What's the highest utilization you've had & still been approved for a CC?

[Anonymous]

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@Brian_Earl_Spilner wrote:

98%, 3 cards

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Okay now, you've got to tell me which ones! 

[Anonymous]

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@CreditInspired wrote:

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Gardening is good as you have noticed. It gives you an opportunity to pay your debt down and not acquire any new CCs or inquiries. You already know the high UT is killing you. Definitely work toward getting that down to <28.9%. Also, you say you're in a low-interest payment plan. When will that be PIF? That's another factor to take into consideration before applying for anything else.

You're on the right path. 

GL2U

EDIT: Oops, I didn't answer your question. I think my highest was ~74% in 2016, but it was with NFCU and I was making large monthly payments. But one can't compare NFCU with other lenders because NFCU is a different kind of animal, and other lenders just won't give CLIs, and definitely not another CC, if UT is this high.

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Alas, I don't think I can qualify for NFCU unless I can qualify through a family member who has already passed on. It sounds like a fantastic credit union!

It's been nice to see my FICO scores gradually but steadily go up, up, up, with nothing interfering with that. No new credit cards, no inquiries, nothing. Right now I have the Disco, a secured Visa, and two store cards (which I got earlier this year) and they suit me fine. Especially the Disco.   I'm putting as much spend as possible on the Disco this first year since basically, I get 2% off everything and 10% off the featured categories (as they double the cash back at the end of the year as we all know).

I'm supposed to get a big influx of money (enough to wipe out all debt) but it will come when it comes. I thought last year that it would be here by now, but no. Now I'm thinking maybe by the end of the year? But who knows. It will come, it's just a matter of when. In the meantime, I keep on paying the debt and keep on gardening.

One thing that is putting pressure on me is that my secured card is up for another annual fee in November. I'd like to get a new unsecured Visa or Mastercard instead and cancel the secured card rather than paying the fee. But part of me says, "The heck with it, just pay the fee and continue to garden for a while longer!" We'll have to see where I'm at in October (which would be when I'd be looking for a replacement Visa or MC).

[CreditInspired]

@Anonymous wrote:

Alas, I don't think I can qualify for NFCU unless I can qualify through a family member who has already passed on. It sounds like a fantastic credit union!

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Yes, you can qualify this way. Call NFCU. They will ask if you have relative’s DD Form 214. If you dont have a copy, ask NFCU what other documentation they would accept?

GL2U

[Andypanda]

Higherst UTI for me was 2 oe 3 time I was some where bewteen75% and 80% on my Target Red Card. It only has a $300 Cl ( I know FICo dosn't take Cl into consideration when with uti). I have read some post here that high usage can lead to a CLI for a Target redcard. all other cards where alwayse below 8.9%  and I alwayse PIF. I also never had a high balnace report when I was planning on apping during the following month.

Some of my other cards I would run up as much as 75%, but I would alwayse pay it down before the statment closed so the high UTI would not report. 

[Anonymous]

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@CreditInspired wrote:

Yes, you can qualify this way. Call NFCU. They will ask if you have relative’s DD Form 214. If you dont have a copy, ask NFCU what other documentation they would accept?

GL2U

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@CreditInspired I called them! I got in! I have a checking and savings! They didn't ask for documentation. I can mail off for it if necessary, though. I have a father and grandfather (both passed on) in the Army. I had always assumed I wouldn't be able to get in!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!! WOW! I was looking at their credit cards and have already picked out one that I like. (The AMEX one that gives three points back for gas and groceries.) But I will garden for at least 3 more months, if not longer. (Probably longer.)

I'm getting a direct deposit sent to the checking account I opened and will see how things go. I'm pretty excited to be IN with Navy FCU! WOW!

Thank you so much everyone for your stories and advice!

UPDATE: 6/23/2019: Rather than bump this thread up more, I'll just leave this update here. During a routine "getting to know you" phone call with one of the Navy Federal customer service reps (they do it for all new members), I talked about my credit situation. I was encouraged to apply for a card and was approved for their 1.5% cash back rewards card for a starting limit of $1000! I think that in my situation, where I have high utilization but low debt-to-income, it was okay, at least with Navy Fed. Now, since I'm in with Navy Fed with a $1000 additional limit being factored into my utilization (and hopefully CLIs etc coming from Navy Fed in the future), my utilization % will be going down! (And of course, I continue to pay it down as well.)

[coreysw12]

Is having a grandfather that was in the military enough for someone to qualify for NFCU? Because, with WW2 and the Korean and VietNam wars, and the fact that everyone has 2 grandpas, probably just about everyone has a grandpa that served in the military. I think my Gpa was in the Navy in like the 1930's, he's literally my only family member that has ever served. He passed about 20 years ago, and it would be a heck of a stretch for me to find any documentation showing his service.

[Anonymous]

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@coreysw12 wrote:

Is having a grandfather that was in the military enough for someone to qualify for NFCU? Because, with WW2 and the Korean and VietNam wars, probably just about everyone has a grandpa that served in the military. I think my Gpa was in the Navy in like the 1930's, he's literally my only family member that has ever served. He passed about 20 years ago, and it would be a heck of a stretch for me to find any documentation showing his service.

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I'm not the best person to answer this, but the NFCU says that parents or grandparents qualify. I found another thread on MyFICO where people talk about getting in without having to offer any proof (though they may have to provide it later). That lines up with my experience today. I even blabbed nostalgically for a few moments about my dad's service (he was so proud to have served) and the rep I talked to was so nice. 

https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records This is the site I intend to go to if I need to get further documentation. It sounds like your grandfather's service was long enough ago that it would be open for anyone to access, not just spouses and children. Based on my experience today, I'd say you should at least call and ask. 

[M_Smart007]

Call Navy Federal and ask, I did and was totally 100% Honest about My Dad Serving in The Air Force,

and him Passing almost 20 years ago. I now have NFCU Savings and a CC.

I had wanted in with a Credit Union, for a while now.

It was a myFICO thread that sparked me to do it.

GL2U

[ChargedUp]

This is interesting.  I asked NFCU on social media about joining as my wife's grandfather is retired Marines. They said I would have to bring him to a branch and have him become a member, for us to become members?

I'm going to have her try calling to see if she can get a savings account started for us. I believe she has a copy of his honorable discharge paperwork someplace. 

[calyx]

I joined last month by calling them.  I told them that my dad and both grand-dads served, but that I only had one grandfather's DD214 (though I have other records from dad and and grand-dad).    They asked me questions about dad and that was it.  They've required no further proof (though I do have it just in case they ever do ask).

They THEN told me I should drag my family members into an NFCU branch to get the $75 referral bonus they were offering.  hah.