topic Re: Pushed My Luck with GEMB in Credit Cards

Pushed My Luck with GEMB

laz98 — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:27:51 GMT

HA HA! After reading on Who Gave Me Credit, I thought I would apply for a Lenscrafters card, to offset the cost of my @#$^ expensive glasses...I got the message of death: We are unable to provide you with a decision at this time. I was so sure I would get it! But maybe not.

Yesterday I applied for an Ultra Diamonds card (got it!) & earlier today I decided to apply for the Care Credit card so that maybe I can FINALLY get some stupid braces (got it!). But I guess the third time's the charm for GEMB! I will call for a recon tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Re: Pushed My Luck with GEMB

wmarat — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:31:57 GMT

May FICO G-ds rain approval on your request.

@laz98 wrote:
@Anonymous HA! After reading on Who Gave Me Credit, I thought I would apply for a Lenscrafters card, to offset the cost of my @#$^ expensive glasses...I got the message of death: We are unable to provide you with a decision at this time. I was so sure I would get it! But maybe not.

Yesterday I applied for an Ultra Diamonds card (got it!) & earlier today I decided to apply for the Care Credit card so that maybe I can FINALLY get some stupid braces (got it!). But I guess the third time's the charm for GEMB! I will call for a recon tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Re: Pushed My Luck with GEMB

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:57:10 GMT

I will never apply for a GEMB product again. They pull my credit then deny me based on inability to verify my identity. It's just bogus.

Re: Pushed My Luck with GEMB

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:05:59 GMT

They denied me for a Chevron gas card, the reason.... not enough credit. WTF? I thought that would be a good thing.

Re: Pushed My Luck with GEMB

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:52:32 GMT

@laz98 wrote:
@Anonymous HA! After reading on Who Gave Me Credit, I thought I would apply for a Lenscrafters card, to offset the cost of my @#$^ expensive glasses...I got the message of death: We are unable to provide you with a decision at this time. I was so sure I would get it! But maybe not.

If they had approved you, you'd probably have gotten a $50 CL and you'd have to buy your frames first...and then your lenses...one at a time.

GEMB is all sorts of messed up and crazy.

Re: Pushed My Luck with GEMB

laz98 — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:54:38 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

If they had approved you, you'd probably have gotten a $50 CL and you'd have to buy your frames first...and then your lenses...one at a time.

GEMB is all sorts of messed up and crazy.

why do you say that, about the CL? because of my scores?

Re: Pushed My Luck with GEMB

wmarat — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:00:24 GMT

GEMB is known by very low starting CL and stingy CLI.

@laz98 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:

If they had approved you, you'd probably have gotten a $50 CL and you'd have to buy your frames first...and then your lenses...one at a time.

GEMB is all sorts of messed up and crazy.
why do you say that, about the CL? because of my scores?

Re: Pushed My Luck with GEMB

Miner — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:53:12 GMT

Years ago, I opened a GEMB/JCPenny account to get a 10% discount off a $258 leather jacket. When I got the 1st statement and the card, they only gave me a $200 limit though I had spent $258 on it when I opened it. That still doesn't make sense to me. My 2 CCs all had ~$10k CL at the time. So that $200 store card has sat gathering dust for years and yet is still active as they updated my reports as current as recently as last month. Never got a CLI, but I never used it again either.

So yeah, while I doubt a $50 limit, I suspect they wouldn't have given you much higher.

Re: Pushed My Luck with GEMB

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:50:56 GMT

Call JCPenney and ask for a CLI. They will give one every four months like clockwork, if you ask. I got a $200 CL and called from the store while making my first purchase - they raised my CL to $1000, no questions asked. Bet they would give you an ever bigger CL, with your scores.

Re: Pushed My Luck with GEMB

wmarat — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:31:42 GMT

It is not accurate. I have not been able to get CLI on JCP card for last 11 months, though got CLI's on 2 other GEMB accounts.

@Anonymous wrote:
Call JCPenney and ask for a CLI. They will give one every four months like clockwork, if you ask. I got a $200 CL and called from the store while making my first purchase - they raised my CL to $1000, no questions asked. Bet they would give you an ever bigger CL, with your scores.

Re: Pushed My Luck with GEMB

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:11:42 GMT

Did you hit the LUV button on their website? This works for me on Walmart and Dillards every 4 months, and they're both GEMB.

Re: Pushed My Luck with GEMB

Miner — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:27:32 GMT

Well, I just signed up for their online account service and tried their luv button and I was rejected. Will find out the reason in the mail. I guess I won't be dusting the card off just yet.

Re: Pushed My Luck with GEMB

wmarat — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:10:47 GMT

I've tried luv button, automatic phone system, CSR, no CLI for me.

Well, I started using my Macy's Visa at JCP.

@Anonymous wrote:
Did you hit the LUV button on their website? This works for me on Walmart and Dillards every 4 months, and they're both GEMB.

Re: Pushed My Luck with GEMB

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:45:14 GMT

Someone said GEMB was extra conservative the end of 2008....not sure I didn't apply for any card then.

But, this month I applied for Rooms to Go and was instant approved $6500. I also applied Care Credit and was instant approved for $12,500. Obviously I haven't asked for any CLI's (not sure that I would ever want to do anything more than those numbers), but it has been rumored that GEMB has loosened up a bit.

True, my scores are pretty good, but I had 6 new accounts (within past 90 days all showing) prior to app'ing for either.

Re: Pushed My Luck with GEMB

wndrwmn78 — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:05:22 GMT

@laz98 wrote:
@Anonymous HA! After reading on Who Gave Me Credit, I thought I would apply for a Lenscrafters card, to offset the cost of my @#$^ expensive glasses...I got the message of death: We are unable to provide you with a decision at this time. I was so sure I would get it! But maybe not.

Yesterday I applied for an Ultra Diamonds card (got it!) & earlier today I decided to apply for the Care Credit card so that maybe I can FINALLY get some stupid braces (got it!). But I guess the third time's the charm for GEMB! I will call for a recon tomorrow. Wish me luck!

What CL did you get for Care Credit? That may be one I need to apply for soon...

Re: Pushed My Luck with GEMB

laz98 — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 03:07:30 GMT

$5000. but my scores were lower than they are now. at any rate, gemb closed my account because i never used it. **bleep** it!

Re: Pushed My Luck with GEMB

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:07:25 GMT

@laz98 wrote:
$5000. but my scores were lower than they are now. at any rate, gemb closed my account because i never used it. **bleep** it!

Good to know.

Re: Pushed My Luck with GEMB

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:34:57 GMT

GEMB must luv me! I got approved for Belk and JCPenney in the past couple of weeks...and i'm starting to build credit again. I also got a flyer for the JCP Optical, but after my mom got her last pair of glasses at JCP Optical, I really want to go to LensCrafters or Eyeglass World (the place I have been to for the past 8-10 yrs) because her frames and lenses are of poor quality. Heh. I'll just wait nine more months for another GEMB card and it will most likely be Dillard's since they have good deals every February and September on clothes and every December 26th on after-Christmas specials. Maybe Target since they aren't GEMB but pretty easy to get a $200 CL.

I am eyeing some button down shirts though....and some stuff at CVS or Rite Aid, so I'll probably use the JCP more than I would Belk.

Re: Pushed My Luck with GEMB

fishbjc — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:06:00 GMT

DH applied for Care Credit when his scores were bad...got $1500. Use it at the vet, just about it. Had it for one year, I should have him call for cli. Scores up 70 pts since last yr.

GEMB cld my Dillard's from $2100 to $100 for non-use.

CLD Walmart by $105

cli @ JCPenney

Re: Pushed My Luck with GEMB

Anonymous — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:48:24 GMT

@fishbjc wrote:
DH applied for Care Credit when his scores were bad...got $1500. Use it at the vet, just about it. Had it for one year, I should have him call for cli. Scores up 70 pts since last yr.

GEMB cld my Dillard's from $2100 to $100 for non-use.

CLD Walmart by $105

@cli @ JCPenney

Just an FYI: When I app'ed Care Credit on the 15th, I was approved for $12.5k.

The approval confirmation page also said, "After 48 hours you may also contact our 24 hour automated response system to request an increase..."

So this morning just for kicks I called in and asked for $1500 CLI.

Got transferred to a CSR. She confirmed my request....found that I had another GEMB account (Rooms to Go $6500), confirmed that account, then typed for several minuted (often apologizing for the delay), then came back and said, "congratulations, your new Credit Limit is $14,000 and is immediately available! Is there anything else I can assist you with?"

I told her no, thanked her for her time.

So, new update: App'ed Rooms to go, got $6.5k instant approval. 4 weeks later app'ed Care Credit for $12.5k and got instant approval. 48 hours later I asked for Care Credit CLI of $1500, approved by CSR - new CL $14k.

Not sure exactly why GEMB loves me so much. My wife app'ed Care Credit yesterday (has FICO 752, no baddies, perfect pay history, 12 year file, 4 year AAoA, 6 figure income) and they DECLINED her for any amount.

The only thing I can think of for DW is that she has had a PayPal Credit account for a couple years, which when she got that account she had derogs on her CR and we were still rebuilding. Her CL on paypal is just $300. So I think her history with them having a low CL previous account and maybe they keep some CR info over time????

I did not have any GEMB accounts or inquiries till now when my credit was perfect, high ficos, many reported high CL's.

Message Edited by txjohn on 07-18-2009 08:48 AM