Should I apply for more CCs or try more CLIs?

[russum]

This is what I have so far:

• CB/VicSec: $750, 0% util (had one 30days late which was removed yesterday from all reports due to a dispute to TU/EQ which caused a nice jump in scores, no CLI)

• AmEx Blue: $2.6K 0% util (CLD from $3.5K a few years ago, probably due to high overall util, denied in CLI 3 months ago) 

• Discover IT: $2.8K $5.8K, 0% util ($3K CLI shortly after I posted this message)

• US Bank: $3K, 0% util (first CC ever, CLI from $1.5K two months ago) 

• Chase Freedom: $3K, 0% util (Auto CLI a few years back from $1.2K)

• Wells Fargo: $6.5K, 5% util (one of the oldest, no auto CLIs for years)

• BoA Travel Rewards: $9k, 10-12% util (approved two months ago, 1TU HP, they closed a card on me a few years back)

• CapitalOne VentureOne: $10K, 10-12% util (approved two months ago, 1EQ HP)

• AmEx Green: $0-500 balance

AAoA: 4 years

10 CCs, 0 in loans / estate / auto...

Have one $45 hospital bill collection for about two years which I'm disputing (the bill was for $327 which was paid in full which was then I guess mistakenly changed to $372 and went into collections, $372 - $327 = $45).

I had about $20k in credit card balances (~98-100% util) for a few years, I guess that's why I haven't been getting many auto-CLIs. I had no lates (except VS a few years back which I'm blaming them for) and slowly brought down the balances to 0 in the summer but my older banks don't seem to be very impressed.

CreditKarma is stating I have 805TU / 805EQ (25 points jump after the VicSec late was removed).

I guess things look good now that BoA and CapitalOne gave me $9K and $10K and my score shows 805 but not sure what to do with older cards since they've probably seen my usage in the past and won't give me good CLIs... (+ I'm afraid to request some of them due to HPs and am worried about denials...)

Should I be working with my older cards to bring them to ~$10K level? How would I do that with as few HPs as possible? Or should I be applying for more cards and wait for auto-CLI on older ones? Which ones should I be applying for?

[creditguy]

The real question is: Do you need any more cards? Is there something in particular your seeking as far as rewards? If not, I don't see a need for anymore cards, I'd probably just work on building CLI's. Like I said though, if there is something you want in particular than I suppose it wouldn't hurt to focus on that. 

[Anonymous]

^ agreed. you seem to have all avenues covered except maybe a specific travel card (venture only half counts and green hardly counts too)

you already have your cash back cards for categorical, maybe convert your blue to BCE if that rewards structure works better, and you have you SD card (WF) so you seem set

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:
^ agreed. you seem to have all avenues covered except maybe a specific travel card (venture only half counts and green hardly counts too)

you already have your cash back cards for categorical, maybe convert your blue to BCE if that rewards structure works better, and you have you SD card (WF) so you seem set

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Agreed.

[Anonymous]

You have everything you need (I dare say MORE than you need), just let the accounts grow and let them age. 

[russum]

Right... I was just really excited to see the jump in score after the 30d late removal and thought I should immediately do something about it. I'll just keep trying to remove the collection and once that's done - will CLI all lower limits and maybe start applying in 6-12 months again... Thanks everyone!

Unrelated: pretty disappointed that Discover is saying I'm not eligible for double cashback for 12 months after the Discover to "Discover it" conversion because I am an exisintg customer, thought this was possible...

[Anonymous]

it was possible back in june

[russum]

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@Anonymous wrote:
it was possible back in june

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I guess not anymore...

The Double Cashback Bonus promotion is a promotion for new cardmembers and for a short time, 
we allowed current customers to enroll into the promotion, but the promotion is now only 
for customers who open a new Discover card account  between June 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015.