topic Re: New to Forum help needed in Credit Cards

New to Forum help needed

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 13:16:22 GMT

So I am 29 I didn't know the differences between cards and about 3 years ago got a few cards. Most of which I never use. Now my current fico score is 718
Equifax is 728
Transition is 710
Expedia 695

I currently have
Capital 1 journey opened 2013 with a 3k limit 19.99%apr
Citi bank diamond preferred opened 2013 1k limit 12.99%
Citibank diamond 2013 14.99%
Citibank double cash opened 2015 20.00% 1000 limit
Discover it opened 2016 started $500 currently $1800

I never use the citi cards I was thinking of canceling one of the diamond preferred and the double cash and then getting rid of the cap 1 journey and applying for a nice bonus card like the cap1 quicksilver or something that gives higher limits. Does anyone have any suggestions I currently the discover as my main card due to the no interest I just can't seem to get them to give me a higher limit
I make about 40k a year 7 inquiries total and no bad marks. I don't travel overseas but I go to theme parks and stuff like that
Thank you on advance

Re: New to Forum help needed

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 13:31:33 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
So I am 29 I didn't know the differences between cards and about 3 years ago got a few cards. Most of which I never use. Now my current fico score is 718
Equifax is 728
Transition is 710
Expedia 695

I currently have
Capital 1 journey opened 2013 with a 3k limit 19.99%apr
Citi bank diamond preferred opened 2013 1k limit 12.99%
Citibank diamond 2013 14.99%
Citibank double cash opened 2015 20.00% 1000 limit
Discover it opened 2016 started $500 currently $1800

I never use the citi cards I was thinking of canceling one of the diamond preferred and the double cash and then getting rid of the cap 1 journey and applying for a nice bonus card like the cap1 quicksilver or something that gives higher limits. Does anyone have any suggestions I currently the discover as my main card due to the no interest I just can't seem to get them to give me a higher limit
I make about 40k a year 7 inquiries total and no bad marks. I don't travel overseas but I go to theme parks and stuff like that
Thank you on advance

From what I have seen don't close them, just leave them open and don't use them.

I have seen a lot of people say you need atleast 3 cards. Have two report $0 and the other one report 9% utliziation.

Re: New to Forum help needed

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 13:46:43 GMT

You do need three cards for scoring purposes.
It doesn't look like any of your cards have an AF. You could keep them open for history purposes, but if you don't want to keep up with them you could pair down.

As far as new cards, look at what you'd like long term before applying and go from there

Re: New to Forum help needed

GetMeSlick — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 14:13:30 GMT

Yeah, Adding to Tigers09.

dont close your existing cards. use them for $5 to $10 purchases MOM.

Your credit scores on two bureaus are above 700 which is a good sign. you may want to take a small personal loan in local CU for having different types of credit to grow your 3 scores. you can just take $500 loan and start paying it regularly.

All the best.

Re: New to Forum help needed

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 14:34:08 GMT

if you don't have an installment loan (auto, student), adding a Shared Secured loan will help your scores and also add history in another category, as GetMeSlick suggests. You can search for the best method for doing that here on myFico

Re: New to Forum help needed

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 16:06:38 GMT

OP, your Citi DC card is a 2% CB card and the card you were considering the QS is only a 1.5% CB card, so IMO you'd be cancelling a "better" card for a "worse" one, at least in terms of CB.

I agree with the others that there is no harm in keeping all of the cards you have open, just showing all of them swipe every few months to ensure they stay alive.

Re: New to Forum help needed

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 16:56:13 GMT

Nice as always to see folks helping newcomers out.

Just for clarity, when people mention three cards being ideal, they mean at least three. So there's definitely not an advantage to closing any of them -- unless you know that you'll be driven crazy by having six cards. There's actually a few advantages to having more than three.

It looks to me like none of your cards have an annual fee (is that right?) which would be another reason to close a card.

As far as using cards that you have, all you need to do is use it once every six months and then put it back in the shoebox. Some people pull them out for a grocery trip twice a year and buy a different item with each card. If you feel like it you could up that to once every four months or three months, but to protect yourself against an account being closed due to inactivity, six months is enough.

The Share Secure Loan Technique (mentioned earlier) is something you should look into if you have no open installment loans.

Re: New to Forum help needed

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 17:27:38 GMT

Maybe I am missing something but the poster seems to be asking for recommendations for a new card and while they're have been some helpful responses on how to maximize credit scores, I don't see any mention of that in the OP. Moving to credit cards forum.

Re: New to Forum help needed

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 17:56:07 GMT

I have 1 loan open from onemain financial for 5k currently down to 4k.
And a car loan from my credit union started at 11k down to 9k
So ideally in terms of cash back the citi do8ble cash card is ideal for everyday ?
Because my discover it card has the rotating categories and a higher limit so I was under the assumption that it would be better to use.

Realistically my number 1 goal is getting s higher freaking limit hate that my discover I have had for 4 months and I'm already triple what I started with CL wise but citi I have had for 3 years and they don't move my Cl at all. And then I wasn't sure if there was a better card for me to have rather then any of the ones I have. I currently have no Annual fees

It of the cards have which seems best for day to day stuff gas, groceries target act. My Discover it or the citi double cash.

I don't mind keeping the cards locked away and never using then I just assumed getting a better cars with the chance for a better limit would be easier I canceled one's I am not using.

Like I said I don't fly overseas but o do go to theme parks and camp and theatres/shows. I don't think I would know what to do with a miles card

Re: New to Forum help needed

medicgrrl — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 17:59:41 GMT

A few points....first, you can attempt to product change the Journey to the QS. This would leave the account open with the age not being affected. Second, you could try to move your limit from one of your Citi diamond cards over to your Citi DC. Third, have you requested a CLI from Citi? If so, what's the reason for denial?

Re: New to Forum help needed

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 18:13:11 GMT

Hi Irish! I think he got some of the initial responses because he emphasized not knowing very much, tentatively wondering if he should cancel some cards, and then asking for suggestions

Because the request for suggestions was pretty open ended, a lot of people (including myself) gave him the suggestion not to close the cards and focused a bit more on suggestions about scoring. I think you are right that he may want suggestions about new cards he can choose from.

Re: New to Forum help needed

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 18:31:24 GMT

Sorry I posted in the wrong spot.

None of my cards have Annual fees that is correct

I have 1 loan through a credit union for a car original balance was 11k now it's 9k

I called citi and they told me they don't consolidate cards together I spoke to cs and to the supervisor is rather have the double cash card with a 3k limit then have 3 citi cards

They are soft pulling my credit from may instead of July and on may my score was 650 with marks on it I disputed them and cleared itin June and now it's 710 but they tell me to just wait like I'm lying

I don't Mind leaving the cards in a drawer I just thought it Would-be better to cancel them and open up a better card with a better credit limit discover started me off at $5:00 for months ago and now I'm at 1800 citibank I've had for 4 years-and my limits have always been a 1000

So for an everyday card I could Try upgrading my journey card to a quicksilver I hate that my journey card has a 19.99 intereste rate and my citibank card has 12 Would you guys use the quicksilver azure every day-and the discover for certain special purchases because it has a rotating categories and just don't use the double cash or should I use the double cash as my everyday It's city would give me a dam credit line increase

I have 1 loan thrkuRe: New to Forum help needed

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 19:19:46 GMT

Ok I have one loan through a credit union for an original amount of 11k that's 9k for a car now

I have no Annual fees

Essentially want to obtain a higher limit and citi bank has denied me because the report they are pulling is from may not July and I'm may I had derogatory marks that I had removed in June plus my utilization was better. The cards I have what would I use as my main? The citi double for everyday and discover it for the categories orbdo house thebdiscober for everything because they keep giving me small increases. I can try and upgrade my cap 1 to a quicksilver I tried that with citi bank CS and they told me they don't do that I even spoke to a CS supervisor and was told they dontcombine limits together.

So again is there a good all around card that gives good limits or should infocud on the ones I have. I like going ou5 to theme parks and stuff hut I've never flown so I don't think a points card is for me. I out about 250 to 500 on a cars a month then pay it

Re: New to Forum help needed

medicgrrl — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 19:27:28 GMT

Amex is a good card for groceries and gas. You could use the DC for everything else. I wouldn't give up the DC at 2% cash back for something with lower cash back options, but you could definitely apply for another card and wait out Citi for their next AR.

Re: New to Forum help needed

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 19:36:14 GMT

Did the OP receive accurate information from CS in that one cannot combine/move limits between Citi cards, or was the CS person he spoke with misinformed?

Re: New to Forum help needed

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 19:57:04 GMT

The reps were likely misinformed. Here's a helpful article at DoC:

http://www.doctorofcredit.com/rules-for-reallocating-your-credit-limit-with-each-credit-card-issuer/#Citi

Money quote from the DoC piece:

Citi front line customer service representatives are usually pretty clueless when it comes to credit reallocation, this is because in most cases they can’t actually process them. You might need to call more than once to speak with a representative that knows what they are talking about, alternatively you can state “I’d like to reallocate my credit limits, I’m aware you cannot do this. Can you please transfer me over to the credit analyst department? Thank you for your help”. This should speed up the process dramatically, but some representatives might still struggle, just hang up and call again.

This also confirms that credit line shifts are quite possible though there is a hard pull:

http://milestomemories.boardingarea.com/citi-product-conversion/

Re: New to Forum help needed

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 01:14:15 GMT

I have just called capital one and upgraded my journey to a venture card. I know it's not as good as the venture 1 but no Annual fee and I don't have a travel cars so what the hey. I have the citi double cash and since it made sense to keep it no reason for quicksilver. Now the only issue is my card has 19.99 percent Apr she told me to apply for the same card and whichever has lower Apr consolidate them that's the best way.

Citi I called twice asked for the analyst department the first csr got her supervisor who told me they don't have that department. The second said they don't have that department but her manager said they did away with consolidation. I'll try tomorrow I guess.
Now I have
Citi diamond
Citi diamond
Citi double cash
Capital one venture
Discover it
Car loan

Re: New to Forum help needed

medicgrrl — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 01:34:49 GMT

Did you see the "Backdoor numbers" thread? I think it's in the applications forum. That may have some useful Citi numbers to call.

Re: New to Forum help needed

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 02:28:40 GMT

It's possible that Citi may really have changed its policy in the last year. Those two articles were dated before then. Citi has done realloocations for me but that was a little over a year ago and it was in the context of applying for another card (they are more willing to do that then I think).

I wouldn't worry too much about the CL reallocation issue, if I were you.

Re: New to Forum help needed

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 02:28:53 GMT

I believe I've tried that number for citi and it doesn't work it asks me for a survey