Hubby and I have used our bucketed Cap1 cards to help out the kids entering adulthood by putting them on as authorized users. The limits are both low enough that if something were to happen, we wouldn't be devastated by having to pay either of them off. Once all the family kids have gone through the program, we may well close those cards, as we have much better cards now.
I understand why Cap1 is loath to graduate these cards. It's the same reason why your bright kid doesn't get to skip a grade these days - the school wants that nice 99th %ile boost to the standardized test score for the lower grade, and not the 75th for the next grade up. It still sucks for the kid, and for the bucketed-card holder.
It's a business. I say, treat it like one. They'd have no qualms about cutting you off if it no longer made sense for them to do business with you. Treat them well while it's worthwhile to you, and move on when it no longer makes sense for your situation to continue the relationship. As others have said, your inqs will fall off in that two-step kind of way, and may not matter much at all at the 1-year mark, depending on the lender.
As for the Disco recon, I don't think it would hurt to try, especially it being secured. Their customer support is top notch. They were hubby's first card, secured, after some terrible financial times, and were thoughtfully helpful the whole way.
Best of luck to you! You're on the right track!
Calijen37 I did everything you described with them for 9 months and I only got a $100 CLI. There isn't anything you can do in these covid times with them that will change what they are currently doing. Best thing to do is wait for some inquiries to age and get cards with other lenders. Capital one cards are only good for beginners in the credit world and none of their cards are worth reapplying for in hopes of getting a better credit line because other lenders have either cards that do the same or are better than theirs. Only difference is they treat their customers better.
