topic Re: Credit card advice and recommendations in Credit Cards

Credit card advice and recommendations

Fireman613 — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 00:08:25 GMT

Hey community, I've been working hard to get my scores up. I'm shopping for a new card at the moment to try and help my scores and keep my utilization lower.

My current cards are

Amex everyday preferred since 2015

They just increased my limit a couple months ago from 2800 to 5800, currently I keep about 1500 on the card

Chase freedom since 2016

They just increased my limit from 2000 to 5000 hasnt hit my credit yet, I keep about 500 on it

Best buy store card since a few months ago

2000 limit I had 500 on it now I'm down to 300, going to keep 100 or so on it from time to time

Discover it just approved me the other day for 12k hasnt arrived yet

I'm an authorized user on my fathers

Home depot since 2017

Limit is now 9000 they keep increasing it, I have 5k on it I'm gonna pay down

Lowes store card since 2017

Was 1200 they just increased it to 4500 I keep between 200 and 600 on it. I have 12 late payments from 2017 and 2018 10 on my ally auto loan which was closed in 2019 paid in full, 1 with amex and 1 with chase from 2017. I had a charge off with capitol one and boa from 2015 which were removed from my credit, capitol one I settled with the collections, boa fell off I never paid it. I will be tho since it's only 400 and I'd like to rebuild my relationship with them in the future. Capitol one I'm blacklisted still. My scores are

Credit karma

Trans 741

Equifax 738

Experian app 678

Chase credit journey experian 738

I was thinking of trying for the Chase sapphire preferred, build a relationship with that card to hopefully upgrade to the reserve. I was also thinking possibly another amex, they sent me a pre approved offer for the gold business card. Or I can just wait and maintain what I have. Higher credit limits will help me in the future with my business so it is a priority for me to get to higher limits across all mu cards. I don't want to hold high balances on any, my idea keep low balances and use each one monthly for small amounts. Just to add, I don't know how I feel about getting a charge with amex just yet and if I'm ready for something like that. I also don't want to apply for the Chase sapphire if my odds are low. If the community can chime in on what my odds would be that would be great.

Re: Credit card advice and recommendations

swankytiger — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 00:56:54 GMT

Dont add any cards till you have 0 balance left and stop carrying a balance, let stuff post to the statement but then pay it off immediatly. Chase credit journey should have cards under offers if you are eligible.

you are carrying $8k in balance on $17300 worth of limit pre discover card so 46% utilization before the discover card. You are at 27ish% utilization with the discover card.

Re: Credit card advice and recommendations

sznthescore — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 02:30:25 GMT

Carrying a balance defeats the purpose. Your disposable income is your true credit limit to PIF each month and reap any available benefits from using a card.

what's buying power from credit cards if you can't repay in full? Expensive debt.

Re: Credit card advice and recommendations

Fireman613 — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 02:46:09 GMT

I'm only carrying balances to show use, I make multiple payments a month towards the Chase and the amex as I use them for my personal expenses. The lowes I carry a small balance I have no issues paying the card to zero. Thought having a zero balance or not using a card is also bad and can cause the creditor to close the account. My best buy card a 0% intrest so I'm not worried about the small balance on the card. The only one I was keeping a high balance on was the hd which I can pay down to zero and will do so.

Re: Credit card advice and recommendations

NoMoreE46 — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 03:18:48 GMT

Issuers know your usage even if it gets reported as $0. No, they won't close it just because it happens to report $0. Yes, inquirors that pull your reports see the $0 reported and MAY infer you are not using that line but cannot know for sure I believe. (PS, My wife hasn't used her open Amex and BofA card in like 7 years.)

Also a creditor can terminate your account even if your balance is not Zero.

@Fireman613 wrote:
I'm only carrying balances to show use, I make multiple payments a month towards the Chase and the amex as I use them for my personal expenses. The lowes I carry a small balance I have no issues paying the card to zero. Thought having a zero balance or not using a card is also bad and can cause the creditor to close the account. My best buy card a 0% intrest so I'm not worried about the small balance on the card. The only one I was keeping a high balance on was the hd which I can pay down to zero and will do so.

Re: Credit card advice and recommendations

SouthJamaica — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 04:19:08 GMT

@Fireman613 wrote:
Hey community, I've been working hard to get my scores up. I'm shopping for a new card at the moment to try and help my scores and keep my utilization lower.
My current cards are
Amex everyday preferred since 2015
They just increased my limit a couple months ago from 2800 to 5800, currently I keep about 1500 on the card
Chase freedom since 2016
They just increased my limit from 2000 to 5000 hasnt hit my credit yet, I keep about 500 on it
Best buy store card since a few months ago
2000 limit I had 500 on it now I'm down to 300, going to keep 100 or so on it from time to time
Discover it just approved me the other day for 12k hasnt arrived yet
I'm an authorized user on my fathers
Home depot since 2017
Limit is now 9000 they keep increasing it, I have 5k on it I'm gonna pay down
Lowes store card since 2017
Was 1200 they just increased it to 4500 I keep between 200 and 600 on it. I have 12 late payments from 2017 and 2018 10 on my ally auto loan which was closed in 2019 paid in full, 1 with amex and 1 with chase from 2017. I had a charge off with capitol one and boa from 2015 which were removed from my credit, capitol one I settled with the collections, boa fell off I never paid it. I will be tho since it's only 400 and I'd like to rebuild my relationship with them in the future. Capitol one I'm blacklisted still. My scores are
Credit karma
Trans 741
Equifax 738
Experian app 678
Chase credit journey experian 738
I was thinking of trying for the Chase sapphire preferred, build a relationship with that card to hopefully upgrade to the reserve. I was also thinking possibly another amex, they sent me a pre approved offer for the gold business card. Or I can just wait and maintain what I have. Higher credit limits will help me in the future with my business so it is a priority for me to get to higher limits across all mu cards. I don't want to hold high balances on any, my idea keep low balances and use each one monthly for small amounts. Just to add, I don't know how I feel about getting a charge with amex just yet and if I'm ready for something like that. I also don't want to apply for the Chase sapphire if my odds are low. If the community can chime in on what my odds would be that would be great.

Welcome to the forum.

Adding a card won't raise your scores, it will lower them.

The Chase Sapphire is tough.

If you want something for your business, apply for a business card. E.g. Amex Blue Business Cash.

Re: Credit card advice and recommendations

SouthJamaica — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 04:20:10 GMT

@Fireman613 wrote:
I'm only carrying balances to show use, I make multiple payments a month towards the Chase and the amex as I use them for my personal expenses. The lowes I carry a small balance I have no issues paying the card to zero. Thought having a zero balance or not using a card is also bad and can cause the creditor to close the account. My best buy card a 0% intrest so I'm not worried about the small balance on the card. The only one I was keeping a high balance on was the hd which I can pay down to zero and will do so.

To show use you just have to use it. You don't need to carry a balance.

Re: Credit card advice and recommendations

ptatohed — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 07:24:33 GMT

I will echo what most of the replies before me said. You should not be looking for a new card until you pay down to $0 all your current cards. Stop paying interest charges if you can. Rewards mean nothing if you are going to pay interest. Any reward you may earn gets quickly gobbled up by even just one high rate interest payment. If you need to carry a balance, you should be looking for a low rate card, not a rewards card. GL.