never use anymore would simplify my finances. I'm okay with taking a bit of a hit to my AAoA in exchange for a setup that I think is easier to manage. If I put a small amount of spend on those to keep them open, solely for the purpose of having more available credit that I don't really need, the opportunity cost would be the United miles or MR points that I could I would miss out on.

The Barclays card and PayPal credit line we're both starter products for me, and I've moved on to greener pastures. My oldest card is my CFU, and I won't be closing that one.

That makes sense. Thanks for the answer.

Re: Last approval for a while

SouthernCredit — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 14:45:24 GMT

@HeavyResist wrote:
@Rex95 wrote:
@HeavyResist I don't like managing 6 cards, and I think closing the two I never use anymore would simplify my finances. I'm okay with taking a bit of a hit to my AAoA in exchange for a setup that I think is easier to manage. If I put a small amount of spend on those to keep them open, solely for the purpose of having more available credit that I don't really need, the opportunity cost would be the United miles or MR points that I could I would miss out on.

The Barclays card and PayPal credit line we're both starter products for me, and I've moved on to greener pastures. My oldest card is my CFU, and I won't be closing that one.
That makes sense. Thanks for the answer.

Not for nothing, but maybe check Barclay's portfolio (if you haven't already) to see if there are any possible PCs before closing it down. May be worth a look.

Re: Last approval for a while

Hoben02 — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 15:14:46 GMT

I question that move since you were preapproved for the sapphire and could have got the csp which has the same annual fee and has United as a transfer partner. Also, I think on the sapphire you can get 5x booking thru the chase portal which is almost a Nono for travel hacks

Re: Last approval for a while

Rex95 — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 20:42:29 GMT

@SouthernCredit Does Barclays allow product changes? In the past, I didn't think that was an option with them, but I'd be interested in looking into that if something has changed.

Re: Last approval for a while

Rex95 — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 01:10:24 GMT

@Hoben02 @That's true, and CSP was a close second, but I ultimately went with the United for the free checked bags, as I don't fly enough to have status with them, along with the Glabal Entry reimbursement and annual club passes which aren't offered by CSP.