topic Re: How to Get the Big names CC ??? Amex, Citi, Chase.... in Credit Cards

How to Get the Big names CC ??? Amex, Citi, Chase....

Wanka77 — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 23:47:12 GMT

Hi guys,

I have recently started to work my way into getting revolving credit. I went on a app spree about 3weeks ago and was able to get a few major cc, store cards and a gas card. So far this is what I have:

Walamrt Discv - 3k

Sams store cc - 1k

Omaha Mutual - 1k

Exxon/Mobil Gas card - $500

JCPenny store card - $800

2 Cap One cc - $500 ea

Victoria Secret - $700

I will be in the Garden till 03/2014

I would like to get all of your knowledge on how to get my foot in the door for the big names cc such as American X-press, Chase, Citi etc.... Which cc should I apply for first on each of these institutions and how to work my way up into getting the Elite cc's. It'll be great if any of you have some kind of diagram that guides you into the cc process starting w/ the basic cc all the way to the highest in a chronological order. It will be a great tool to have, specially for people like me that are starting in the little leagues in hopes into getting to the major leagues.

Re: How to Get the Big names CC ??? Amex, Citi, Chase....

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 23:53:16 GMT

There's no one way to do it apply process. You apply for whatever cc you want.

The general guide for amex is that most people will tell you to get your foot in with the green card. But if you can't be bothered you can wait till your scores are up and just apply for whatever you want instead of taking detours along the way. It's really up to u.

For now you are making good progress. Just make sure payments are on time, and pay more the minimum amount. Keep your debt under control, and just let everything age.

In a year you will have a lot more options. Just wait and see what offers there are then decide. No need to put the cart before the horse

Re: How to Get the Big names CC ??? Amex, Citi, Chase....

HiLine — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:05:12 GMT

@Wanka77 wrote:
Hi guys,

I have recently started to work my way into getting revolving credit. I went on a app spree about 3weeks ago and was able to get a few major cc, store cards and a gas card. So far this is what I have:

Walamrt Discv - 3k
Sams store cc - 1k
Omaha Mutual - 1k
Exxon/Mobil Gas card - $500
JCPenny store card - $800
2 Cap One cc - $500 ea
Victoria Secret - $700

I will be in the Garden till 03/2014

I would like to get all of your knowledge on how to get my foot in the door for the big names cc such as American X-press, Chase, Citi etc.... Which cc should I apply for first on each of these institutions and how to work my way up into getting the Elite cc's. It'll be great if any of you have some kind of diagram that guides you into the cc process starting w/ the basic cc all the way to the highest in a chronological order. It will be a great tool to have, specially for people like me that are starting in the little leagues in hopes into getting to the major leagues.

Practically, the only thing you need to know right now is your FICO score. You have a good card portfolio. As long as you maintain these cards and have at least 6 months of credit history and a reasonable annual income you should be able to get your foot in the door with Amex. For Chase, you'd need at least a year. For Citi, probably a year as well.

Re: How to Get the Big names CC ??? Amex, Citi, Chase....

Bay_Area_Joe — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 01:00:51 GMT

Everybody will say the same.

You have enough cards to start building. Don't rush it. I made the mistake early last year, before I found this forum and thought I knew what I was doing. I was dead wrong.

I wasted inquiries, got declines, could not get CLI's. Then I found the forum.

Learn what you can and wait your due time. It does not take but a year of so of responsible credit management and you can really do well.

Re: How to Get the Big names CC ??? Amex, Citi, Chase....

Wanka77 — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 03:58:27 GMT

Thank you guys for all of your advise. I'll be in the garden for the next 24 months until all of my inqs disapear. Then I'll try for the big names and will keep you posted.

Re: How to Get the Big names CC ??? Amex, Citi, Chase....

SnackTrader — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 04:10:29 GMT

Coming from someone who successfully did that this year, it takes time and a commitment to that goal. If you do ANYTHING to jeopardize that goal, you will set yourself back.

I don't think that there's a guide to getting your foot in the door, but generally if you follow the approval threads on here, you can figure out where your profile fits into each lender's mix of cards at that time. Underwriting standards may change, so just pay attention to what is happening when you are ready to come out of the garden. For me, I found another poster who had a nearly IDENTICAL credit and employment profile to mine. We were only a year apart in age, and a few thousand in income, so I pretty much knew that anything he was successful in attaining, I would be as well. He got the BCP at one point, so a month later I applied for the BCP as well. Then from reading these threads, I knew that my profile fit well for the Freedom once I had 6 months of revolving history under my belt, as well as the Citi Forward.

My advice is to not be tempted by all the approval threads, but monitor them from time to time to figure out where you stand. But remember, you need some experience with all these tradelines, so your 12-24 month garden plan is perfect. Good luck on your journey!

Re: How to Get the Big names CC ??? Amex, Citi, Chase....

jamie123 — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 05:12:58 GMT

The prime banks look at your scores and history before deciding to give you credit. They generally want to see scores above 700 and at least one year of demonstrated good credit behavior managing at least 2 credit cards.

They also don't like to see recent credit inquiries and other new credit on your report, so you are in a good spot. Just sit tight, manage what you have for the next year and then apply for 1 credit card from 2 of the following prime banks:

AMEX

CitiBank

Chase

Bank of America

Discover

Wells Fargo

Wait another year and apply for 2 more cards from the prime banks.

Re: How to Get the Big names CC ??? Amex, Citi, Chase....

09Lexie — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 05:16:25 GMT

@ SnackTrader wrote:
Coming from someone who successfully did that this year, it takes time and a commitment to that goal. If you do ANYTHING to jeopardize that goal, you will set yourself back.

I don't think that there's a guide to getting your foot in the door, but generally if you follow the approval threads on here, you can figure out where your profile fits into each lender's mix of cards at that time. Underwriting standards may change, so just pay attention to what is happening when you are ready to come out of the garden. For me, I found another poster who had a nearly IDENTICAL credit and employment profile to mine. We were only a year apart in age, and a few thousand in income, so I pretty much knew that anything he was successful in attaining, I would be as well. He got the BCP at one point, so a month later I applied for the BCP as well. Then from reading these threads, I knew that my profile fit well for the Freedom once I had 6 months of revolving history under my belt, as well as the Citi Forward.

My advice is to not be tempted by all the approval threads, but monitor them from time to time to figure out where you stand. But remember, you need some experience with all these tradelines, so your 12-24 month garden plan is perfect. Good luck on your journey.

Exactly!

Re: How to Get the Big names CC ??? Amex, Citi, Chase....

SnackTrader — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 05:19:54 GMT

The lack of quote capability strikes once again!

Glad you agree, Lexie!

Re: How to Get the Big names CC ??? Amex, Citi, Chase....

bbb3601 — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 12:20:48 GMT

Couldnt agree more. It is hard to do as you see that score creep up! How do I know this......I have a sock drawer full of store cards I havent used in months and never will. Stay strong and you can write your own ticket!!

Re: How to Get the Big names CC ??? Amex, Citi, Chase....

Anonymous — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 13:08:57 GMT

If you had not done so many store applications there is a good chance you could have already had your foot in the door with a major. The reason why I say this is because I see you were approved for the Walmart Discover with a 3000 limit. It takes a good score to get the Discover version and at that high limit as well. If you had simply done a major card first, you could have possibly been approved.

Good luck with your rebuild. I recommend staying away from all these store cards at this point otherwise when you do start getting major cards you're just going to be closing a bunch of low limit store cards you never use.

Re: How to Get the Big names CC ??? Amex, Citi, Chase....

Wanka77 — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 14:07:09 GMT

Excellent Advise !!!! I do really appreciate the time and effort all of you guys took to set me in the right direction. I've also been reading a lot of post in regards to WalMart Discv and their auto CLI. It seems as GECRB is very good at giving good CLI. Do you guys recommend for them to do the auto CLI since it will consider a SP or to start working on increasing my CLI in thsi particular CC to call it myself and try to negociate w/ an anylist. I believe if I call it in, then they would do a HP, right?

Re: How to Get the Big names CC ??? Amex, Citi, Chase....

thom02099 — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 14:47:49 GMT

Best thing you (and anyone else reading these posts) can do...HEED THE ADVICE! Some great advice given here, that's applicable in a variety of situations.

Time is your ally. Use it well.

Re: How to Get the Big names CC ??? Amex, Citi, Chase....

Swapmeet — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 14:54:47 GMT

@Wanka77 wrote:
Excellent Advise !!!! I do really appreciate the time and effort all of you guys took to set me in the right direction. I've also been reading a lot of post in regards to WalMart Discv and their auto CLI. It seems as GECRB is very good at giving good CLI. Do you guys recommend for them to do the auto CLI since it will consider a SP or to start working on increasing my CLI in thsi particular CC to call it myself and try to negociate w/ an anylist. I believe if I call it in, then they would do a HP, right?

It is weird that you have read all of this advice that people have offered you, most of which says that you need to garden and stay away from inquiries -- then immediately start talking about the proposition of picking up a HP by starting to work on increasing your CL and calling in and negotiating with an analyst. Luckily for you, all CLI from GE that you request are SP. Most CLI that you request are going to be a HP. Gardening means avoiding the HP. So garden for a while bro.

Re: How to Get the Big names CC ??? Amex, Citi, Chase....

boomhower — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 15:19:24 GMT

Keep those lines open and in use for 12 months. Keep your UT low, don't open any other accounts, and pay on time. Do that for a year and you can get pretty much any prime card you want.

Re: How to Get the Big names CC ??? Amex, Citi, Chase....

Wanka77 — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 15:33:50 GMT

Swap...

Let me clarify myself, I believe I was misunderstood...... I really don't plan to request any CLI's that would add another inq nor do I intend to contact any analyst in the near future. However, after having read many posts in reference to CLI on open cc, I have read many succesull stories that it's best to call it in (When your 6mos are up) rather then have it done auto. Some people stated that some cards do a HP when you call it in and others specify that they had a SP but a better CLI than an auto. I don't plan in opening new TL in the next 24mos but I do intend to start growing my currents accounts (CL, AAoA ...etc) Sorry for the confusion and once again thank you for all of advise.

Re: How to Get the Big names CC ??? Amex, Citi, Chase....

Swapmeet — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 15:40:37 GMT

I see. You don't really have any power over auto CLI, but especially with GE, there is nothing wrong with both. If you wait for an auto CLI, then call an analyst, you can get both. It all depends on your level of patience.

Re: How to Get the Big names CC ??? Amex, Citi, Chase....

Imua — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 19:05:13 GMT

@HiLine wrote:
@Wanka77 wrote:
Hi guys,

I have recently started to work my way into getting revolving credit. I went on a app spree about 3weeks ago and was able to get a few major cc, store cards and a gas card. So far this is what I have:

Walamrt Discv - 3k
Sams store cc - 1k
Omaha Mutual - 1k
Exxon/Mobil Gas card - $500
JCPenny store card - $800
2 Cap One cc - $500 ea
Victoria Secret - $700

I will be in the Garden till 03/2014

I would like to get all of your knowledge on how to get my foot in the door for the big names cc such as American X-press, Chase, Citi etc.... Which cc should I apply for first on each of these institutions and how to work my way up into getting the Elite cc's. It'll be great if any of you have some kind of diagram that guides you into the cc process starting w/ the basic cc all the way to the highest in a chronological order. It will be a great tool to have, specially for people like me that are starting in the little leagues in hopes into getting to the major leagues.
Practically, the only thing you need to know right now is your FICO score. You have a good card portfolio. As long as you maintain these cards and have at least 6 months of credit history and a reasonable annual income you should be able to get your foot in the door with Amex. For Chase, you'd need at least a year. For Citi, probably a year as well.

ime, having 1 year of credit history before chase will approve is not a hard and fast rule.

i got my chase freedom card (with initial $4.6k CL) after only 6 months of cc history (BofA visa for 6 months, and macy's store/macy's visa for 5 months).

Re: How to Get the Big names CC ??? Amex, Citi, Chase....

rlx01 — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 20:25:37 GMT

Chase might approve at 6 months for Freedom, but Chase will not approve a CSP or an Ink with only 6 months of history, even with ridiculous amounts of income and high limit secured cards.

Might be possible at a branch or whatever if you bank with them.