topic Re: Life Happens in Credit Cards

Life Happens

PandiferBear — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 03:08:54 GMT

Sometimes life happens, and I am glad have gotten myself into a better credit position for it. I am a little angry, because it may throw off my gardening a bit. Gardening used to be hard, but now I love some garden. So I need advice. I need to get some dental work done kind of suddenly (there will be crowns involved - not cheap, even though I have (and happily pay for) excellent insurance)...not much I can do about it at this point. I am torn. My dentist takes CareCredit. Oddly, because I frequent these forums, I m wondering what to do. My current file is a little thin now, since I just started rebuilding almost a year ago. Would i be better to take my QS1 with a $2000 limit to 50% or should I open a CareCredit account (I really don't want the inquiry, but GE likes me)? Any ideas are appreciated, It is an essential cost, and I want to mitigate the damage as much as possible.

Re: Life Happens

tcbofade — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 03:11:31 GMT

I believe that Care Credit often offers zero percent financing for 12, 18, or 24 months... you might want to check in to that, instead of carrying a balance on an interest charging card.

Re: Life Happens

PandiferBear — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 03:13:19 GMT

@tcbofade wrote:
I believe that Care Credit often offers zero percent financing for 12, 18, or 24 months... you might want to check in to that, instead of carrying a balance on an interest charging card.

This is so what I am feeling, but I hate to hurt my AAoA. Thank you for your input. This is my thought, too.

Re: Life Happens

joltdude — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 03:15:58 GMT

Check the fakos and perhaps pick one of the CRAs and get a real score and take it from there?... Might be worth getting another card (prime) unless your trying to get one of the 0% offers because anything involving Carecredit is a hard pull, including CLIs ... Esp if youve been gardening for a year.. you should be eligible for a prime card with a decent rate that may be a better deal, and with a higher limit you might not have quite as high utilization... Even getting CC, you probably want a card with a higher limit so if something like this happens again, you wont be using half of your avalible limit on that one card... And your probably eligible for much higher limits now esp with the gardening..

Re: Life Happens

PandiferBear — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 03:15:35 GMT

Oh, also, my QS1 has no interest until January. Part of my dilemma.

Re: Life Happens

Themanwhocan — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 03:15:50 GMT

From a credit building standpoint, you might consider getting an installment loan from your bank. It might help the diversity of the credit types that appear on your reports.

Re: Life Happens

PandiferBear — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 03:23:44 GMT

I have old/currently paid student loans for my installment loans. Current TU is 687 per Waly FICO.

Re: Life Happens

PandiferBear — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 02:48:30 GMT

Okay, so I am going to apply for this pretty soon. I am going to wait until a couple of statements post. I just wanted to see if I should aim high or aim for what I need. Does the online system counter these days? I would prefer to get $4000, since I would like anything I use to not hurt my utilization too bad. But I do not know if I should ask for closer to what I want for the work (maybe $2000) or even higher than the $4000 I would prefer in order to see what I would be approved for. Either way, I will obviously be paying off within the deferred interest period to avoid the shellshock of that interest rate kicking in. I have looked at credit pulls and similar sites, and hopefully I will be good. *knocks on wood*

Re: Life Happens

gdale6 — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 02:59:45 GMT

@PandiferBear wrote:
Okay, so I am going to apply for this pretty soon. I am going to wait until a couple of statements post. I just wanted to see if I should aim high or aim for what I need. Does the online system counter these days? I would prefer to get $4000, since I would like anything I use to not hurt my utilization too bad. But I do not know if I should ask for closer to what I want for the work (maybe $2000) or even higher than the $4000 I would prefer in order to see what I would be approved for. Either way, I will obviously be paying off within the deferred interest period to avoid the shellshock of that interest rate kicking in. I have looked at credit pulls and similar sites, and hopefully I will be good. *knocks on wood*

I have read that apping in your dentists office and have them request the limit is more apt to go through than a cold app online.

Re: Life Happens

PandiferBear — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 03:09:38 GMT

Thanks for the advice. I may do that. I would so rather app at home, but I can do that if need be.

Re: Life Happens

TRC_WA — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 05:16:33 GMT

@PandiferBear wrote:
Okay, so I am going to apply for this pretty soon. I am going to wait until a couple of statements post. I just wanted to see if I should aim high or aim for what I need. Does the online system counter these days? I would prefer to get $4000, since I would like anything I use to not hurt my utilization too bad. But I do not know if I should ask for closer to what I want for the work (maybe $2000) or even higher than the $4000 I would prefer in order to see what I would be approved for. Either way, I will obviously be paying off within the deferred interest period to avoid the shellshock of that interest rate kicking in. I have looked at credit pulls and similar sites, and hopefully I will be good. *knocks on wood*

I got my Care Credit card almost a year ago... when I apped the question was "How much do you need for your services?" I put in $7500 and was approved... roughly 5 months out of my BK13 discharge.

My high balance on the card has been $300 which has been dog medicine at the vet's office and a minor procedure I had done at the dermatologist that included 0% financing.

The account helps the utilization and I have it should I have major expenses in the future.

So... don't be afraid to apply yourself and put in a high number when you do.

Re: Life Happens

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 05:22:49 GMT

@PandiferBear wrote:
@tcbofade wrote:
I believe that Care Credit often offers zero percent financing for 12, 18, or 24 months... you might want to check in to that, instead of carrying a balance on an interest charging card.
This is so what I am feeling, but I hate to hurt my AAoA. Thank you for your input. This is my thought, too.

In the end that it what credit scores are for, so you can get credit when you need it. This sounds like a potential time to use it.

Re: Life Happens

Kenny — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 10:45:27 GMT

@PandiferBear wrote:
Oh, also, my QS1 has no interest until January. Part of my dilemma.

Can you pay it off before January? Some decisions you just have to make because you know you can pay the items off before your 0% period is out. If you can don't app for something new.

Re: Life Happens

Kenny — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 10:46:57 GMT

If you are going to app go big --- put a large enough number out there that it will be worth it aka 7.5k or 10k like another poster stated.

Good luck!

Re: Life Happens

coldnmn — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 10:54:20 GMT

@KennyRS wrote:
If you are going to app go big --- put a large enough number out there that it will be worth it aka 7.5k or 10k like another poster stated.

Good luck!

+1 Shoot for the moon! When I got mine at the time my highest CL was $500 and asked for and approved for $5k from CareCredit. I wish I had asked for more and had them counter. I had 3 or 4 lates and a paid state tax lien at the time.

Re: Life Happens

Kenny — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 10:56:16 GMT

@coldnmn wrote:
@KennyRS wrote:
If you are going to app go big --- put a large enough number out there that it will be worth it aka 7.5k or 10k like another poster stated.

Good luck!
+1 Shoot for the moon! When I got mine at the time my highest CL was $500 and asked for and approved for $5k from CareCredit. I wish I had asked for more and had them counter. I had 3 or 4 lates and a paid state tax lien at the time.

Dang with that said ask for 10k for sure whatever number you think you won't have to ask again! haha Thanks for that addition cold. If I ever need this CareCredit, sure is good info to know.

Re: Life Happens

PandiferBear — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 14:50:18 GMT

Wow. Thanks for all the additional input! I will apply for higher and hope to get it, or at least a counter. Can I assume the online system will counter? My highest CL right now is $2000, so asking for a much higher amount is kind of nerve-wracking. Hopefully all will go well. I am waiting for a couple of things to update, so I can get the best results. I will be apping sometime mid-Aug, since the appointment is not until then, and I can get things looking better by then. RIght now I have all cards at $0, except two that are at ~20% and ~27% utilization, so I want to get those down a little. Thanks again for all the encouragement. I will update the results when I get them. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Re: Life Happens

coldnmn — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 15:12:50 GMT

@PandiferBear wrote:
Wow. Thanks for all the additional input! I will apply for higher and hope to get it, or at least a counter. Can I assume the online system will counter? My highest CL right now is $2000, so asking for a much higher amount is kind of nerve-wracking. Hopefully all will go well. I am waiting for a couple of things to update, so I can get the best results. I will be apping sometime mid-Aug, since the appointment is not until then, and I can get things looking better by then. RIght now I have all cards at $0, except two that are at ~20% and ~27% utilization, so I want to get those down a little. Thanks again for all the encouragement. I will update the results when I get them. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

I did mine online and thought I was shooting for the moon asking for $5k and yes they will counter! Good Luck!

Re: Life Happens

PandiferBear — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 16:01:59 GMT

@coldnmn wrote:
@PandiferBear wrote:
Wow. Thanks for all the additional input! I will apply for higher and hope to get it, or at least a counter. Can I assume the online system will counter? My highest CL right now is $2000, so asking for a much higher amount is kind of nerve-wracking. Hopefully all will go well. I am waiting for a couple of things to update, so I can get the best results. I will be apping sometime mid-Aug, since the appointment is not until then, and I can get things looking better by then. RIght now I have all cards at $0, except two that are at ~20% and ~27% utilization, so I want to get those down a little. Thanks again for all the encouragement. I will update the results when I get them. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
I did mine online and thought I was shooting for the moon asking for $5k and yes they will counter! Good Luck!

Thanks Cold! Good to know. Makes me a little less skittish about aiming high.

Re: Life Happens

TRC_WA — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 20:24:26 GMT

They never countered for me...

When I apped last fall my highest limit card was a $1000 CapOne.

I asked for $7500 and was instantly approved online.

As said in my earlier post my high balance has only reached $300, but it's nice to know that I have the CL should I need it in the future... and I don't ever have to ask for a CLI which is another good thing because GE is a PITA and Care Credit is a HP if you request a CLI.

So aim high and hope for the best when you apply.