App Spree with data

[lpayton]

I have had a CapitalOne Platinum since 2011, with a current CL of $1450. They will not give me an increase as of today.

Recent apps:

Barclays Apple Rewards: Approved $2,000

BestBuy Visa: Approved $1,000

Walmart Card: Approved $600

Care Credit: Approved $500

Personal Loan: $3500 from SpringLeaf Financial $154/month payment.

I also applied for and was denied (mostly through their pre-approval function so no hard inquiries):

Chase 

Citi 

Discover 

Bank of America

PenFed (hard inquiry/declined on both lowest card and the Promise.  Going to try for Recon tomorrow.)

I plan on keeping utilization extremely low on the newbies - infact some of these I probably wont use much if at all.  

Current scores:

Equifax Fico Score 8: 618

TransUnion Fico Score 8: 621

Experien Fico Score 8: 615

Income $134,000

The ugly: 

Several lates on car payment in last 12 months (GM Financial)

3 collections that are recent (oops) all under $100 - so annoying.  That's what I get for not paying attention close enough to my mail the last year.  

High utilization (almost maxed on the only card I have before the new ones I just got approved for - will be paying it down to 10% soon, and the newbies will drastically reduce overall utilization %)

AAOA 3.5 years

$4K Tax Lien from State on state taxes (in dispute - truly incorrect no BS)

I am hoping that the reduced utilization will offset the several new inquiries and that I will see a bump. 

[lpayton]

Also - 

Before tonight I was on the "opt out" list.  I just took myself off of it.  I am wondering if this is why I got no luck with the pre-approvals I tried?  Does being opted out make it impossible for lenders to offer you a pre-approval before applying?  Curious. 

[Anonymous]

With all of the new derogs you have it will be doubtful you will get a noticeable score increase by lowering your util.

I would lay low and don't app for anything else. With your current scores and new derogs and several lates you will not qualify for anything really good.

If you start loading up with store cards you will only make things worse for yourself in the future. You will be in toy limit hell for a long time.

[lpayton]

yes agreed.  A couple of the collections are erroneous - i need to do some leg work and fax over verifications.  For example one is for a medical bill for an ER visit that my insurance covered, i've called the collection company already and let them know, but they say I have to get verification from the hospital that it was paid.  It infuriates me beyond no end that a billing error on their end is going to cost me time (and until its removed) affect my credit.  Why can't they call their client and verify that it is incorrect? So annoying.  But that is for a different place in the forum.