I have been working on improving my credit scores for the last two years. After totally ruining everythig with a job loss and multiple charge offs, I have finally climbed out of the credit cellar. About 18 months ago I started out with a Walmart card with a $300 limit. It was quickly followed by an Amazon, Lowes and Old Navy. I kept pretty close to zero balances on these cards for over a year. I would charge a little and pay it off. By doing that I increased my credit limits from a modest couple of hundred dollars to a litttle over a thousand on each. I think WM was $1200, Lowes was $2500 and Amazon was $1500.
So this past monday after a cople of weeks of looking, my wife and I picked out some really nice kitchen cabinets at Lowes. The total came to a little less than $7000. We had closed on our HELOC in December so I had the money to cover it in my checking account. When we went to pay, our salesperson asked if I had a Lowes card and I said that I did and she said that If I used it it would be another 5% off. Wow! I said that I did not think I had that much available credit on my card but she said they more often than not grant an increase. So we went to check out and I ran my Lowes card through the register, the cashier got a message on the check out compter to call Lowes Credit. After a few minutes she handed me the phone and I was on the phone with Lowes Credit. I answred just a few basic questions to confirm my identity and how much credit would I need. I said about $7500 and BAM! I got an increase!
So we paid for the cabinets and went home. Tuesday moring I logged into my Walmart account and bam! An offer for a Walmart Discover! $5000 limit! I accept! Log into Amazon and Bam! $5000 limit! I'm on a roll! So I look at my Old Navy credit account and still a measly $300 limit. Oh well I never use it so no biggie.
I guess the moral of the story is to be dilligent, pay your bills on time, Get the baddies cleaned up and good things will happen. Now if I can get my Citi cards and my American Express cards back I will be a happy man.
Very nice!
When you recieve the Walmart Discover and activate it, call the backdoor number and see if you can get it increased further.
I did that when I switched to the discover and went from 2650 to 5000. Since it is a soft pull it doesn't hurt to ask.
Starting Score: All Under 590 (8/2011)
Congrats! Thanks for sharing.
Discover IT $17k / US Bank Ace (VSig) $13.5K / US Bank Cash+ (VSig) $13.5k
@obageegee wrote:I have been working on improving my credit scores for the last two years. After totally ruining everythig with a job loss and multiple charge offs, I have finally climbed out of the credit cellar. About 18 months ago I started out with a Walmart card with a $300 limit. It was quickly followed by an Amazon, Lowes and Old Navy. I kept pretty close to zero balances on these cards for over a year. I would charge a little and pay it off. By doing that I increased my credit limits from a modest couple of hundred dollars to a litttle over a thousand on each. I think WM was $1200, Lowes was $2500 and Amazon was $1500.
So this past monday after a cople of weeks of looking, my wife and I picked out some really nice kitchen cabinets at Lowes. The total came to a little less than $7000. We had closed on our HELOC in December so I had the money to cover it in my checking account. When we went to pay, our salesperson asked if I had a Lowes card and I said that I did and she said that If I used it it would be another 5% off. Wow! I said that I did not think I had that much available credit on my card but she said they more often than not grant an increase. So we went to check out and I ran my Lowes card through the register, the cashier got a message on the check out compter to call Lowes Credit. After a few minutes she handed me the phone and I was on the phone with Lowes Credit. I answred just a few basic questions to confirm my identity and how much credit would I need. I said about $7500 and BAM! I got an increase!
So we paid for the cabinets and went home. Tuesday moring I logged into my Walmart account and bam! An offer for a Walmart Discover! $5000 limit! I accept! Log into Amazon and Bam! $5000 limit! I'm on a roll! So I look at my Old Navy credit account and still a measly $300 limit. Oh well I never use it so no biggie.
I guess the moral of the story is to be dilligent, pay your bills on time, Get the baddies cleaned up and good things will happen. Now if I can get my Citi cards and my American Express cards back I will be a happy man.
Congrats on your CLI 
Congrats to your CLIs
With Citi & Amex you are most likely going to have to pay them off to get back in, I would be making the arrangements before you actually want to apply for the cards. Good luck...
congrats
I paid Citi in full about 6 months ago. Amex I paid back in 2008 when I ran into trouble. I have applied for Amex before but shot down. I think I'll wait a few more months and then give them both a shot.
WTG Congrats on your CLI!