Preparing for App Spree! Need Advice

[Anonymous]

I'm very excited to report that my 6 months in the garden are almost up (one more month!) and I'm trying to prepare for the cards that I want to apply for when I step out.  I've been looking at the Citi Double Cash, Chase Freedom, and BofA Travel Rewards card. The scores in my signature are current, but my problem is my credit history. My secured card will be a year when I apply but my Discover card would only be 6 months making my AAoA only 6 months. 

Also, I know the general advise is to look at the bureaus that the company usually pulls in your area to get an idea of which card to app for first.. but as I do not live in the continental US it is quite difficult for me. I know that Chase pulls TU and Experian as I tried my hand with them 6 months before,  and BofA pulls Equifax as I got denied for their secured card, but I am quite lost when it comes to Citi especially considering this is the one I want most. Any advise onto whether I would be approved with my short credit history and what order I should apply for the cards in. 

Oh, I have 3 pulls each on my EQ and TU and 2 on my EX. 

[twist7d7]

Id start with chase pre quals. I got approved for the CSP with about a year of history I believe. BofA pulled EQ for me last week. What features are you looking for this new card to do?

[Anonymous]

Unless you're planning to get a CSP in the future, the Freedom might be a little redundant with the Discover It card. It's true the categories don't overlap, but I think you can utilize your pull to get something better for general spend (e.g. Double Cash or Sallie Mae) instead of something rotational. 

[Anonymous]

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@twist7d7 wrote:

Id start with chase pre quals. I got approved for the CSP with about a year of history I believe. BofA pulled EQ for me last week. What features are you looking for this new card to do?

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I have attempted numerous chase pre quals but they state that I have opted out of prescreened offers from Chase...even though I didn't. I figured it was my location. I have the same problem with BofA, I can apply for a card but they do not let me try to prequal due to my location. 

I would like a cash back card to use to pay my bills and for everyday spending preferably seperate cards. I am also looking at the travel card as even though we do not take frequent trips, only once per year, some of those trips will take us out of the country and I like the no annual/no foreign transaction fee combination. 

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Unless you're planning to get a CSP in the future, the Freedom might be a little redundant with the Discover It card. It's true the categories don't overlap, but I think you can utilize your pull to get something better for general spend (e.g. Double Cash or Sallie Mae) instead of something rotational. 

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I love the Discover card for online use, but honestly I can barely use it if not through a computer. I've counted 8 places that can take the card so far where I live, and none of them are grocery stores where I spend most money. I would keep the Discover as my online card (that 5% back for QVC is absolutely wonderful) and use the Chase Freedom as a rotational card. Also, my fiance would be an AU and that would pretty much be his 'everyday' card as he complains that he can barely use the Discover. 

I have looked into Sallie Mae and others like the Cash Plus from US Bank and the Quicksilver from Cap 1 but I cannot even apply for them as I live in a US territory. Only the 50 states for those guys. Shame as I really wanted the Barclay Arrival card. 

[Creditaddict]

I would apply Citi, Chase, Bofa

[Anonymous]

Thanks! I'm definitely going to app for Citi first, mainly cause it's the one I want the most. Hopefully they'll pull a different report than Chase or BofA. After this spree I think I'm going back in the garden for about a year. I fear those hard inquiries.