Care Credit Application

[Anonymous]

Hello all,

I recently lost over 100 lbs and am looking to get a procedure done (gyno skin removal and tummy tuck).  The total cost of the procedure is about 11k.  I'm looking into getting Care Credit to help finance half of it but the problem is I've had bad credit.  I know I can't fix the past but I'm doing my best moving forward in order to improve my score.   I've also hired a credit repair agency to help me improve my score, and it's gotten better, but I'm wondering what type of score I'll need to get a 5k limit on the initial ask.  My salary is about 80k and I've got $7500 in credit card credit (it's at like 11% utilization) so I'm hoping that will help mitigate my score.  According to Credit Karma I'm about at 650 in both TU and EQ.  I know there are different models and I also have Identity IQ for the repair agency.  Those numbers are:

EX:  683

TU:  646

EQ:  621

My bank (Navy Federal) also provides a FICO score and they have me pegged at 591.

Any advice you guys can shed on how I can improve my score enough and which cards would work best for what I'm trying to do would be massively appreciated.  

Thanks.

[BungalowMo]

First of all....congrats on the weight loss!!  

I know I was in the mid 600's when I got my care credit & I believe I was initially approved for $3k.  Few years later I was considering some major cosmetic dental work & their lady that takes care of their financial end sent in a request for a limit increase (I gave her the ok) & I was instantly approved for $18k. 

I suggest just maybe trying a couple requests for increases on the cards you have, especially if they do soft pulls.  I just went on a major CLI spree & they were all sp's. This can get your limits higher & scores higher too.  Anything to make ya look better in your file.

Then go for the card.  Once you make the doc appt, their office doing the INC request may give you a similar result as I got.

Good luck with this & congrats again on that weight loss!!

[pizza1]

Hi there, and welcome to the forums!!

My first advice to you is.......get rid of the credit repair agency.

Everything you need to know and can learn, is right here on the forums. You can clear up your own reports for free, and not spend hundreds of dollars to an agency who won't do anything for you, and drag it forever so they continue to get your money.

Seriously...lose them.

Next, I would pull all your actual credit reports from the main three...TU, EQ, EX...from their sites. Look them over for any negatives, and then start posting in the rebuilding section on how to fix them. You'll get people helping you.

Also, if you spend some time on these forums just researching, you'll also find lots of helpful information.

Next, Id also pull a 3-B here, and see what your true FICO scores really are....thats the scores that will count on apps.

CK scores are FAKO scores, and not true FICO scores. You will need to know what your fico's are before applying, and Id suggest coming back to forums to update your post, after knowing that. Depending on what they are, we can help advise more.

[BungalowMo]

I already like Pizza's advice better tyhan mine!!   I totally missed addressing the repair agency!!

we now return you to your forum question...already in progress....

[pizza1]

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@BungalowMo wrote:

I already like Pizza's advice better tyhan mine!!   I totally missed addressing the repair agency!!

we now return you to your forum question...already in progress....

---

LOL...you're funny

[BungalowMo]

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@pizza1 wrote:

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@BungalowMo wrote:

I already like Pizza's advice better tyhan mine!!   I totally missed addressing the repair agency!!

we now return you to your forum question...already in progress....

---

LOL...you're funny

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Hey Pizza!!  How've you been??  It's been a while since I've been here on a frequent basis. (apparently a little rusty)  I see a lot of old names still active from the past!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the help guys.

I know you guys don't like credit repair agencies, but they have gotten some items off my report already and are doing a great job.  I'm a bright guy but I hate dealing with mail and credit bureaus and frankly $60 is about 1.5 hours worth of my time and I frankly would rather not have to deal with it at the moment.  Do you guys honestly think that it will take me less than 1.5 hours a month to repair the credit myself?  If it gets to the point where they are no longer getting me any results I will happily go over to the forums and work on it myself but for now I'd rather not get  involved.  My time is fairly limited.

Navy Federal ($5500) is doing an automatic CLI at the 6 month mark (in the next week or so) depending on my track record.  Ive been paying as much of the card off as I can every paycheck (biweekly) since I use it to pay for everything.  It should be paid completely off in August.

My other Credit Union I have no cash in but I do have a monthly bill I pay for on it.  If I ask for a CLI will that be a hard pull?  I'm trying to avoid more hps unless absolutely necessary (like for care credit).

Also, would Care Credit give me more of a limit than say an Amex card.  Because really the Amex blue everyday would be a hell of a lot more useful.

Thanks again guys for your help and suggestions.  I will definitely pull the myfico scores in the next month or so and definitely before I apply.

[BungalowMo]

AMEX would be more usefiul, but...Care Credit gives you 0% int. on things for extended periods of time.  The more expensive, the longer the 0% is extended.

Just a little food for thought....

[pizza1]

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@BungalowMo wrote:

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@pizza1 wrote:

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@BungalowMo wrote:

I already like Pizza's advice better tyhan mine!!   I totally missed addressing the repair agency!!

we now return you to your forum question...already in progress....

---

LOL...you're funny

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Hey Pizza!!  How've you been??  It's been a while since I've been here on a frequent basis. (apparently a little rusty)  I see a lot of old names still active from the past!

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Ive been good!  Still here, lol. Its good to see you, and always good to see peeps from the past 

[Total80sKid]

Congrats on the major weight loss!

I just got a Care Credit card a couple of weeks ago.

I asked for $9k and was approved instantly.

They pulled TU and my score was right around 693.

Good luck!