Chase Freedom, Should I???

[kshurika]

Okay, I just got a Chase Freedom Unlimited on 12/7 with a $1,000 CL. I was originally declined, but got reconsidered. A few days later, I saw that my Experian score had shot up 74 points to 746, so, I called Chase customer service and got a CLI of 5K. Even though I was going to take a breather for 3 months, now I'm thinking about apping for a Chase Freedom at my branch. (That's better than a cold app, isn't it?)

Here's my data from CTT today:
Ex=746, 6HP
Eq=751, 1HP
TU=686, 1HP

EX and EQ = no baddies
TU = 1 medical baddie (exps 1 yr.) 884$
1 PR (IRS lien = 48.5K)
Both are 6 yrs old.

AAoA = 1.3
UTL=3%
Cap1 Platinum (secured) = 599
Cap1 Platinum = 1,750
CFU = 6K
Annual income = 79K. Same job 18+ yrs.

Can't check pre-qual online, because it says I just acquired a product from Chase (the CFU). Even though Experian lists no baddies, Chase recon rep asked about the 884$ medical baddie that was only on TU. Didn't mention IRS lien, also only on TU. Reason for original decline was short AAoA.

Your thoughts? Don't want to get a decline, or a proof of income. Happy New Year.

[Anonymous]

You may have answered your own question.  The first decline before recon was for short AAoA.

So you got approved, decreased your AAoA even further and now you're going back to the well to revisit the AAoA decline.

Approval is a heck of a drug. The urge is not gonna subside if you get approved again.

[Anonymous]

Given that Chase asked you about baddies not on your EX report, I'm guessing Chase also pulled your TU report.  I wonder if they would double pull you again for the Chase Freedom?

Your EX score is good, but you have a lot of hard inquiries on EX and you just got a Freedom Unlimited card w/ 6K limit.  I have no experience with how much Chase weighs baddies on reports, but I would imagine they might be a bit stricter with you since they've arleady extended credit to you.  

If I were you, I would allow for at least 3 months of positive reporting (maintaining a low overall utilization, not maxing out any cards, and paying on time or in advance of the statement due dates) before applying for the Freedom.  Just my 2 cents though.

[kshurika]

Point taken. I can resist the "drug" effect, just the way I resisted actual drugs (well, after a few years of non-stop fun, that is). I really want to decrease my NTL further and increase my available credit. Next year, in the third quarter I'm buying something very rare and very expensive. I want to use cards to buy it and then BT the cost over to new 0% APR cards with zero balance transfer fees.

[kshurika]

Hi Satisfiedllama:

Yes, they must have looked at TU, but, why no query about the IRS lien? The double pull for the CFU was the original one after my app that was eventually approved; the second one was for boosting my CL by 5K. The Chase rep warned me about that and I had no problem with it.

[EAJuggalo]

I don't think Chase would approve you if you just went to recon for another one.  Give it a few months and you'll probably find Chase will give you an offer for either a Freedom or a CSP.

[kshurika]

Well, that's why I posted this question. I liked the Freedom's 5% categories blending with the CFU's 1.5 across the board. But, I'm looking for advice from people much more experienced in this game. Thanks for the reply.

[Anonymous]

I would work on getting the tax lien removed before trying for anything else. I thought IRS liens no longer met the following rules to report 

1) name, 2) full all digit ssn or dob 3) address

[Anonymous]

Silly question. I have freedom and slate both dating back to 2003. Not going to cancel it since it would not help the aaoa. Wondering if I should try to product change the two cards to anything else chase has to offer. Not sure how the product change process works. Or should I just use then once a year to make sure it is not canceled for inactivity. Thank you.

[kshurika]

Backwoods:

Thanks for the response. The lien's not going anywhere, since I've been in court and in adjudication with the IRS for over 6 years. So far, they've collected exactly $36. They also have grabbed some of my tax refunds - both state and federal - which I couldn't care less about. With the consent decree, both Equifax and Experian took the lien out of my file. TransUnion refused to do so.