topic Re: Deciding on Citi or Chase Credit Card in Credit Cards

Deciding on Citi or Chase Credit Card

marcforza1 — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 06:54:49 GMT

I'm debating on whether I want to apply for either a Citi or Chase credit card. My TransUnion and Equifax score is 686 and 705 and it's been pretty consistent for the last 3 months. And for the past 15 months I've managed to bring my debts on my reports down to $0. (waiting on credit report to update my last $50 debt paid from October). I do have a Chase Freedom Card but as an authorized user with my wife (a card that I personally only use maybe once a year). Credit Karma says that the Capital One Venture One card would be good for me but I don't fly and was looking at more toward a Citi or Chase card that doesn't have an annual fee if possible. Any suggestions on one based on my score?

Re: Deciding on Citi or Chase Credit Card

Anonymous — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 10:25:53 GMT

@marcforza1 wrote:
I'm debating on whether I want to apply for either a Citi or Chase credit card. My TransUnion and Equifax score is 686 and 705 and it's been pretty consistent for the last 3 months. And for the past 15 months I've managed to bring my debts on my reports down to $0. (waiting on credit report to update my last $50 debt paid from October). I do have a Chase Freedom Card but as an authorized user with my wife (a card that I personally only use maybe once a year). Credit Karma says that the Capital One Venture One card would be good for me but I don't fly and was looking at more toward a Citi or Chase card that doesn't have an annual fee if possible. Any suggestions on one based on my score?

Go to chase.com and see if you are prequalified for any of their cards. If you see the Chase Sapphire Preferred show up, along with your own freedom and slate, you should be in business.

So you dont have any card currently that are in your name only? Leave capital one as a last resort. They will triple pull your bureaus, charge astronomical interest, and they can be hesitant to reduce APR and increase credit limit as your needs change. However in times of financial hardship they will be the lender to not shut you down.....

Chase is always first. They have big bonuses. Just because its a travel card doesnt mean you need to travel. Get to their branch if you see online that you are prequalified. Hopefully checking in branch will show the 70k offer on CSP, and 30k on the freedom. Thats $1000 free money, no annual fees the first year. Then after 6 months go for the CSR. Then eventually you can worry about discover and a 2% card, etc. The amount of these bonuses don't even compare to a 2% card. You would have to spend 50k in order to get $1000 on a 2% card like the citi DC, and almost 67k on the quicksilver.

Venture One is not a good choice unless its a last resort. The 0 for 12 months is nice, but its a 3 pull, 200 bonus,and only gives 1.25% that can only be redeemed on travel. Not that great. You came to the right place. Dont open any store cards or anything until you check online what you are prequalified for. And the more often you check online, the more often you will get mail offers that usually get better with time!

Re: Deciding on Citi or Chase Credit Card

EAJuggalo — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 12:55:29 GMT

What are you going to use the card for? How much is your monthly CC spend? Do you want to spend time chasing sign up rewards and churning to make the most profit? The simplest solution is to see if you are prequaled for a Citi Double Cash. No annual fee, 2% cash back.

Re: Deciding on Citi or Chase Credit Card

Credit_hawk — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 13:09:13 GMT

Ignore Credit Karma's match tool or at least take it with a grain of salt. I would say this is a tough decision even for me. I have both Chase and CIti cards and love them both although I'm mad at Chase right now for triple pulling me for a CLI, but I won't get started on that. I realize that was an anomaly and mistake that happens more frequently than you'd think.

Anyway, back to your question. Having the CSP, DC, and Freedom myself, I'd say I use the DC the most without doubt recently. Great card, awesome benefits. Better than any other card I have when judged holistically. You don't seem blown away by the Freedom. Do you travel much? You say you don't fly. If so the CSP/CSR are good cards with nice bonuses. If you're nearing 5 cards in the past 24 months I'd go Chase as they have a cutoff after 5/24 if you pass 5 cards, you'd need to wait until your accounts age to apply again. However, for a useful daily card Citi Doubt Cash is hard to beat. Seems to me either a Freedom unlimited with 1.5% & a bonus or Citi with 2% but no bonus are your best option. I'd recommend Citi even though they don't offer a bonus because their card benefits are just that good. They beat many premium cards out there. They have price rewind, excellent product warranty, product loss, and return benefits among others. They're stellar.

Venture is no good for you if you don't fly. They will triple pull you, and give you an APR you will never be able to reduce permanently whereas with Citi you will. Venture is effectively a limited 2% card to travel and dining. QS is much better. I have both Venture and Quick Silver. Venture barely gets used lately.

Hope I helped in some way.

@marcforza1 wrote:
I'm debating on whether I want to apply for either a Citi or Chase credit card. My TransUnion and Equifax score is 686 and 705 and it's been pretty consistent for the last 3 months. And for the past 15 months I've managed to bring my debts on my reports down to $0. (waiting on credit report to update my last $50 debt paid from October). I do have a Chase Freedom Card but as an authorized user with my wife (a card that I personally only use maybe once a year). Credit Karma says that the Capital One Venture One card would be good for me but I don't fly and was looking at more toward a Citi or Chase card that doesn't have an annual fee if possible. Any suggestions on one based on my score?

Re: Deciding on Citi or Chase Credit Card

marcforza1 — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 13:10:06 GMT

I have received notices in the mail lately that I prequalified for the Chase Slate card a couple of times. I just never responded back or apply for the card because I want to see what my other options were. But I did go on to the Chase site and it said that I did pre-qualify for the Slate and Sapphire Preferred; so I guess that's a good thing.

@Anonymous wrote:
@marcforza1 wrote:
I'm debating on whether I want to apply for either a Citi or Chase credit card. My TransUnion and Equifax score is 686 and 705 and it's been pretty consistent for the last 3 months. And for the past 15 months I've managed to bring my debts on my reports down to $0. (waiting on credit report to update my last $50 debt paid from October). I do have a Chase Freedom Card but as an authorized user with my wife (a card that I personally only use maybe once a year). Credit Karma says that the Capital One Venture One card would be good for me but I don't fly and was looking at more toward a Citi or Chase card that doesn't have an annual fee if possible. Any suggestions on one based on my score?
Go to chase.com and see if you are prequalified for any of their cards. If you see the Chase Sapphire Preferred show up, along with your own freedom and slate, you should be in business.
So you dont have any card currently that are in your name only? Leave capital one as a last resort. They will triple pull your bureaus, charge astronomical interest, and they can be hesitant to reduce APR and increase credit limit as your needs change. However in times of financial hardship they will be the lender to not shut you down.....

Chase is always first. They have big bonuses. Just because its a travel card doesnt mean you need to travel. Get to their branch if you see online that you are prequalified. Hopefully checking in branch will show the 70k offer on CSP, and 30k on the freedom. Thats $1000 free money, no annual fees the first year. Then after 6 months go for the CSR. Then eventually you can worry about discover and a 2% card, etc. The amount of these bonuses don't even compare to a 2% card. You would have to spend 50k in order to get $1000 on a 2% card like the citi DC, and almost 67k on the quicksilver.

Venture One is not a good choice unless its a last resort. The 0 for 12 months is nice, but its a 3 pull, 200 bonus,and only gives 1.25% that can only be redeemed on travel. Not that great. You came to the right place. Dont open any store cards or anything until you check online what you are prequalified for. And the more often you check online, the more often you will get mail offers that usually get better with time!

Re: Deciding on Citi or Chase Credit Card

marcforza1 — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 13:18:31 GMT

@EAJuggalo wrote:
What are you going to use the card for? How much is your monthly CC spend? Do you want to spend time chasing sign up rewards and churning to make the most profit? The simplest solution is to see if you are prequaled for a Citi Double Cash. No annual fee, 2% cash back.

I'm just using the card for just small stuff like gas or groceries. It's going to like my "In case s*** happens" card and if I absolutely have to use it. Other that my standard Chase debit card, the Freedom card is the only one I currently have and I barely use it except if I'm on vacation in the summer. Even then, I just use it for hotel stay and pay it off the next month. Me personally, I would say that I use that card twice a year. Just had it to mainly build my credit back up.

Re: Deciding on Citi or Chase Credit Card

marcforza1 — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 13:44:32 GMT

The ones that I was looking it from Citi were the Simplicity or the Thank You Preferred card, but I'll take a look at the DC, too. Was avoiding some of the more exclusive cards due to being afraid of things like a triple pull or even get denied. I was surprised that I prequalified for the CSP, especially since I only make 27K a year and I'm not big on spending. I think my utilization on the Freedom card (since I'm just the authorized user) was like 2% all year until my credit limit on the card went up to like 2K. But I believe my wife did a balance transfer and my TransUnion score dipped for a week but then went back up a week later. I had two Credit One cards about three years ago but ran across some charges issues and managed to pay them both off so zit can have a clean slate and start over. Lesson learned!

@Credit_hawk wrote:
Ignore Credit Karma's match tool or at least take it with a grain of salt. I would say this is a tough decision even for me. I have both Chase and CIti cards and love them both although I'm mad at Chase right now for triple pulling me for a CLI, but I won't get started on that. I realize that was an anomaly and mistake that happens more frequently than you'd think.

Anyway, back to your question. Having the CSP, DC, and Freedom myself, I'd say I use the DC the most without doubt recently. Great card, awesome benefits. Better than any other card I have when judged holistically. You don't seem blown away by the Freedom. Do you travel much? You say you don't fly. If so the CSP/CSR are good cards with nice bonuses. If you're nearing 5 cards in the past 24 months I'd go Chase as they have a cutoff after 5/24 if you pass 5 cards, you'd need to wait until your accounts age to apply again. However, for a useful daily card Citi Doubt Cash is hard to beat. Seems to me either a Freedom unlimited with 1.5% & a bonus or Citi with 2% but no bonus are your best option. I'd recommend Citi even though they don't offer a bonus because their card benefits are just that good. They beat many premium cards out there. They have price rewind, excellent product warranty, product loss, and return benefits among others. They're stellar.

Venture is no good for you if you don't fly. They will triple pull you, and give you an APR you will never be able to reduce permanently whereas with Citi you will. Venture is effectively a limited 2% card to travel and dining. QS is much better. I have both Venture and Quick Silver. Venture barely gets used lately.

Hope I helped in some way.

@marcforza1 wrote:
I'm debating on whether I want to apply for either a Citi or Chase credit card. My TransUnion and Equifax score is 686 and 705 and it's been pretty consistent for the last 3 months. And for the past 15 months I've managed to bring my debts on my reports down to $0. (waiting on credit report to update my last $50 debt paid from October). I do have a Chase Freedom Card but as an authorized user with my wife (a card that I personally only use maybe once a year). Credit Karma says that the Capital One Venture One card would be good for me but I don't fly and was looking at more toward a Citi or Chase card that doesn't have an annual fee if possible. Any suggestions on one based on my score?

Re: Deciding on Citi or Chase Credit Card

Anonymous — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 14:03:44 GMT

If youre looking for simplicity- I might suggest the Chase Freedom Unlimited.. Use your Chase Freedom on rotating categories and the Freedom Unlimited for everything else at 1.5% back. Then use them! If you figure just $300/m on the Freedom categories and $800/m on the unlimited for everything else, that would be $324 if redeemed towarda gift cards for example.. Most on here use their cards for everything, and thats really a simple example.. I'm not rich by any means, and I'll be easily over $1k in rewards each year.

Re: Deciding on Citi or Chase Credit Card

SouthJamaica — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 15:20:33 GMT

@marcforza1 wrote:
I'm debating on whether I want to apply for either a Citi or Chase credit card. My TransUnion and Equifax score is 686 and 705 and it's been pretty consistent for the last 3 months. And for the past 15 months I've managed to bring my debts on my reports down to $0. (waiting on credit report to update my last $50 debt paid from October). I do have a Chase Freedom Card but as an authorized user with my wife (a card that I personally only use maybe once a year). Credit Karma says that the Capital One Venture One card would be good for me but I don't fly and was looking at more toward a Citi or Chase card that doesn't have an annual fee if possible. Any suggestions on one based on my score?

I think your best bet would be a Freedom or Freedom Unlimited card from Chase, or a Double Cash from Citi.

2 decent cobranded cards at Chase are the AARP and the Amazon.

Re: Deciding on Citi or Chase Credit Card

Anonymous — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 17:07:14 GMT

If it's cash back that you're wanting you will have a hard time meeting the percentage back on a double cash or even to discover. Citi simplicity is okay for later on but in the grand scheme of things at Citi Diamond preferred would be better. You end up getting 1% Les on the default APR as well as random offers for extra 5% off on special categories. If you're getting offers for this late you need to check on Chase to see what your offers are there. Don't pass up on potentially 500, 300 and $1,000

Re: Deciding on Citi or Chase Credit Card

Anonymous — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 17:15:31 GMT

@marcforza1 wrote:
I'm debating on whether I want to apply for either a Citi or Chase credit card. My TransUnion and Equifax score is 686 and 705 and it's been pretty consistent for the last 3 months. And for the past 15 months I've managed to bring my debts on my reports down to $0. (waiting on credit report to update my last $50 debt paid from October). I do have a Chase Freedom Card but as an authorized user with my wife (a card that I personally only use maybe once a year). Credit Karma says that the Capital One Venture One card would be good for me but I don't fly and was looking at more toward a Citi or Chase card that doesn't have an annual fee if possible. Any suggestions on one based on my score?

Those 2 lenders HP from Experian..

Re: Deciding on Citi or Chase Credit Card

BronzeTrader — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 17:43:05 GMT

@marcforza1 wrote:
@EAJuggalo wrote:
What are you going to use the card for? How much is your monthly CC spend? Do you want to spend time chasing sign up rewards and churning to make the most profit? The simplest solution is to see if you are prequaled for a Citi Double Cash. No annual fee, 2% cash back.
I'm just using the card for just small stuff like gas or groceries. It's going to like my "In case s*** happens" card and if I absolutely have to use it. Other that my standard Chase debit card, the Freedom card is the only one I currently have and I barely use it except if I'm on vacation in the summer. Even then, I just use it for hotel stay and pay it off the next month. Me personally, I would say that I use that card twice a year. Just had it to mainly build my credit back up.

For everyday, you have Chase Unlimited, Citi Double Cash, Fidelity Visa, Discover, AmEx BCE to consider. There could be more that I'm not familiar with. You also get bonus if you bank with Bank of America, with its Cash Reards card.

Re: Deciding on Citi or Chase Credit Card

Anonymous — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 17:47:09 GMT

I would get the DC..Personally I use it the most out of all of my cards. If you're wanting travel the see if you prequal for a CSP. DC has awesome benefits, price rewind, two years ext warranty, ECT. You don't have to hard pull for credit lines although I chose to to get a larger line.

Re: Deciding on Citi or Chase Credit Card

marcforza1 — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 17:49:27 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@marcforza1 wrote:
I'm debating on whether I want to apply for either a Citi or Chase credit card. My TransUnion and Equifax score is 686 and 705 and it's been pretty consistent for the last 3 months. And for the past 15 months I've managed to bring my debts on my reports down to $0. (waiting on credit report to update my last $50 debt paid from October). I do have a Chase Freedom Card but as an authorized user with my wife (a card that I personally only use maybe once a year). Credit Karma says that the Capital One Venture One card would be good for me but I don't fly and was looking at more toward a Citi or Chase card that doesn't have an annual fee if possible. Any suggestions on one based on my score?
Those 2 lenders HP from Experian..

From what I've read it sounds like EX and/or TU since I'm in Indiana. Not sure what my EX score is but I'm going to order a FICO report this evening to check it out.

Re: Deciding on Citi or Chase Credit Card

Gmood1 — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 18:00:36 GMT

You can go here to get a free EX FICO 8 score
https://www.creditscorecard.com/registration

Re: Deciding on Citi or Chase Credit Card

marcforza1 — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 18:18:20 GMT

@Gmood1 wrote:
You can go here to get a free EX FICO 8 score
https://www.creditscorecard.com/registration

I tried that about two weeks ago but Discover is having issues with their scorecard feature and they're not sure when it'll be fixed. I created an account three times and it won't go beyond the security questions when I called them about it.

Re: Deciding on Citi or Chase Credit Card

Gmood1 — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 18:25:04 GMT

Here's another free one. You can download from the Google play store.

Re: Deciding on Citi or Chase Credit Card

Anonymous — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 18:25:57 GMT

@Gmood1 wrote:
You can go here to get a free EX FICO 8 score
https://www.creditscorecard.com/registration

I thought Free Discover provides Free Fico TU?

Re: Deciding on Citi or Chase Credit Card

Gmood1 — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 18:28:04 GMT

No it's EX..TU is provided on the Discover card site, free to customers.

Re: Deciding on Citi or Chase Credit Card

EAJuggalo — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 22:57:25 GMT

@marcforza1 wrote:
@EAJuggalo wrote:
What are you going to use the card for? How much is your monthly CC spend? Do you want to spend time chasing sign up rewards and churning to make the most profit? The simplest solution is to see if you are prequaled for a Citi Double Cash. No annual fee, 2% cash back.
I'm just using the card for just small stuff like gas or groceries. It's going to like my "In case s*** happens" card and if I absolutely have to use it. Other that my standard Chase debit card, the Freedom card is the only one I currently have and I barely use it except if I'm on vacation in the summer. Even then, I just use it for hotel stay and pay it off the next month. Me personally, I would say that I use that card twice a year. Just had it to mainly build my credit back up.

My plan for the next three months is to use my Freedom for gas and my Double Cash for just about everything else. One of the pitfalls of the DC is the redemption floor, you have to have $25 in cash back to redeem. Which Chase doesn't have. But it is a World Elite Mastercard and has Price Rewind. I just used my DC for a washer and dryer, it will give me an additional two years of warranty and once I register the purchase they will look for a cheaper price and refund me the difference if they find it. One other thing in Citi's favor is that your only other card is from Chase, it might be a good thing to have something from another lender. But I don't think you can really go wrong with either of them.