Fico score 343. How can these be?

[orestrus]

Too bad Discover stopped accepting itins, just before i got my itin;((

[newhis]

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@orestrus wrote:
Newhis, can you please describe your journey ? What you applied for and when? I want to follow your steps to insure success and avoid unnecessary HPs. Thanks a bunch!

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I think I should update my original thread, but here it is:

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/New-in-USA-building-history-strategy/td-p/2930184

In short:

• Got ITIN 02/14, applied for Capital One, denied for no credit history, HP in all 3 bureaus
• 03/14 applied for BofA savings account and asked for Secured credit card, got in with $1,000 limit (EX pull), regular card, then asked to change for rewards
• 03/14 applied for Discover by phone, even talked in Spanish, explained my situation, they asked for some documents, approved but no 0% APR with $1,000 (EQ & TU pull)
• Didn't apply for anything for a while (waiting for FICO score)
• 09/14 FICO score, SP CLI with Discover
• 10/14 J.Crew with shopping card trick (no HP)
• 10/14 went to Amex pre-approval site, they show PRG with 50K points with $1,000 in 3 months, got that offer right there putting ITIN where they asked for SSN, instant approval (EX pull)
• 11/14 asked for early graduation for BofA, got my money back and no CLI, asked for CLI and got one, don't know if there is only 1 or 2 pulls to TU
• 11/14 applied at Chase branch for Freedom ($500/$200 offer) (EX pull) better limit $3,500
• 01/15 applied only for Amex ED, instant approval (EX pull), low limit ($2000) got 3X CLI 15 days later (should be SP). First statement will report the new limit.

My next step is to wait 6 months and try SP CLI (J.Crew & Discover), hoping for auto-cli on BofA and Chase. Then try the 3X CLI again with the ED. Open only a couple of cards that have great sign bonus or cash back, maybe a Chase card to close it down the road and transfer the limit to Freedom. I don't need/want 10+ cards.

[orestrus]

Thank you so much!!! I will save these post and will read it like a Bible , before i memorize everything word for word!)) thanks again!)

[mitchblue]

Good luck Orestrus.

[scorewatcher7]

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@taxi818 wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Actually, my parents started with 800+ credit scores, and with 6 months of missed payments and max out cards, dropped below 450! Then chapter 7 BK dropped it down to 337. Yes 337. So it can happen sadly :/

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Now that is sad. my good friend. has 36 collections. 8 chargeoffs. and about 200 late charges. his score is 554 thats why i thought you can't get that low. he did not have any maxed out cards as they were canceled long ago. i think he has not paid a bill on time in like 10 years. straight degenarate gambler. lol.

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554 with all that negative; pretty impressive actually.