First off, I would like to thank everybody who participates in these forums in all the various topics and what a wealth of information it has been to me in starting this process. I was mostly a lurker because I had nothing to contribute, but perhaps someone sifting through search results in a similar situation like mine will find this useful in the future like I found so many others' posts to my benefit.
A little history, and I apologize if I am long-winded; I tend to add in a lot that may not be necessary.
I started my current job close to 3 years ago at 24, and had always paid cash or used my checking card for online purchases. I was an authorized user on my mom's HSBC (now Capital One...?) Visa since I was a teenager, but never really used it; only as an emergency card. It wasn't really "my" account. This was about as far as my credit went. No car loans, no student loans, no collections to my knowledge...nothing. I did not exist.
It was after having a steady income I wanted to have a credit card, but was completely oblivious to the credit game and stubbornly refused to learn about it. I saved and bought things I wanted outright. I tried a couple times, was denied. Even tried for a motorcycle loan once. All denied - even through my own bank (Huntington) when they offered a card! Most of them due to lack of credit history or could not verify my SSN. Never panned out, never followed up, no recon, no nothing. Just accepted defeat and figured try again in a couple years.
I forced myself to try again in September, having read up on the Capital One Secured card. Okay, it requires a deposit, they have to give me this one. Applied...no approval. I had to wait for the letter. The letter required SSN/income verification. I decided to do this via my W2 from work. After faxing it in and waiting a few weeks, I got an approval letter to start the deposit process. I had credit! I would exist! Well, sort of. In a very...low...credit limit kind of way. But hey, my foot was in the door.
I received my card in early November, one month ago and started using it as I had obsessed over all the posts concerning utilization, when it reports, how it reports, etc. I made sure to keep my util low, even though that really only applied for app sprees for that month, I decided to stick with it. I didn't need this card for money or to carry a balance - it became a game to me, a hobby. My trojan horse.
The plan was to wait until at least May, or 6 months roughly, to figure out my FICO score because I can not get anything (not even a FAKO score) from anywhere. Wanted to see how my credit was doing, if I had anything weird on my file, do it responsibly. Do it right. Then maybe try a couple conservative applications for cards I had thoroughly researched and wanted (within my means).
Then the Amex backdating thing stuck out during my recent searching frenzy. It is December, and running out of time for that 2014 date...but I've had my own card for 1 month, one payment on my credit besides being an AU. I didn't even know if the AU thing would hurt or help me; could be dragging me down for all I know. I didn't. I was blind without scores.
Not to mention I couldn't even check my TU FAKO score from Cap One, because the "information at Capital One and TransUnion don't match". Contacted TU last week, and found out they had the completely wrong SSN on my file. Great! That's been helpful I'm sure. So I faxed them my DL and SSN to correct that issue. I wanted to clear that up, because I really wanted to apply for an Amex. I assumed denial, given I've heard hit or miss success stories with Amex, but 2014! Backdating! I had to try. Not to mention seeing their pre-selected offers for either Gold, Gold rewards or the BCP.
Even before knowing my score, or fixing the TU issue, I checked to see what they would pull. TU did not seem popular with them, so I figured...why not. Worst they can say is no.
I applied a little over an hour ago. Instantly approved! I have never gotten that, ever. It was always denials, pendings, disappointment after disappointment even after verification.
Credit Limit: $3,500.
Couldn't believe it. All I truly have to my name is a Capital One Secured with a $351 credit limit (had around 1% util on the only possibly reported statement).
I'm sorry I can't offer my scores right now, because I do not know them. I must have just enough credit as an AU to get me this far, but not enough history of my own to really report. But really, in 1 month I've essentially snagged myself an Amex with a 2014 date. I'm not letting this kick off a spree, because I don't wanna get ahead of myself, because the backdating thing was really my only desire. Maybe in 6 months or a year I'll try if I feel like it, but, it seems to get where I wanted took a considerably shorter amount of time than I originally thought it would.
Again, thank you all for the information you have provided. Without this forum, I would still know spit about credit and how to play the game. Perhaps I can contribute a little bit from now on when I can from time to time.
Very wise to take things slow for now and not go spree silly if you feel more cards arent necessary. Some of us have much shorter journeys than others to reach our individual goals, thank goodness
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