topic Best Choices for a Thin File in Credit Card Applications

Best Choices for a Thin File

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 03:39:03 GMT

I'm looking for my best choices for a decent SL at a 0% intro rate when I have a thin file. Discover? Amex? Or is it too tall an order to expect all of that?

Experian fico8 is 750, not sure on other actual scores. AAoA is 12-14 years depending on which report for a few student loans. One student loan reports 120 days late at one point on transunion but it was actually transferred to a different lender. That's due to fall off anyway next year. No car loans, personal loans, or mortgage on there.

I did the SCT for an Overstock card with a SL of 2650 about a month ago, but it doesn't show up anywhere yet. (I know I shouldn't have, but I was too paranoid that no one would give me a card to resist.) AU on two cards, one at 0/4200 and one at 2400/5000.

I was going to wait a couple months for the AU card with a balance to go down a bit, but now I'm getting itchy to just app and see what I get. Any ideas or advice?

Re: Best Choices for a Thin File

bizarrocreditworld — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 04:01:53 GMT

@Anonymouswrote:
I'm looking for my best choices for a decent SL at a 0% intro rate when I have a thin file. Discover? Amex? Or is it too tall an order to expect all of that?

Experian fico8 is 750, not sure on other actual scores. AAoA is 12-14 years depending on which report for a few student loans. One student loan reports 120 days late at one point on transunion but it was actually transferred to a different lender. That's due to fall off anyway next year. No car loans, personal loans, or mortgage on there.

I did the SCT for an Overstock card with a SL of 2650 about a month ago, but it doesn't show up anywhere yet. (I know I shouldn't have, but I was too paranoid that no one would give me a card to resist.) AU on two cards, one at 0/4200 and one at 2400/5000.

I was going to wait a couple months for the AU card with a balance to go down a bit, but now I'm getting itchy to just app and see what I get. Any ideas or advice?

First, welcome to MyFico. You will find that the people here are very helpful with these types of questions.

With a 750 Experian 8, Amex is almost certain (there are no guarantees of course) to let you in. Discover also seems to likes thin files. With Discover, however, one person might get a $3000 SL and another might get a $12,000 SL. Get the balance down on the AU card and you should be good for both.

You should also look at the prequalifer pages for the other majors (e.g. Citigroup, Chase, Bank of America and Capital One) to see where you stand with them. You may find that you have more options than you think.

Re: Best Choices for a Thin File

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Mar 2018 16:11:32 GMT

AMEX usually start with low CLs but grow with time. Like above said, Discover could be a good choice. Any affiliation to Military? There's NavyFed, USAA, PMCU, PenFed as well.

Re: Best Choices for a Thin File

Meanmchine — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 02:53:29 GMT

Have fun

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Pre-Approval-Sites-June-2015/td-p/4059266

Re: Best Choices for a Thin File

A1Credit — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 02:58:20 GMT

@Anonymouswrote:
AMEX usually start with low CLs but grow with time. Like above said, Discover could be a good choice. Any affiliation to Military? There's NavyFed, USAA, PMCU, PenFed as well.

You should call AMEX for me and tell them that.

Re: Best Choices for a Thin File

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 09:45:47 GMT

Welcome to the forums!

When I applied for my AMEX, I had a 750 FICO Experian score. They gave me $500 in their credit steps. Also, I did not have any big AU accounts (or a beefy AAoA) besides Chase at $500 and Merrick Bank at $700. However, Citi gave me the highest CL to-date at $7,600 with about two months of revolving history.

However, my wife just got approved for $2,000 but had two store cards and a Chase card at $3,500. She can possibly grow that to $6,000 in 61 days. That may be an attractive route to you. Also, look into Discover or a credit union, if possible.

Re: Best Choices for a Thin File

elim — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 10:29:06 GMT

I would try Chase prequal and get any of their cards you may want before going over 4/24. Always try to prequalify CC apps, and only get store cards you will use frequently. I have a 10.2k Overstock card that sits in the sock drawer.

Re: Best Choices for a Thin File

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 13:20:28 GMT

Thanks everyone!!

I hadn't gone with any credit unions yet because it seemed like most of them with good products do a hard pull. I will look at some though! I'm going to end up with a pull from somewhere, so it might be useful to get some extra mileage out of it. I could possibly have military affiliation through famiily members.

Some of the prequal sites look like they are solid offers, some of them don't. I'm going to keep an eye on the ones that look like good options as I continue getting our finances in order.

Thanks again!