topic Re: How long until I can get a "real" card? in Rebuilding Your Credit

How long until I can get a "real" card?

frankjaeger — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 14:16:20 GMT

I am almost two years post-BK and I still can't get any "real" credit cards other than one Capital One card. My FICO score has improved from ~530 at BK to ~670, but I still keep only getting offers from Credit One and other "no name banks" in the mail for $1500 or something low. Every time I apply for a card online (Chase, Citi, Discover, Apple, etc.) I keep getting the same rejections with the only reason given as "previous BK." I can't even get a store card other than a Target red card with a $250 limit.

Even creditors that werent't burned in my BK won't give me another chance. For example, I had an Amazon store card with an $8k limit pre-BK that was always paid on time and never defaulted on. It was NOT included in my BK, but it was still closed and they still won't let me back two years later. What else should I be doing other than just waiting?

Re: How long until I can get a "real" card?

dragontears — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 15:23:22 GMT

@frankjaeger wrote:
I am almost two years post-BK and I still can't get any "real" credit cards other than one Capital One card. My FICO score has improved from ~530 at BK to ~670, but I still keep only getting offers from Credit One and other "no name banks" in the mail for $1500 or something low. Every time I apply for a card online (Chase, Citi, Discover, Apple, etc.) I keep getting the same rejections with the only reason given as "previous BK." I can't even get a store card other than a Target red card with a $250 limit.

Even creditors that werent't burned in my BK won't give me another chance. For example, I had an Amazon store card with an $8k limit pre-BK that was always paid on time and never defaulted on. It was NOT included in my BK, but it was still closed and they still won't let me back two years later. What else should I be doing other than just waiting?

Forget Chase, Amex and Citi your BK is way too recent for them even when not included in BK.

Who did you include?

Re: How long until I can get a "real" card?

sznthescore — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 15:33:39 GMT

What have you done and/or creditors have you used to rebuild since your BK?

Re: How long until I can get a "real" card?

frankjaeger — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 15:45:24 GMT

@dragontears wrote:
Forget Chase, Amex and Citi your BK is way too recent for them even when not included in BK.
Who did you include?

I had almost every single company discharged. Discover, Citi, Chase, Capital One, Amex, BoA, and Synchrony. So far, Capital One has let me back in with a card, but no one else. Discover won't even give me a secured card.

The only places sending me mail weekly for cards are random ones no one has ever heard of with low lines of credit. "Joe Schmo bank wants to give you $1000 in credit!"

Re: How long until I can get a "real" card?

OmarGB9 — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 15:46:37 GMT

@frankjaeger wrote:
@dragontears wrote:
Forget Chase, Amex and Citi your BK is way too recent for them even when not included in BK.
Who did you include?
I had almost every single company discharged. Discover, Citi, Chase, Capital One, Amex, BoA, and Synchrony. So far, Capital One has let me back in with a card, but no one else. Discover won't even give me a secured card.

Yes almost all the ones you listed hold a grudge. Amex may let you back in after 5 years, 1 month IF you pay them back. Synchrony I believe will let you back in after a year from DC.

Re: How long until I can get a "real" card?

dragontears — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 15:46:53 GMT

@frankjaeger wrote:
@dragontears wrote:
Forget Chase, Amex and Citi your BK is way too recent for them even when not included in BK.
Who did you include?
I had almost every single company discharged. Discover, Citi, Chase, Capital One, Amex, BoA, and Synchrony. So far, Capital One has let me back in with a card, but no one else. Discover won't even give me a secured card.

If you burned all the "real card" lenders then all you can do is wait. Eventually, Discover and Synchrony will approve you again but how long that will be is very YMMV

Re: How long until I can get a "real" card?

frankjaeger — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 15:52:12 GMT

@dragontears wrote:
@frankjaeger wrote:
@dragontears wrote:
Forget Chase, Amex and Citi your BK is way too recent for them even when not included in BK.
Who did you include?
I had almost every single company discharged. Discover, Citi, Chase, Capital One, Amex, BoA, and Synchrony. So far, Capital One has let me back in with a card, but no one else. Discover won't even give me a secured card.
If you burned all the "real card" lenders then all you can do is wait. Eventually, Discover and Synchrony will approve you again but how long that will be is very YMMV

Discover won't even give me a secured card at two years out, so who knows. Does the type of Synchrony store card matter? Like will I have better luck with an Old Navy store card than an Amazon store card or is it all the same?

Re: How long until I can get a "real" card?

OmarGB9 — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 16:04:01 GMT

@frankjaeger wrote:
@dragontears wrote:
@frankjaeger wrote:
@dragontears wrote:
Forget Chase, Amex and Citi your BK is way too recent for them even when not included in BK.
Who did you include?
I had almost every single company discharged. Discover, Citi, Chase, Capital One, Amex, BoA, and Synchrony. So far, Capital One has let me back in with a card, but no one else. Discover won't even give me a secured card.
If you burned all the "real card" lenders then all you can do is wait. Eventually, Discover and Synchrony will approve you again but how long that will be is very YMMV
Discover won't even give me a secured card at two years out, so who knows. Does the type of Synchrony store card matter? Like will I have better luck with an Old Navy store card than an Amazon store card or is it all the same?

It's all the same.

Re: How long until I can get a "real" card?

CYBERSAM — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 17:13:16 GMT

You may want to go after Credit Unions! Open an account and see what you can get after!

Re: How long until I can get a "real" card?

frankjaeger — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 18:09:11 GMT

@CYBERSAM wrote:
You may want to go after Credit Unions! Open an account and see what you can get after!

I burned the biggest/best CU in my area. The rest of them have awful reviews from what I can see.

Re: How long until I can get a "real" card?

MileHigh96 — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 20:07:17 GMT

Try PenFed. I opened a savings account with them 3 months post my BK7 discharge and then, 4 months post discharge, I applied for one of their cards and was approved with a $6K CL. So far they have been awesome to deal with and lots of people love PenFed.

Re: How long until I can get a "real" card?

gdale6 — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 01:48:21 GMT

Hit up FNBO they are BK friendly. DCU is another one who you could probably get in with. If you pay off the CU you burned you can most likely get back in with them.

Re: How long until I can get a "real" card?

CH-7-Mission-Accomplished — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 04:34:58 GMT

@gdale6 wrote:
Hit up FNBO they are BK friendly. DCU is another one who you could probably get in with. If you pay off the CU you burned you can most likely get back in with them.

Is FNBO really BK friendly? I did a recent app spree and got the new VentureX and some more CU cards but when I went to pre-qual with FNBO, all they showed was their secured card. FICO 9s in the 840s, FICO 8s in the 770s. Only $5 on one card with AZEO. Only 2 inqs on each bureau for the last 24 months (this spree, C1 accounts for three of the six). No new revolvers in 24 months. No derogs since BK 8.5 years ago. All baddies off my reports except the BK7. Can others chime in with getting in with FNBO?

Re: How long until I can get a "real" card?

Borealis — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 04:51:12 GMT

@CH-7-Mission-Accomplished wrote:
@gdale6 wrote:
Hit up FNBO they are BK friendly. DCU is another one who you could probably get in with. If you pay off the CU you burned you can most likely get back in with them.
Is FNBO really BK friendly? I did a recent app spree and got the new VentureX and some more CU cards but when I went to pre-qual with FNBO, all they showed was their secured card. FICO 9s in the 840s, FICO 8s in the 770s. Only $5 on one card with AZEO. Only 2 inqs on each bureau for the last 24 months (this spree, C1 accounts for three of the six). No new revolvers in 24 months. No derogs since BK 8.5 years ago. All baddies off my reports except the BK7. Can others chime in with getting in with FNBO?

It's my understanding that FNBO is very sensitive to new accounts, even those acquired after an approval.

Re: How long until I can get a "real" card?

frankjaeger — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 19:28:11 GMT

@MileHigh96 wrote:
Try PenFed. I opened a savings account with them 3 months post my BK7 discharge and then, 4 months post discharge, I applied for one of their cards and was approved with a $6K CL. So far they have been awesome to deal with and lots of people love PenFed.

PenFed is a no-go. Only offered me $1000 two years out from BK.

Maybe I'm being too picky, but I don't really want five or six cards with only $1,000 each on them. So I guess I'll just keep waiting..

Re: How long until I can get a "real" card?

RSX — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 21:37:52 GMT

you might be too picky - $1k isnt that bad as a starting limit - with room to grow

it's the $250-750 that you should pass on

i think you should try again for that one

Re: How long until I can get a "real" card?

kittycreditmeow — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 22:11:26 GMT

Same thing happened to me. I got capital one right after my bankruptcy and Target store card. Whatever you do, don't fall for the sub prime cards to rebuild. It ended up being a huge mess for me with too many annual fees. I did get financed through wayfair for genesis though which has helped my util a lot because it was a higher amount. Other than that, I was in the same boat as you at the two year mark. My BK was flagging their system but I also got denial letters mentioning the amount of inquiries on my report which was around 50 at the time. Lol! So now I'm waiting for all those to fall off amongst other issues. I got declined for NFCU secured as well but that might have been because of other stuff on my report, not just the BK.

Re: How long until I can get a "real" card?

FireMedic1 — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 11:50:02 GMT

@frankjaeger wrote:
@MileHigh96 wrote:
Try PenFed. I opened a savings account with them 3 months post my BK7 discharge and then, 4 months post discharge, I applied for one of their cards and was approved with a $6K CL. So far they have been awesome to deal with and lots of people love PenFed.
PenFed is a no-go. Only offered me $1000 two years out from BK.

Maybe I'm being too picky, but I don't really want five or six cards with only $1,000 each on them. So I guess I'll just keep waiting..

@frankjaeger Go for it. I got cards from 10-17k and I just got PENFED's Power Cash for 2500 and I'm 6 yrs out. You cant be picky as noted. You grab it, use it, ask for CLI's. Your not going to get these days high limit cards 2 yrs out. I was lucky 6 yrs ago when they were in the giving mood. As the Stones sang. You cant always get what you want. Your rebuilding. Have to lay the foundation before the house is built. Or you'll be waiting for a long time.

Re: How long until I can get a "real" card?

Jnbmom — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 11:24:27 GMT

@frankjaeger wrote:
@MileHigh96 wrote:
Try PenFed. I opened a savings account with them 3 months post my BK7 discharge and then, 4 months post discharge, I applied for one of their cards and was approved with a $6K CL. So far they have been awesome to deal with and lots of people love PenFed.
PenFed is a no-go. Only offered me $1000 two years out from BK.

Maybe I'm being too picky, but I don't really want five or six cards with only $1,000 each on them. So I guess I'll just keep waiting..

2 years out of BK yes you shouldn't be that picky. If PF is willing to give you 1K take it . They will grow and give you opportunity to have a chance at their other credit products.

Re: How long until I can get a "real" card?

FireMedic1 — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 11:50:49 GMT

@Jnbmom wrote:
@frankjaeger wrote:
@MileHigh96 wrote:
Try PenFed. I opened a savings account with them 3 months post my BK7 discharge and then, 4 months post discharge, I applied for one of their cards and was approved with a $6K CL. So far they have been awesome to deal with and lots of people love PenFed.
PenFed is a no-go. Only offered me $1000 two years out from BK.

Maybe I'm being too picky, but I don't really want five or six cards with only $1,000 each on them. So I guess I'll just keep waiting..
2 years out of BK yes you shouldn't be that picky. If PF is willing to give you 1K take it . They will grow and give you opportunity to have a chance at their other credit products.

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^