@AverageJoesCredit wrote:
Today was a huge wake up call for me with my credit. I wasnt going to share this but i decided it might help out someone in the future so here goes....
Back on the 10th September i was playing around on my Navy accounts by trying to see if i could get an sp cli on my $500 Plat. Figured its around AR time and my reports are locked or frozen. So aped, they try pulling Eq. Nope. Ok, today is actually 15 days since that request, they normally say you have 14days to unlock your reports gor them to complete the request. They do call too.i just went about my merry ways figuring they'll forget. Hmmm.
This morning my alerts go off someone tried to pull TU! What! I notice Navy snd am like ok , but it was locked so. 2 minutes later, bam my Experisn just changed WTFico!, someone pulled my report, yup Navy but says for a loan . I panic and start freezing my Navy cards and call up Navy to see whats up .Fraud??? I had just happened to unfreeze Ex for something and they just dont give up.
Turns out no fraud, yes this was from that Sept 10 request. I really hate that hp right now but i did it to myself. Approved? Nope, another big fat zero. This was and is my wake up call. My last 3 or 4 hps have gotten me nothing but nothing but rejection. Request for cli anywhere , even Sync are being shot down faster than i can print. I know its my debt to income and i own it. Im hitting the brakes and jumping off the credit train for along while. , preferably 2 years minimum. No more sl requests, no more hp requests, only if an emergency came up.
This site is great and addictive as is the chase for the everlasting creditgobstopper. With my scores i see nothing substantial so ive learned in my case scores are meaningless. Becoming debt free, if ever i can on my income, is of utmost importance. Once i can get to 0, i plan on closing all store cards, any high apr cards as well. I find low apr cards are now a worthwhile goal in case of carrying balances which i hope not to do.
Parting shots, be careful with Navy, they want to hard pull so bad that they will literally chase bureaus to get one if you let them . Live within your means for if you let credit run you instead of you running it, you'll end up like me hoping to catch credit crumbs ftom all the big credit cake being eaten.
AJC, I have tremendous respect for you. This is the type of post that everyone should read, since it puts everything into proper perspective.
I find it amazing that I know you have better scores than I do and that you take care of your business, but some lenders don't seem to treat you right. If anyone needs an example of how to handle one's credit, you're it.
No credit news is good credit news!
Thanks Bizarro, as the Ricker would say, for schneeshee
Just to alleviate my full stress the thing i had opened my Experian for turned out to be the final nail lol. Decided to try one last time for the Boa Cash rewards but they are dead set on not giving more than what i have . No cli no new cards. My reports are littered with useless Boa hps and so sept 2018 so dyeth Boa gor me lol. Feels good to come clean. Today begins a new begining. Its raining where i live but i see the sun coming out...
Just to alleviate my full stress the thing i had opened my Experian for turned out to be the final nail lol. Decided to try one last time for the Boa Cash rewards but they are dead set on not giving more than what i have . No cli no new cards. My reports are littered with useless Boa hps and so sept 2018 so dyeth Boa gor me lol. Feels good to come clean. Today begins a new begining. Its raining where i live but i see the sun coming out...
Thanks for sharing your difficult experiences in this credit journey we all venture in AJC! So much more everyone can learn from myself included as supposed to the conquests we all gloriously bask in and post here.
Just hang in there my friend. Keep your head up high! Nothing to be ashamed of. We all go through the ups and downs in this credit world we all passionately live in. Just remember the old adage, “When you’re down, there’s nowhere else to go but up!”... Lastly .. Always..... Stay thirsty my friend.
Thanks JR DOS Crédito X🍺🍻
DOS Crédito X🍺🍻
AJC, this is probably one of the most mature posts I have ever read.
Thanks for sharing this.
Your welcome Creditwarrior Today marks day 2 of No App Aaron
Today marks day 2 of No App Aaron
You’ll bounce back! I know what you mean. This is my rebuilding phase of my life. Two years i picked up what you see in my sig. I’m definitely not applying for cards till I’m close enough to get the sapphire reserve.
I’m just trying to treat my cards like debit cards. If i don’t, having all that credit will get me in a whole bunch of trouble.
I’m just trying to treat my cards like debit cards. If i don’t, having all that credit will get me in a whole bunch of trouble.
@sdsoccerdad wrote:
You’ll bounce back! I know what you mean. This is my rebuilding phase of my life. Two years i picked up what you see in my sig. I’m definitely not applying for cards till I’m close enough to get the sapphire reserve.
I’m just trying to treat my cards like debit cards. If i don’t, having all that credit will get me in a whole bunch of trouble.
Thanks SD You are absolutely right. Credit cards are great but if you arent careful... i look at how fast my debt grew again and im like wtfico. Its good to really set a goal and stick with it. The one good thing we got from all our card portfolios rapid growth is just having a thicker file. If we can get those huge gaps of time no apps our profiles will thank us for itBest of luck on achieving your CSR
Thanks buddy!
@AverageJoesCredit wrote:
Today was a huge wake up call for me with my credit. I wasnt going to share this but i decided it might help out someone in the future so here goes....
[...]
This site is great and addictive as is the chase for the everlasting creditgobstopper. With my scores i see nothing substantial so ive learned in my case scores are meaningless. Becoming debt free, if ever i can on my income, is of utmost importance. Once i can get to 0, i plan on closing all store cards, any high apr cards as well. I find low apr cards are now a worthwhile goal in case of carrying balances which i hope not to do.
[....].
First, thank you for sharing all of your credit journey (the good and the bad).
I am mature enough (I believe) to share that I've spent my entire adult life in debt. I obtained my first credit and starting signing my life away to SL servicers at the ripe age of 18. The real cliff hanger for me occured several years ago when a bank called my employer and I received an email from the secretary saying "so and so bank needs you to contact them". I still cringe at that moment 
At that time, as the majority of my accounts rotted in delinquency, major medical issues occurred at a time where I was severely cash poor. I was not a member of this board but I knew I had to make a change. I started with these 2 decisions:
- Follow an "all cash" mentality and never pay interest on a purchase again
. At first, I paid everything with a debit card (thank you PayPal debit) - Pay myself first and starting saving beyond the standard retirement contribution company max %
In the process, I started to frequent this board and I recognized that I could have a healthy experience with credit cards so as long as I managed my money properly. My rebuild was slow and no where near spectacular as many members on this board but it was more focused based on what made sense for me. I certainly fell victim to a FOTM (Uber Visa 
) but I stuck to my rules-- #1) PIF always and #2) pay yourself before paying someone else.
Then, I started reading about FI/RE (financial independence / retire early) and recognized that I would never make progress if I am sitting in debt, even if it's limited to SLs. I also recognized that my card chasing goals resulted in higher spending despite increasing savings. Like you, I'm going through my next phase of the journey which is more centered on financial stability and the focus on CCs is to simplify the CC portfolio (yet still maximize rewards) and keep my lender count LOW. At least for me, I see a correlation between the risk of debt and a high number of creditors. Owing 10 people $500 or less may not seem a lot on paper but one would look at that different if that debt ($5,000) was on a single card. At least for me, when all charges are concentrated on 1-2 cards, I can ascertain the reasonableness of my spending when the bill to has to be PIF'd 20-25 days out.
IMHO, being debt free is the ultimate goal and will always trump an 800 FICO. I will take having access to 25-50-100K in cash and cash equivalents with a moderate FICO score (670-720) any day of the week.
AJC, you can definitely get out of this slump!! (IMHO) I think your focus will be less about the banks, cards, and CLIs and more about eliminating your debt and maximizing savings/cash reserves relative to your income.
Disclaimer #1 - Yes, higher income in recent years made the transition easier.
Disclaimer #2 - My quality of life suffered but is finally improving. I am blessed I can go to sleep and not be worried about how "x" will be paid or can I afford deductibles. Actually, I spend more time debating if I can simulataneously accelerate my savings goal and SL payoff plan.