@espnjunkie wrote:That's correct, I am building my credit for the first time. Do you think six months of history with just the Capital One Cash Rewards for Newcomers with a 750.00 limit is enough to be approved for AMEX Zync or Citi Forward? My utilization is definitely under 10% and I pay on time and in full every month. Next month will be the six months mark and I kinda want to celebrate and apply for prime credit if possible. Is this a good idea or should I wait longer before taking the plunge and applying? Thoughts?
Going on what I know now about the credit climate (things can always change). Unless you're intent on having those cards sooner, I would say Zync in December in order to lock in 2012 as your member since date with AMEX, then if approved (which I think you probably would be) consider another (Citi or what you want at that time) 6 months later. Any AMEX's you get after that will back date to the year you got your Zync and the month you get the new AMEX (which is why January is your best month for additional AMEX cards).
[EDIT]: December was to mean at least a 12 month wait. AMEX likes to see a year if possible for a more sure approval. You've already got some time on your history so AMEX should be your next card if you want one. That's my opinion on keeping the inq's down and most likely to be approved for the Zync (many get them sooner but it's iffy with less than a year for any AMEX).
@espnjunkie wrote:Well waiting till August would mean one year of credit history. If at all possible I would like to have the Zync sooner rather than later haha. I understand my credit history is short and I only have one line of credit reporting. I guess the encouraging thing is that my payment history will be great and that the Zync really seems to be geared towards people my age, 23, and who have the beginnings of a great credit history. My concern is that if I wait longer than a year I shouldn't bother with the Zync and should just apply for one of their other charge cards perhaps? Zync seems like the best way for me to get a foot in the door the soonest. I have also heard that it is not much more difficult to be approved for the green card than the zync. One would think that if a person is willing to pay the annual fees that approval for charge cards would be pretty easy because you cannot carry a balance.
If you wait the 12 months and would prefer the Green over the Zync and don't mind the higher AF, I'd think you'd be approved from the info you've given. The Zync would probably be approved before the 12 month time line, but you didn't seem in a rush (CCCs like when you don't seem in a rush). 
Either way, you do want to be sure all 3 CB's have your history reporting and the AAoA and oldest account as well as a score is showing. You seem to have a good plan by picking AMEX as your first prime card, I see a very high score in your future actually 
@espnjunkie wrote:This board has been really helpful in figuring out how to begin a great credit history for myself. I'm not in a rush to get approved for new credit, but I do want ot sock drawer my Capital One card as soon as I can get something better. For what it is the card is great, no annual fee, 1% cash back, no foreign transaction fees...so for starting out it seemed like the way to go. Hmmm, I probably do not spend enough each year to justify a 95+ dollar annual fee yet. Zync seems good for now and I can always apply for something else down the road if I need to. Citi Forward is great for dining and entertainment rewards and carries no annual fee, plus not everywhere accepts AMEX.
So is it a good strategy to apply for Zync once I have fico scores, and if denied try for a recon? If that does not work then just wait a few more months and reapply?
As long as AMEX is your next card I think you'll get it without a recon (they don't usually recon well). If not, then wait and reapp. Your report won't say if it's a Zync or a Platinum btw, it will just say AMEX (which looks pretty good). I can't say much about Citi Forward (I'm not a big fan of Citi myself and no experience with the Forward) but I've heard others love it and have gotten great CLs and CLIs with it.
I have to add, there is no perfect CCC. All of them have their fans and their non-fans. It really boils down to what works for the persons situation and a bit of YMMV as how each individual is treated by a CCC (they all have their good and bad moments and quirks). I like AMEX for the member since date feature among a few other reasons, my other favs are Discover (they were very decent to me when I thought of them as less than usable and I like their CSRs), NFCU (so far, because I like their CSRs and terms), Chase to me is ok but picky, BoA isn't what it used to be many years ago but still ok, Cap 1 is dissed a lot but is willing to be a stepping stone (without them, there'd be a lot of people with no cards I think). Just some of my opinion on a few cards I've dealt with to some degree. You'll still want to exercise your Cap 1 from time to time when it's SD'd after you get AMEX btw.