Just nabbed the Credit Karma 30K TYP for 1K spend with a credit line 6,800
man...I just dont fit the mold of the 'too many inquires' or Im puzzled. I should have been denied. I really rolled the dice here, I guess Im glad I did as I really want the 30K TYP for some summer 22 travel. Here are my data points, staring with most recent.
Citi Custom Cash- 11/21 $6,800
Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant 10/21 $10,000
Personal Loan 9/21 $15,000
Citi Premier 8/21 $7,500
Chase Freedom Flex 7/21 $12,500
Amex Blue Cash Pref 11/20 $10,000 (canceling in Dec-ish)
Chase Freedoom Unlimited 9/20 $2,500
Chase Sapphire Prefered* 4/20 $10,500 (May 21 I PC'd to CSR, and much happier)
Before this my credit was not great and my understanding of credit cards was actually 100% backward. Places like this and YouTube have swung it aroud and now I'm 730-760s the swings are because I've gotten 4 cards since July....wow. I've made a promise that no more to 2023.
So, I still feel like I buck the trend on Citi some what, but here is my tip. Im not sure this is real but it's what I've experienced twice with the premier and now with the custom cash. I apply and (both time) I get the 7-10 days notice and I immediately call. They (both times) are confused and ask questions like when did you apply and I say like seconds ago. And (both times) they say, I'll process the app right now. It take a while 15+ mins of hold. Then they say, okay let me call you at the number you applied with and hang up and call right back and say, okay we are done here.
Also, there is a lot of Citi hate out there but not from me. Happy customer. I'm happy to offer more data points. Salary 97K. I keep my Credit Karma and myFICO both say my utilization rate is about 3% and that seem right. My only other card is a BOA Cash Rewards card that Ive had for 13 years. It was a secured card that they shifted to revolving 10ish years ago. And while I carried high balances with it I've never had a late/missed payment. However I did WRECK some student loans about 5 1/2 years ago and if hadn't I think my credit would in the high 700's. I didn't default or I did re....forget what its called but for one year I had to pay almost 700 a month to rebuild the loan and prevent the default but the late payments are dragging my score down and I have to lay in that bed.
Anyway. I hope this helps?
8/8/25
2/16/26
