Mini App-Spree

[puckster23]

Hi

Long time reader first time poster.  I'm looking to go on a Mini-App Spree and was hoping to get some help on which cards to get/which order to get them.  At this time I am looking to get cards that allow you to gain rewards for travel, etc.  First let me tell you a bit of my story first.  I signed up with My Fico last October and at that time these were my scores and my Credit Utilazation.

Equifax - 740, TU - 709 Experian - 706

CU - Equifax - 49%, TU - 61%, Experian 61%

I had 4 Cards of my own and 1 AU for a total of 5.

Amex - 13,800 CL

Barclay Apple - 3100 CL

Capital One Sony - 3000 CL

Chase Freedom 8500 CL

Discover (AU) - 11,000 CL

As you can see other then the Discover, the other 4 were close to being Maxed out.  I am saved by the Amex, which had just gave me a CLI which is why Equifax is lower in Utiliatizion at that time.

At the end of October I obtained a Chase Slate card and was able to get 8500 CL while knocking the Freedom to 1500, after my Mom helped me by paying that off.  I then transfered to Slate (Amounts from the other 3 cards.)  I also, probably was a mistake, closed the Barclay Card.  While I couldn't transfer all my debt to the Slate, I tried to obtain a Discover Card in Jan but was denied.  I was also denied another Visa card.  So at that time I decided to keep paying off the Chase.  Now as of Aug 11th, I basically have just under 10,000 in debt.  5000 on the Chase and 4600 on the Amex.  I am going to stay in the Garden and hopefully pay them off or close to it through Jan of next year, when the 0% of the Slate runs out.  These are my scores now and CU %.

Equifax - 704 - 30%

TU - 715 - 30%

Experian 699 40%

Experian is higher as for some reason they don't count my Discover.  Either they don't count AU accounts or Discover doesn't report to them.  Not sure why they don't count it. It is another reason why I want to get a few more credit cards.  Also by next week Capital One and Chase cards will report and my debt should fall under $10,000 and CU should fall under 30%.  I'm hoping by January I can get my CU to under 10% or close to it.  Which would lead me to obtaining new cards.  These are the ones I am looking at.

Chase Sapphire

Amex Everyday

Capital One Venture One

ANy other cards besides these 3 you can reccomend I'd appreciate it.  I may need another card to have 0% balance transfer after the Chase Slate runs out, in case I still am in debt.  However I can see the light at the end of the tunnel where that comes from, compared to last October. What almost a year makes.  Anyway I appreciate anybody's help in guiding me through the app spree.  Thanks for listening and I look forward to reading your advice.

[Anonymous]

What i would do...

Chase has a 5 card/24 month rule for their "Ultimate Rewards" cards.  If you have less than 5 new cards in the last 24 months, i would get the CSP.  Focus on paying down the Chase Freedom to 9%, get your credit sore a little higher, then apply.  High 600's/low 700's is borderline for CSP, just a little higher and you should be golden.  You want to put yourself in the best position for approval instead of applying while you're still on the low end credit score wise for approvals and risk getting a HP and decline.

Then i would get a Capital One Venture, DCU Platinum, NASA FCU, or other generally high/generous credit limit card for utilization purposes.

[Anonymous]

First and foremost, do the NFCU fist before any other card.  They are very generous and have been good to their customers.  As the above poster stated, Chase is now very stern to the rule of 5 new accounts but they have not completely adhered to it so you may get lucky if you can spare a hardpull.

But do apply for the NFCU card.

[puckster23]

Thanks for the suggestions.  I will do that come February after my 0% runs out on Chase Slate and I will have CU of less then 10.  I am staying in the Garden as of now.  Not worrying at the moment on my scores, just on my CU.

As for my accounts I have, here is when they were opened.

Amex Blue Cash Preferred - 2009

Capital One Sony - 2011

Chase Freedom - 2011

Barclay Apple - 2012 - Now Closed

Chase Slate - 2014 0% runs out Jan 13,2016

[puckster23]

Thanks for your advice.  I plan on following it once I decide to get out of the garden in January/February.

[Anonymous]

all depends on how you spend your money.... if you are gonna app with amex, just know that you can app for 1 charge card and 1 credit card. Got some nice bonuses on the prg charge card right now 50k points after 1k spend. Then keep em on your Everyday cuz its no annual fee...

do you travel a lot, shop online a lot, dine out a lot, how do you spend your money?

[puckster23]

I dine out some.  Already have Cash back with the AMEX BCP card.  With these new cards I would want to get rewards to use for travel mostly.