Stated income: 110K
TU: 782 EXP: 780
AAoA: 5.5 Years
Oldest: 13 Years
Inq: 1 from a new account 2 years ago (dropping off at end of october)
Newest Acct: July 2019
The Backstory
I was very conservative about asking for credit limit increases so I never did it thinking it would be looked upon as credit seeking behavior. I didn't like the idea of spooking my creditors as I value my credit-worthiness. I have since discovered the whole concept of utilization %. Since I run 10K a month between my girlfriend and I, it would always destroy my score even though I pay in full (except when I'm taking advantage of low interest BT). I only had a total of 40K TCL at the time.
I had to add my girlfriend as AU's because she ruined her credit and she needed the credit for work related travel. I've since brought her out of the 400s to mid 600s. However, during that whole time I couldn't properly app or get CLI's because of high utilization affecting my credit score. Well, we finally got to the point where we are ahead enough for me to apply for an AMEX Gold, a goal card of mine. And I did, in July.
With balances now on the Gold card, my credit score didn't suffer as much on temporary balances. The AMEX does get PIF. Finally, my score is close to where it used to be. I ended up getting auto-CLI's on my Discover, BoA and Citi (approx 5K extra). But the main thing was I finally comfortable requesting AMEX 3x CLI a month ago (went from 15k SLI to 45k. Instant. THANK YOU FICO forum!!! Wish I knew about 3x CLI earlier). They are also the first to extend me such a great SLI of 15k. As a customer for 3 years, they've been a godsend to me. I am incredibly loyal to them for those reasons. My oldest account (13 years) is from a conservative bank and is barely in the double digits, but I'm loyal to them also because they were the first to extend me credit as a student when others didn't. However, I will no longer be running as much through them because they have rarely rewarded me with CLI's even though I have never missed a payment. I think I took a HP from them for 2k.
My Wants
Chase Sapphire Reserve (with high SLI), Marriott travel card
I spend at least 4K per month on Marriott hotels exclusively. Yes, it hurts to know I missed out on so many points because of adding my girlfriend as an AU, thereby preventing me from app'ing sooner.
The CSR is another goal card of mine because it fits my usage patterns well and offer a better rounding out of my portofilio compared to the AMEX platinum (even though I want that as well).
The Problem(s)
0. Plan to travel in November (so the CSR lounge stuff would come into play)
1. Marriott AMEX 100K SUB is expiring on the 23rd.
2. My new credit limit on AMEX has only been reported in Experian and not TU
i. I believe the reason it isn't being reported is because I've been paying it down to 0 reporting balance before statement cuts
3. I am currently pre-approved (green check mark) for CSP at 20K SLI. This indicates to me that Chase might not give me a 30K+ SLI on the CSR, which I would really want just for utilization % purposes. I think this is because TU isn't reporting CLI. I have more than enough credit, so it's not that I need the credit.
4. Because I want a high SLI, I feel like I'd have to wait for my AMEX CLI to report to TU before app'ing to the Sapphire. However, because the Marriott SUB is expiring, I feel like I have to app that before I app to the CSR.
5. This means if I do apply for the Marriott travel the below will be my stats when I app for CSR:
New accounts in last 1 month (1)
New accounts in last 6 months (2)
New accounts in last 2 years (3)
Reported Balance on Amex gold: 7k
Other balances: 3k
Overall Utilization: <5%
The Questions
Since ultimately a CSR is a goal card and the one I would hate to miss out on, what should my strategy be?
1. Do I forgo the Marriott 100K SUB and 6x points that I will missing out on until I get the CSR?
2. Do I just apply for CSR and hope that the CLI not being reported on TU won't affect the Sapphire Reserve SLI?
3. Do I just apply for the Marriott now, and then the CSR as soon as TU updates, because I'm just overthinking it? That is to say I don't know any better and that the CSR being the 3rd new recent account isn't even that big a deal for my profile?
Advice please. I've zero derogs but never knew any better. I feel like a deserve a better credit profile than I have for being a responsible credit user. And I want to get this right. Thank you.
