I'm hard-headed. I should have waited until the collection account was dropped from my EQ report. I should have fought to get my 30 Day Late removed before I started the App Spree. Instead, I went for it. It's May 1st, so I hoped that the 30 Day Late was technically one month later than it was yesterday.
Started with AMEX Zync app over the phone. APPROVED!
Told the lady that I did the Zync App with that I also wanted to apply for a revolving credit line as well. She couldn't take the app herself, so she transferred me to someone in the same office to take my second app. I was really torn about whether I should apply for the Delta SkyMiles Gold or the Costco card. The COSTCO 3% on gas and no annual fee was tempting, but I've read so much about Delta SkyMiles Gold being the easiest to acquire and my FICO Self-Esteem was so low along with my fear of denial being high.
So I went for the Delta SkyMiles Gold. APPROVED for $2000! (my highest limit)
Probably not the best idea, but since I was afraid of being declined + I needed to get a prescription filled... I started driving to COSTCO during the second AMEX app. I was approved by the time I got to COSTCO, but still went in and filled out an in-store app for a third AMEX card in the same day.
COSTCO AMEX: Unable to approve instantly. Needs to verify COSTCO Membership.
My COSTCO membership had expired when I arrived to the store, so I had to pay my $55 to renew just moments prior to applying. Who knows if I'll get it or not... I'm satisfied even without it. I'm suffering from "grass is greener on the other side" syndrome -- wishing I went for the COSTCO instead of the Delta Gold.
I could have, perhaps should have stopped there. But the apple of my eye is that Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards card. I applied and got denied. I think it has to do with my 2003 paid charge-off. I'm going to try the recon route and would be happy if I got approved for a $250 limit.
Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier: DENIED
I didn't want to end the night on a low note, so I went to mydiscover.com and enter my Invitation Number for a Discover More card.
Discover More: APPROVED!
Not sure what my limit will be, but I did notice this on my confirmation:
Account Preferences
| Paperless Statements | Signed Up | |
| Cash PIN | **** | |
| E-mail and Text Message Reminders | Mobile | |
| New Statements Available | Signed Up | Not Signed Up |
| Payment Posted | Not Signed Up | Not Signed Up |
| Payment Due | Signed Up | Not Signed Up |
| Nearing Account Credit Line | Not Signed Up | Not Signed Up |
| Balance Exceeds <$8100> | Not Signed Up | Not Signed Up |
$8100??? Is that an indicator of my limit??? I would literally jump up and down if so... but even if not, I'm a happy guy. Thanks for the help everyone.
I'm done for the night... possibly for longer.
-ReadyFireAim
Starting Scores: EQ 697 (4/3/12) / TU 683 (4/3/12) / EX FICO 643 (3/16/12)
Sweet. Congrats. I'm sure you have no regrets now 
@readyfireaim wrote:I'm hard-headed. I should have waited until the collection account was dropped from my EQ report. I should have fought to get my 30 Day Late removed before I started the App Spree. Instead, I went for it. It's May 1st, so I hoped that the 30 Day Late was technically one month later than it was yesterday.
Started with AMEZ Zync app over the phone. APPROVED!
Told the lady that I did the Zync App with that I also wanted to apply for a revolving credit line as well. She couldn't take the app herself, so she transferred me to someone in the same office to take my second app. I was really torn about whether I should apply for the Delta SkyMiles Gold or the Costco card. The COSTCO 3% on gas and no annual fee was tempting, but I've read so much about Delta SkyMiles Gold being the easiest to acquire and my FICO Self-Esteem was so low along with my fear of denial being high.
So I went for the Delta SkyMiles Gold. APPROVED for $2000! (my highest limit)
Probably not the best idea, but since I was afraid of being declined + I needed to get a prescription filled... I started driving to COSTCO during the second AMEX app. I was approved by the time I got to COSTCO, but still went in and filled out an in-store app for a third AMEX card in the same day.
COSTCO AMEX: Unable to approve instantly. Needs to verify COSTCO Membership.
My COSTCO membership had expired when I arrived to the store, so I had to pay my $55 to renew just moments prior to applying. Who knows if I'll get it or not... I'm satisfied even without it. I'm suffering from "grass is greener on the other side" syndrome -- wishing I went for the COSTCO instead of the Delta Gold.
I could have, perhaps should have stopped there. But the apple of my eye is that Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards card. I applied and got denied. I think it has to do with my 2003 paid charge-off. I'm going to try the recon route and would be happy if I got approved for a $250 limit.
Chase Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier: DENIED
I didn't want to end the night on a low note, so I went to mydiscover.com and enter my Invitation Number for a Discover More card.
Discover More: APPROVED!
Not sure what my limit will be, but I did notice this on my confirmation:
Account Preferences
Paperless Statements Signed Up Cash PIN **** E-mail and Text Message Reminders Mobile New Statements Available Signed Up Not Signed Up Payment Posted Not Signed Up Not Signed Up Payment Due Signed Up Not Signed Up Nearing Account Credit Line Not Signed Up Not Signed Up Balance Exceeds <$8100> Not Signed Up Not Signed Up
$8100??? Is that an indicator of my limit??? I would literally jump up and down if so... but even if not, I'm a happy guy. Thanks for the help everyone.
I'm done for the night... possibly for longer.
-ReadyFireAim
Welcome to Discover and with what looks like a VERRRRRY NICE initial CL ! 
If you DM CL isn't 8k, the above could very well be an indicator that your system approved CL is actually 10k. IF you do NOT see that high of a CL on your page or are told it when you call in, ask them to check the system approved amount.
Now I have to say, it could VERY well be a fluke or glitch in the system, but I lean to the prediction that you're going to be VERY happy with your DM CL.
WOWOWOWOWOW!!
I just checked my app status with Discover and learned that I was approved for $9000! I just finished jumping up and down. I guess the $8100 alert is a '90% of your limit' alert. Another cool thing that I noticed is that I only have ONE INQUIRY on my EX for my three AMEX apps. Not sure for TU or EQ but I had zero inquiries on those two prior to these apps anyhow.
I think I'm done. I have exceeded my expectations by far. Perhaps it was my low utilization ($11 of $3850 = 0.3%) that led to these surprising results. I just QUADRUPLED my total revolving credit limit and landed an AMEX that will double the age of my oldest account... and I'm still going to fight that PFD charge-off that hasn't been deleted and do everything I can to get that 30 Day Late off my credit. I'm sad that I still can't get the rewards card that I covet most (Chase Southwest), but hopefully they reconsider their stance after a phone call. No longer interested in Capital One.
Thanks again,
ReadyFireAim
AMEX ZYNC: APPROVED! (NPSL)
AMEX GOLD DELTA: APPROVED! ($2000)
AMEX COSTCO: APPROVED! ($6500)
CHASE SOUTHWEST: IN RECON (initially denied due to charge-off in 2003)
DISCOVER MORE: APPROVED! ($9000)
Congrats! You have some really nice cards and a great CL w/Discover!
Wait till you see your FICO after your 2 or 3 Amex report! It's amazing what the added AAoA will do for your FICO.
@DM6410 @bichonmom @RyVision: THANK YOU ALL!
Happy to report that I got a Score Watch Alert for EX and my PFD collection baddie has been DELETED!!! My score jumped from 697 to 721! Also called AMEX and got approved for backdating for my new ZYNC and Delta Skymiles Gold!!! Once those report, I might be able to hit my goal of 760!
One battle left: Wells Fargo 30 Day Late (still kicking myself over that one)
Just got an email from AMEX that I was approved for $6500 for the Costco AMEX! Three AMEX cards (on one EX pull) all with backdating to 1999 is going to be amazing for my FICO score. Prior to this app spree, my AAoA was 3 years and my oldest account was 6.5 years (EQ),
At this point I have 5 inquiries on EX (including the single AMEX pull and the Chase pull), zero inquiries on EQ, and one inquiry on TU (Discover). As much as I should probably go waltzing in the garden like Al Jarreau, I'm tempting to strike while the iron is hot. Adding these 4 or 5 new accounts are going to actually increase my AAoA by nearly two years and double the age of my oldest account, but I figure that once these newer cards report (especially the Discover and the Chase if I get it), other card issuers will be less likely to approve me if they see 1 or 2 brand new cards.
I could be wrong... but if I did want to go for just one more card before locking myself in the garden until I save enough for a mortgage down payment, what card would you suggest going for? I'd go for Citi if I knew they weren't going to pull EX. I'd prefer an EQ pull since I have no inquiries there, but TU would be fine as well. I figure I have more than enough AMEX cards for now, I'm already struggling with Chase, I could go for Capital One Venture, but I'm pretty sure that my poor past with them may require me to go through a recon process. Maybe PenFed?
AMEX ZYNC: APPROVED! (NPSL)
AMEX GOLD DELTA: APPROVED! ($2000)
AMEX COSTCO: APPROVED! ($6500)
CHASE SOUTHWEST: AWAITING RECON DECISION (initially denied due to charge-off in 2003)
DISCOVER MORE: APPROVED! ($9000)
Just called 888-245-0625 and was told that after reconsideration, I'm approved for the Chase Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier card with 50000 RR points! $5000 limit. Very happy that Chase has forgiven me for my college charge off.
I'm tempted to apply for a Citi card just to round out my portfolio, I'm on a roll. Not sure who Citi pulls, as long as it's not EX, I figure that I'd get approved. Does anyone know... or have any reason (like CLDs on the other cards) that I'm not seeing that would make it more sensible not to apply for a Citi card?
FINAL RESULTS: 5 apps, 5 approvals, $22500 + ZYNC, 4 inquiries (AMEX & Chase pulled EX, Discover pulled TU)
AMEX ZYNC: APPROVED! (NPSL)
AMEX GOLD DELTA: APPROVED! ($2000)
AMEX COSTCO: APPROVED! ($6500)
CHASE SOUTHWEST: APPROVED! ($5000) after recon
DISCOVER MORE: APPROVED! ($9000)
Even though I applied for the Costco AMEX in-store on the same day as the other two, I got a delayed approval that resulted in a second EX inquiry that hit on 5/7. Got a letter from AMEX when my ZYNC arrived that says my EX FICO score is 734. Much higher than I imagined! I've had two inquiries since then, but it still seems like EX is my highest score. Looking forward to the AMEX backdating to 1999 (will be my oldest account) and increased AAoA.
Well those CLs make mine look a little like pocket change, but nevertheless I'm sure the feeling is still the same. Congrats on the new cards and the 100% success rate too!