@creditguy wrote:
@CostantinoA wrote:I finally obtained an American Express card the other day. Now I want to get some quality cards with Citi and Chase. I have a secured card with chase that has a limit of $200.00. I have had the card since 11-20-15. I was wondering when would be a good time to try and get a better Citi card as well as chase card. Thanks everyone!
To be honest I would just take it easy and garden for a while. Three things right now are going to kill your Chase and Citi aspirations. One is your scores. While not terrible, they are kinda low for Chase and Citi. Two, is the Inquiries, While Amex doesn't really sweat the Inquiries, Chase and Citi do, especially Citi. And Third would be the Chase 5/24 rule.. If you have opened five or more accounts in the last 24 months, their main cards and some co branded cards are off limits. Your doing well and I understand the desire for better cards, but sometimes it just requires a little time and patience to get there. For now I would just focus on building up your Amex and possibly cutting back on some of your sub prime cards. Chase and Citi will always be there waiting when your ready and you will be soon enough. Just curious what kind of secured card do have with Chase? I wasn't aware they had one.
+1
I can provide a data point on Citi...
I got some new accounts last year while waiting on my final baddies to age off. When I finally had clean reports a few weeks back, I opted to go for Citi first (knowing they can be sensitive to inquiries).
I had four inquiries each on EX and EQ - Citi pulled both for me - and my scores on both credit bureaus were 760+ at the time I app'ed. Citi still took over two weeks to approve me, and made me go through several layers of verification - and not for my address or fraud, either. Keep in mind this is with low inquiries and a clean file.
Like Creditguy I'm not trying to be negative, but right now if you app for Citi there's a good chance you'll end up wasting two more inquiries. Last fall after adding a few new accounts that were within my reach at the time I decided to 'pump the brakes' to allow my new accounts and inquiries time to age and my baddies time to fall off my reports. If you'll do the same with a little time you'll be able to get nearly any card you want.
I know waiting isn't the most fun thing, especially when you're on here reading about what everybody else is getting, but trust me, it definitely pays off. 
@UncleB wrote:
@creditguy wrote:
@CostantinoA wrote:I finally obtained an American Express card the other day. Now I want to get some quality cards with Citi and Chase. I have a secured card with chase that has a limit of $200.00. I have had the card since 11-20-15. I was wondering when would be a good time to try and get a better Citi card as well as chase card. Thanks everyone!
To be honest I would just take it easy and garden for a while. Three things right now are going to kill your Chase and Citi aspirations. One is your scores. While not terrible, they are kinda low for Chase and Citi. Two, is the Inquiries, While Amex doesn't really sweat the Inquiries, Chase and Citi do, especially Citi. And Third would be the Chase 5/24 rule.. If you have opened five or more accounts in the last 24 months, their main cards and some co branded cards are off limits. Your doing well and I understand the desire for better cards, but sometimes it just requires a little time and patience to get there. For now I would just focus on building up your Amex and possibly cutting back on some of your sub prime cards. Chase and Citi will always be there waiting when your ready and you will be soon enough. Just curious what kind of secured card do have with Chase? I wasn't aware they had one.
+1
I can provide a data point on Citi...
I got some new accounts last year while waiting on my final baddies to age off. When I finally had clean reports a few weeks back, I opted to go for Citi first (knowing they can be sensitive to inquiries).
I had four inquiries each on EX and EQ - Citi pulled both for me - and my scores on both credit bureaus were 760+ at the time I app'ed. Citi still took over two weeks to approve me, and made me go through several layers of verification - and not for my address or fraud, either. Keep in mind this is with low inquiries and a clean file.
Like Creditguy I'm not trying to be negative, but right now if you app for Citi there's a good chance you'll end up wasting two more inquiries. Last fall after adding a few new accounts that were within my reach at the time I decided to 'pump the brakes' to allow my new accounts and inquiries time to age and my baddies time to fall off my reports. If you'll do the same with a little time you'll be able to get nearly any card you want.
I know waiting isn't the most fun thing, especially when you're on here reading about what everybody else is getting, but trust me, it definitely pays off.
Uncle B pretty much summed it up, if you only read one piece of advice this is it. Uncle B speaks from lots of experience and he can demonstrate how time and patience pays off, just look at his signature. He didn't get it overnight and really no one does. Good things come to those who wait, what fun would it be if we got everything we wanted at once, we'd have nothing to aspire to.
I would also garden a bit. And I too did not know Chase had secured cards. Interesring.
