Exp up to 666, how long before trying for AMEX (again)

[Anonymous]

Hey all,

Got a nice alert from MyFico this morning, both the DWs and my Experian scores jumped 22 points each.  Her Experian is way nicer now at 729 but I'm not going to complain about my "EVIL" 666 score lol, considering I was around 600 in Nov and 541 back in June 2013.  So I stupidly applied for a PRG back on Jan 10th and was instant declined with a 640ish something EXP.  There reasons for declining wasn't too bad at all.  It didn't mention any of my baddies surprisingly in the reason for the decline, but instead listed something like too many new accounts and something else I can't remember...  When it showed my score that's when it listed the negative items in my report hurting my score...

Ok so here's what my EXP looks like, baddies first:

2x American Education Services: 30 day late (3/09), 30 day late (05/09), 60 day late (06/09) (strangely 1 account goes positive in 02/16 and the other 08/16)

4x Sallie Mae: Defaulted Student Loan Accounts - Falls off in May 2016 (should be June 2015)

4x Sallie Mae: Defaulted Student Loan Accounts - Falls off in December 2016 (should be Jan/Feb 2016)

4x US Department of Education Student Loans - Falls off in March 2016 (should be June 2015)

Unpaid Collection: Mid Continental - $281 (refuses PFD) - Falls off in March 2016

Unpaid Collection: Midland Funding - $707 - Falls off in April 2015 (charge off from HSBC credit card which the CC account is reporting all positive lol)

And that's it for the bad, it was way worse not too long ago.  As for the good all of the accounts in my signature, only 1 is reporting a balance.  The Marriott card is reporting at $450/$5000 strategically.  I think my closed nRewards secured card may still be reporting at $1 but that should reupdate back to $0 shortly.  The two AES (private) student loans are reporting a balance, BUT my Total and Permanent Disability Discharge of Sallie Mae/Navient (federal student loans) is 100% completed and those loans are now showing "Paid/Closed/Never Late" with a $0 balance  That update in the balance may also have helped in boosting my score those 22 points too in addition to my LOC updating from 6k to 15k and the Marriot card initally reporting at $450/$5000.

Here's some more helpful info from my Experian report:

5 inquires (Cap 1 06/09/13, Cap 1 06/13/13, Chase 07/02/13, Chase 11/30/14, Amex 01/10/15)

Oldest Account: 14y 5m

AAoA: 5y 11m

So this gardening thing is really hard, I think I made it a whole two weeks before getting the itch again.  I'm AOK in waiting on AMEX if it doesn't look like I'll have decent odds at approval, my thoughts were to wait until July of this year, letting 3 ouf of 5 of those inquires fall off, the Midland collection fall off, and hopefully if I can get some of those DOFDs reporting correctly only have the AES lates and the Mid Cont collection.

If anyone cares to chime in that'd be greatly appreciated, sorry for the long post...

Oz

[Anonymous]

My friend i would not apply again until those collections are removed... Amex is not friendly to those. 

i had one collection and kept getting denied (that same week i was denied i had disputed my collection and they were removed) that same week i called the EO and asked for reconsideration and i was approved for both green and gold. 

hope it helps

[Jerry45]

Gardening is hard, but it really helps your CR and scores. I have been in the garden since Thanksgiving, and FICO scores are rising nicely.

Everytime I see those numbers, I think of Damien. Omen might have been the scariest movie of all time.

[CreditCuriosity]

I had some lates on my Student loans and a few CO's and got in with amex at 660, when I hit 665 and had over a month history got the ED card with 10k limit.. Income might play a role though, who knows in my case..  So ya it is possible with baddies, but it could go either way depending on alot of factors

[Anonymous]

Income is 75k for myself between work and the VA. If I need to list household wife makes another 40k teaching, I usually play it safe and list 100k as HHI... I know with AMEX you don't wanna fudge HHI in case they want W2s or to sign the FR forms...

Oz

[Anonymous]

TU jumped up 7 points today to 650 today (up from 613 in Nov), that'll help out.  The more I think about it my original plan to wait until summer to let some baddies and inquires fall off would be my best bet, unless this advocate from Navient/Sallie Mae is able to come through and get all of my Sallie Mae negative tradelines deleted...

Oz

[CreditCuriosity]

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@Anonymous wrote:

TU jumped up 7 points today to 650 today (up from 613 in Nov), that'll help out.  The more I think about it my original plan to wait until summer to let some baddies and inquires fall off would be my best bet, unless this advocate from Navient/Sallie Mae is able to come through and get all of my Sallie Mae negative tradelines deleted...

Oz

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Had alot of lates of my Navient student loan > 2 years of age and got approved if that helps and they weren't 30/60 days either try 120's... so that is another data point.. They will overlook student loans.  Your income is fine..  use personal not HHI with Amex though.. What is your Utilization at w/regards to Exp?  If you are 666 you are good to go on at least the delta imo, maybe the ED..

[Anonymous]

Only util reporting is Marriott at 450/5000 and the closed nRewards at $1 because interest posted after the card was closed.  Since my last app was for a PRG if I apply for a revolver should I still wait the 30 days?

Oz

[CreditCuriosity]

Honesty people say the charge cards are easier, I dont buy it....  Being the PRG that you got denied for from what I understand.. I applied for the green card what two or three times and gave up then a month later applied the the Delta got a 1k limit, pretty bad.. I was in with them though back dated to 1990 thanks to my parents..  Anyways a month after that 10k on ED approval for 10k...  I am sure I could get the PRG or Plat or Green whatever now that I have a history with amex.  

Long story short iin my opinion wait until 31 days are up since your denial app for the delta, get in with them with a 1k CL the builf it from there..  That is just my experience and we have similar profiles and scores although I make about 30-40k more then you, although I dont think that will be a huge factor... Best or luck, just trying to give you my advice with very similar profiles.

[Anonymous]

Wait? Never heard of her . I definitely didn't thaw Experian last night, app, and get a 14 day message on the Delta card.

I "started a dispute" on Experian just to see if they actually pulled or if I got the 14 day message cause I didn't wait the 30-31 days. They did indeed pull my Exp and atleast it didn't get instant declined. I suppose I'll call on Monday and see what's up.

Oz