Need help on picking 5th card

[Anonymous]

Hello, 

I currently have 4 cards:

Discover Secured:    June 17  - (The only card I could get)

Chase Unlimited:      Dec 17    - (First real card)

Citi Double Cash:      Feb 18    - (Solid Cash back card)

Amazon Signiture:    May 18  - (I do a ton of shopping on Amazon)

AAoA:                         5.6 months 

Total-CL:                    $8,400

I'm trying to establish a solid 5 card base before entering the garden. I firgure a decent Food/Travel card is the best choice since those are two key components of my spend. I just applied for and was denied (even with recon) the Chase SP. The reason for denial was that my AAoA was too low, everything else was fine. I know I'm up against the 5/24 rule so my next card needs to selected carefully.

So, should I apply for the Uber card or wait 6-8 to grab the CSP? Other solid Travel/Food cards?

Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions! (BTW my first post!)

[FinStar]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Hello, 

I currently have 4 cards:

Discover Secured:    June 17  - (The only card I could get)

Chase Unlimited:      Dec 17    - (First real card)

Citi Double Cash:      Feb 18    - (Solid Cash back card)

Amazon Signiture:    May 18  - (I do a ton of shopping on Amazon)

AAoA:                         5.6 months 

Total-CL:                    $8,400

I'm trying to establish a solid 5 card base before entering the garden. I firgure a decent Food/Travel card is the best choice since those are two key components of my spend. I just applied for and was denied (even with recon) the Chase SP. The reason for denial was that my AAoA was too low, everything else was fine. I know I'm up against the 5/24 rule so my next card needs to selected carefully.

So, should I apply for the Uber card or wait 6-8 to grab the CSP? Other solid Travel/Food cards?

Thanks in advance for any help/suggestions! (BTW my first post!)

---

Hi & welcome to the forums OP!

Unless you absolutely need a 5th card at this point, you can likely do just fine with the 4 listed in your line up.  The Uber card would seem like a decent choice, but then again your short AAoA and "newish" accounts might prove trivial as far as an approval.  The CSP would likely require a previously established history with an account >$5K CL (not always the case but in most instances).

What is your current utilization and FICO scores?  How often do you travel?

[Anonymous]

I'd go with the Uber. It's an excellent dining and travel card. No fee and 4% on dining with 3% on travel can't be beat. Plus no ftfs.

[Anonymous]

My FICO Scores: Transunion - 701, Equifax - 716

Util: 6%

I have 11 inquries because I didn't understanding how credit applications worked (this forum help correct my bad behaviors)

I travel 4-5 times a year, but tend to do many shorter drives that require staying the night or two at a hotel

[FinStar]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

My FICO Scores: Transunion - 701, Equifax - 716

Util: 6%

I have 11 inquries because I didn't understanding how credit applications worked (this forum help correct my bad behaviors)

I travel 4-5 times a year, but tend to do many shorter drives that require staying the night or two at a hotel

---

Are the 11 inquiries on TU or spread out? 

[Anonymous]

I have 11 on TU only, I believe another 3 on Equifax, unsure about the third. Majority of the places I've applied pull from TU =/

[FinStar]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

I have 11 on TU only, I believe another 3 on Equifax, unsure about the third. Majority of the places I've applied pull from TU =/

---

Then I'd say hold off for a while if you're looking at the Uber card.  They typically pull TU.  However, if you want to roll the dice and see how things fare, you're welcome to try.  Sometimes, if declined, they can be flexible with reconsideration requests, but YEMV.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! I think I might enter the garden for a couple months are see how my scores improve! Any last notes on 5/24 cards I should keep in mind?

[rbentley]

You don't give us the time period of you 11 inquires, i.e., how many were in the last 6 months but with your scores, low AAoA and that many inquiries I don't see you getting approved for Uber or any really good card.  You need to garden for more than just a few months.  You need a year since your last inquiry to be "good to go."

As has been said, don't worry about a 5th card yet.  It won't help your scores and you will take a significant hit with the additional inquiry and 20% reduction to your AAoA.  A recent story on CNBC said that the average number of open cards that those with a perfect 850 score had was just 3.  Resist the pressure to get a lot of cards!

[601flyguy]

I think amex would be good for you. Hotel card maybe?
How many of those inq show on experian??