1) In fairness...we all know the the Vantage score is NOT a Fico score, so ppl kinda need to 'get over' it.
They are offering a Free soda and the Free soda ain't Coke it's the store brand.....don't like it, fine don't stand in line to get the FREE drink then whine that it ain't 'real' Coke!
Also, the OP clearly said that the Vantage score was one that had been obtained AFTER a disputed file, that was yet to affect his Fico, so the difference was closer to 50 points not 100......either Coke isn't Pepsi and McDonald's isn't Wendy's, if you wantthe 'real' one pay for it. Otherwise use the store brand for EDUCTIONAL purposes, just like it says, period.
2) For the OP
You said you
a) Want to prep for a auto purchase ( how far off is that?....Are we talking major buy or a modest used car?)
b) Aren't really looking to 'spend' or actually use credit to buy , just to build a profile ( my favorite)
That being said here are 2 scenarios ( being IMO it's best to 'age' a few accounts TOGEHER vs 'waiting' 6 months to a year with only one file sitting alone on a c/r)
1) If you have zero funds left towards secured accounts ....check the pre-qual sites till you get a green light from someone 'other' than a bottom'feeder type card ( no first prem/surge/credit one etc...) easily Cap-1 should pre-qual you with a few months for an unsecured Plat or a QS1 but check a few sites.
* Also sign up for a Free 'real' monthly Fico from creditscorecard.com by Discover and Exp...it is a legit Fico score based n Exp ( remember the sites purpose is to groom Discover card apps and to sale Exp products but just like CK you don't HAVE TO buy anything)
2) If you do have funds to secure another account...DON'T
Get a secured loan from a CU ($500)
use the loan proceeds to get a secured Discover card (min.$200)
AND
a $300 secured card of your choice (U.S. Bank's Harley Davidson co-brand has no annual fee)
Recap
You'd have on your creport aging together
Cap-1 M/C
$300 Visa
$200 Discover (Free month 'real' T/U Fico...btw)
&
$500 secured loan
That's 3 revolvers and an installment account (juicing your one time payments + credit mix)
Go back n forth using the Visa and Disco (who will consider SP CLI's along the way) to make the small loan payment
1) to show usage on the CC and 2) to 'repay' the loan, thus adding thickness to your file using the same 12 months that are gonna happen either way.
Remember, your GOAL is to BUILD not spend, anyway ...at the end of the term, you would have paid a B.S. amount in % charges (accept no more than 2-3%...which will amount to $15-$25) Plus you'll still have you $500 (remember Disco has $200 and the Visa company has $300....that will be returned to you)
That's building it 
@Anonymous wrote:
1) In fairness...we all know the the Vantage score is NOT a Fico score, so ppl kinda need to 'get over' it.
They are offering a Free soda and the Free soda ain't Coke it's the store brand.....don't like it, fine don't stand in line to get the FREE drink then whine that it ain't 'real' Coke!
Also, the OP clearly said that the Vantage score was one that had been obtained AFTER a disputed file, that was yet to affect his Fico, so the difference was closer to 50 points not 100......either Coke isn't Pepsi and McDonald's isn't Wendy's, if you wantthe 'real' one pay for it. Otherwise use the store brand for EDUCTIONAL purposes, just like it says, period.
2) For the OP
You said you
a) Want to prep for a auto purchase ( how far off is that?....Are we talking major buy or a modest used car?)
b) Aren't really looking to 'spend' or actually use credit to buy , just to build a profile ( my favorite)
That being said here are 2 scenarios ( being IMO it's best to 'age' a few accounts TOGEHER vs 'waiting' 6 months to a year with only one file sitting alone on a c/r)
1) If you have zero funds left towards secured accounts ....check the pre-qual sites till you get a green light from someone 'other' than a bottom'feeder type card ( no first prem/surge/credit one etc...) easily Cap-1 should pre-qual you with a few months for an unsecured Plat or a QS1 but check a few sites.
* Also sign up for a Free 'real' monthly Fico from creditscorecard.com by Discover and Exp...it is a legit Fico score based n Exp ( remember the sites purpose is to groom Discover card apps and to sale Exp products but just like CK you don't HAVE TO buy anything)
2) If you do have funds to secure another account...DON'T
Get a secured loan from a CU ($500)
use the loan proceeds to get a secured Discover card (min.$200)
AND
a $300 secured card of your choice (U.S. Bank's Harley Davidson co-brand has no annual fee)
Recap
You'd have on your creport aging together
Cap-1 M/C
$300 Visa
$200 Discover (Free month 'real' T/U Fico...btw)
&
$500 secured loan
That's 3 revolvers and an installment account (juicing your one time payments + credit mix)
Go back n forth using the Visa and Disco (who will consider SP CLI's along the way) to make the small loan payment
1) to show usage on the CC and 2) to 'repay' the loan, thus adding thickness to your file using the same 12 months that are gonna happen either way.
Remember, your GOAL is to BUILD not spend, anyway ...at the end of the term, you would have paid a B.S. amount in % charges (accept no more than 2-3%...which will amount to $15-$25) Plus you'll still have you $500 (remember Disco has $200 and the Visa company has $300....that will be returned to you)
That's building it
Great advice. Easy to undersand, to the point and educational. This approach and explanation will help the OP who seemed to be trying to understand what next.
True. Ymmv when it comes to the store cards. There may be a higher percentage of people who have an easier time getting higher limits, but it isn't always the case for some.
