Hi everyone. I wanted to join the community and share my introduction to credit. I don't recommend doing things the way I did and continue to do. That said...
My credit history is 3.5 months old. I have one bad debt for $1200 set to fall off in June. It's on my Equifax report, the others are clean.
My scores in December were TU 0 EQ 584. I obtained a Capital One secured card. After Capital One reported my scores were: TU 666 EQ 698! Well I read in these forums I should wait about 6 months to build my scores before attempting a non secured card with good limits and terms so naturally one month later I started applying. I also read in these forums 3 cards was the magic number to raise credit scores the best. I applied for the Discover it card and was approved for $1000! I was very encouraged so I applied for American Express Blue Cash Everyday (I wish I could've seen the computer's face that got that application) Denied. I thought, well I better apply for one I know I'll get with my awesome new credit scores and applied for Capital One Platinum. Denied. I think I actually thought I would get it based on Credit Karma's advice. That was the same day and February. Anyway, after inquiries & Discover reported my scores were: TU 698 EQ 648. Well EQ sure went down so I figured now I should wait about six months and recover.
Fast forward all the way to March. I applied to Walmart and ended up with the store card for $400. Finally I had my 3rd card and could reap the benefits of a long gardening session. I did however decide to apply to 3 more cards for not sure why. Possibly it was a reaction to the low limit. My disappointing approval was followed by 3 swift denials for Barclaycard, Lowes and Target. After inquiries & Walmart reported my scores were: TU 647 EQ 622. That hurt a bit I'll admit but after what seemed like an eternity of waiting finally April came and I had 3 months of history and my scores were: TU 674 EQ 644 EX+ 721 Well that new Experian plus score I found sure makes you feel like anything is possible.
Rejuvenated from my complete score recovery (in my mind) I thought I would try something fancy I read about in these forums during my extended down time since my last apps, the Chase double app. Going for two cards with one pull was a great idea and I would be stupid not to do it. According to Chase's pre-qualify site, which I read in these forums is very reliable as long as an actual apr is showing and not a variable rate, I was approved for the Slate & Freedom cards. Since my actual goal has always been to get a credit card with a free Fico score from each credit bureau I first went for the Slate card. I was approved for $2000. I tried to apply immediately for the Freedom but the screen kept saying Thank You for your submission for around 10 minutes. Eventually I was able to apply for the Freedom and to my surprise I was told to wait 30 days. That won't kill me at all. I've almost gone that long between apps once so no problem.
I read in these forums not to call Chase but to let it ride for my best chance. I made it a day or two before calling to check on the application status from the robot lady and got the 7-10 day message. Well I've read in these forums enough about the 7-10 day death sentence to know I was done for. Besides by now I've noticed I wait one month between apps and always get approved for the first one and no others. So there it was. All that was left for me to do was apply for Bankamericard Cash Rewards and get denied so I did that. Today is Thursday (I applied for Chase 11:30 pm Friday the 8th) and I got the letter from Chase. Not my Slate card I knew right away. It was a denial dated Friday the 8th for "Too many requests for credit or opened accounts with us". I was so relieved. I could stop calling for the application status and looking at my phone for new email in the middle of the night and rechecking the pre-qualify site.
So, in all seriousness now, I am getting married in June and really could use a sign-up bonus. That's why I went for the Bankamericard not just to see how many inquiries it takes to get to the center of my credit pop. I decided to plot out a script for the recon. I wrote it all out and rehearsed my lines and called a number I saw in another post for this very situation. The lending department answered and I went to work trying to recon with the guise of letting them know I would be using my new Slate card out of state for my wedding. I was trying to work into the conversation that I was originally gonna use the Freedom card to pay not the Slate so I could use the sign up bonus. She stopped me to tell me that wasn't her department and she could transfer me to customer service. I said well the second part I think might be something you could help me with and explained that I made the mistake of applying for the Freedom right after the Slate approval and got a letter saying i was denied for too many requests...She went to work awhile and came back with income questions and asked why my history was so short. I didn't really answer with my answer but started at the beginning with my secured card and knowing I was getting married and was planning on a house in a few years and reading about getting 3 cards and after getting my Slate I was able to close my secured Capital One. She left again and came back with the verdict.
She was very polite by the way. She said the words I didn't want to hear, I'm sorry but...the computer is going really slow please keep holding. Well she killed me for 4 seconds there. After many returns and absences she said those magic words, approved......for $500. I'm actually quite happy with it. It was my first successful recon after all. I've read in these forums I can move limits from one Chase card to another. I was hoping for more sure but It works out in the end and I get my sign-up bonus card. Opening two cards at once should see my biggest score drop yet but my six month history is coming up right after my one bad mark falls off. Hopefully it all balances out. My plan is to garden until October and then apply for the Citi Diamond Preferred card for the EQ Fico score and the 21 month 0% just in time for Black Friday.
EDIT: I realize now this was a bad idea. More inquiries and low limit cards with high APRs is not what I need. I need to garden and try for SP CLIs and APR reductions.
Congrats on all your successes, especially the Freedom recon! 
If I could give you just a little off topic advice; I would break up your post into paragraphs to make it easier for others to read - (that's better 
)
DW got two baddies deleted through EE on her EX and EQ. We went online to the dispute portals, selected the COs to be disputed, selected "other" or something as the reason, then entered the following into the box:
"I am NOT disputing this item. I am requesting early exclusion removal. Please and thank you".
One was deleted before we woke up the following morning. The other one was deleted within 48 hours. They were supposed to age off in August. I believe we did EE removal in Feb or March. I encourage you to do the same for the item falling off in June NOW.
"I am NOT disputing this item. I am requesting early exclusion removal. Please and thank you".
One was deleted before we woke up the following morning. The other one was deleted within 48 hours. They were supposed to age off in August. I believe we did EE removal in Feb or March. I encourage you to do the same for the item falling off in June NOW.
Update: During recon my Equifax report was pulled. My Slate pulled Transunion. I received my Slate in the mail today.
I called and asked for expedited shipping on my Freedom. It was free and takes 2 days. They said it would come UPS.
I also talked to the lending department and asked to have my credit limits switched and they did that.
My Freedom is now the $2000 limit and my Slate is now $500.
When both cards hit my credit reports I will update my Credit Karma scores.
Looking forward to my 6th month when my Fico scores post.
I appreciate all advice BTW. Even using paragraphs on my post was really good advice. It made a big difference.
Also I did call Equifax at the beginning of the month to ask about early exclusion after reading about it on these forums.
I was told they couldn't do it but also that it would fall off June or July.
My fiancee also is rebuilding and has her last non medical collection falling off same time.
Her scores reflect many old collections and student loans.
Her late husband took many many loans out in her name and never paid them.
She recently paid off the last of her student loans and sent a letter asking her balance be reported as zero.
We are anxiously awaiting that along with her six months history and falling collection all at the same time.
We took a very different approach to her credit than mine. Since her scores were in the mid 500's she had no room for error.
She has only a Kohl's card and a secured Capital One. We both PIF every month and keep 1% to 9% balances.
After her six months and everything falls off we will see how her scores look before deciding to further garden or apply for anything.
We know waiting until her scores are 700s along with a year of history will fetch good starting limits and terms.
She has 2 inquiries on TU and EQ. EX same maybe will edit later when I find out.
BTW my inquiries are TU 8 EQ 5 EX 5.
I read on these forums about the reliable pre qualify sites from Amex, Chase and Capital One and looking for the set APR or custom range.
I would prefer if she starts with Discover and then Chase & Amex when pre qualified.
Capital One triple inquiries are hateful so I think she should avoid it if she can.
So far her CK scores are up to 599 & 598. For whatever that's worth being CK.
I assume they are actually mid 500s but who knows.
Nicely done! Keep up the good work! 
Update: Mail just came. Inside was a letter for my fiancee from the student loan. The last part sums it up.
''This notice serves as written verification that you have paid in full the defaulted student aid debt owed
to the Department and payable to the National Payment Center, and that no further payments are due.
The Department has notified the credit bureaus that your defaulted student aid debt is satisfied.
This does not delete the credit line reference but only updates it to show a zero balance,...''
This is exactly 1 month since final payment was made and the letter was sent requesting the current balance be reported.