Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm going to give it another shot this morning, and then again this afternoon if not successful, having added ammunition from the suggestions made here.
In terms of other options, I will not ever apply for a capital one card. Period. They treated me like crap when I asked for a secured card and there is no way I'd apply through them if they were the last bank on the planet - I would actually prefer to use my Australian cards with horrendous foreign transaction fees.
In terms of other options - is the Barclay Arrival likely to approve on a 6 month history? Its probably a better option for me than a discover, and it does give me a Mastercard - but would they be likely to give a decent limit? In terms of other options, the set of cards I am looking for: CSP, PRG, IHG Rewards/Hyatt, and then after that I'm thinking whether an airline card would be useful for benefits (either AA, US, or Alaska). Another option I guess is to get a no fee AMEX and try the 61 day bump trick if I can pull one in the same pull as a PRG.
In terms of the AMEX, I'm just waiting before checking my reports have updated to reflect the $1k limit and 6 months good payments on the Freedom - I really need to guarantee the PRG goes through as I have a juicy backdate from my Australian card back to 2011 waiting to happen.
My realms of applications - no more than 2 cards to be added. Preferably, spread between two different reports. (I need the AAoA until the backdate kicks in).
Just got off the phone - had a lovely analyst, but unfortunately there is no way that this one is going to get approved. Tried everything but the kitchen sink with it.
Recurring issues are that they want to see more history, history with higher lines, longer relationship with Chase - they say I'm doing all the right things with the Freedom, but its just not going to cut it for the $5k line of the CSP with a short history and only a years relationship with them. So I am pretty sure this closes the door with them on this front - the recon is pointless and I doubt anyone is going to overturn this. So my next question becomes - where to next? I'm about to travel for a conference, its in the US but I really would like to use the spend to earn some decent points via a signup bonus.
Current profile
EX- 4 pulls, 1 is Util, 1 is Cap One (both in March last year), 1 is for Chase in July, another is for Chase just recently.
TU - 2 pulls, both March last year - 1 is Util, 1 is Cap One.
EQ - No Pulls.
History - 6 months, all paid in full, low balances.
Cards - Chase Freedom $1k.
Edit just discovered chase did something naughty - going to call them up and get them to fix my experian immediately.
Further update on proceedings with Chase - while my banker emphasised that a credit increase last week was a soft pull, and the person on the phone repeatedly replied that it was when I asked as I had no intention of incurring another before apping, it turns out they put a HP on my report which I wasn't thrilled about (just checked my experian). So I called up, and talked to the representative - she gave me two options - remove the hard pull, and go back to a $500 line. Or keep the increase and the pull - which for a mere $500 I wasn't that keen on. Well I went one better - asked them to recon the CLI to $3000, after about 10 minutes on the phone - bumped to $2k as a counter. While it isn't a Chase Sapphire, given my short history I am pretty happy with a 3xCLI for my trouble, and I figure thats worth a hard pull
Give it 6 more months and go for CSP again. You will get it. Do you have a checking account relationship with CHASE? They do value the banking relationship a lot. CHASE does its internal scoring as well.
Shell FCU : 5K
Have checking, savings and just over10k in all accounts with them. My banker is pretty keen on me owing to the 50k I have sitting back in Aus and that I will be looking for a US mortgage in a couple of years.
I'm happy to sit back with a $2k limit and my new PRG that will be backdated to 2011 - in 6 months it may be a very different tune 
@tornadoguy wrote:Have checking, savings and just over10k in all accounts with them. My banker is pretty keen on me owing to the 50k I have sitting back in Aus and that I will be looking for a US mortgage in a couple of years.
I'm happy to sit back with a $2k limit and my new PRG that will be backdated to 2011 - in 6 months it may be a very different tune
Running but I left you a message in the GC read ASAP
Read it - see reply, need advice?
I'm a bit confused. Do you have amex cards already from 2011 and you just need to get an american version of them? Will your prior relationship with amex count with the US branch? If your prior relationship counts with amex then getting the two amex cards and applying in six months after the amex cli is probably the best course of action.
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