@Anonymous wrote:
@NRB525 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone for the advice! I decided to app with USAA and was approved for $11K....I'm doing my happy dance!!! I plan to sit tight with this card for at least 6 months so I can get some credit card history under my belt. Then I will app for NFCU and Cap One (Frizclotz .... I will keep in mind what you told me about Chase).
Congratulations! That's a nice starting limit.
I think you should still go to the Citi website and run the prequalification link. It is not a HP, and there's no obligation when you go through it, but in my opinion, the output you get is an excellent feedback source to how your credit looks to CCC. Over the last year, I've checked this link every few months (or few weeks recently) and the proposed offers evolved and improved along with my actual credit reports in the background. When it got to the lowest APR and stayed there a few times, I then apped, and got that lowest APR. It really is a no-cost, no HP method to get a read on where your credit file stands. You don't have to get a card, but it's nice to know.
Good luck!
NRB525 … I took your advice and checked Citi pre-qual page. It came back with this “we couldn't match your records to a Pre-Qualified credit card offer. See below for 4 other cards you may like” and listed the 4 cards Simplicity, Double Cash Card, Thank You Preferred Card and Thank You Premier Card with the generic APR’s.
So I’m assuming my credit doesn’t look favorable to CCC right now (I don’t have credit card history). This was excellent feedback like you suggested. I will not app for anything for at least 6 months and I will check the pre-qual page first.
Again, thanks for the advice!!! I am always open to suggestions as this is all new to me.
Agreed, this is a signal that you want to work on your scores for a while. The USAA paperwork should include a Reasons letter, hopefully that is a real FICO score, although I am not qualified to join USAA so I can't say whether it's real.
If you don't want to pay for the FICO score here, another place to try would be the Discover prequalification page. Discover is often open to newer files, their prequalification may turn something up, and the monthly statement includes a free TU FICO score.
@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:Citi diamond preferred card *ba-dum-tsssss*... Because OP's ID is lookn4diamonds! 😆 *cricket sounds* 😥
Not sure if you were trying to be humorous or sarcastic with your post. However, I am a little offended. I became a part of the forum to learn from the wealth of knowledge from the people here; not to be made fun of.
If you don’t have anything positive to say, I would ask that you refrain from posting.
RMS is just being humorous. I have a Citi Diamond Preferred and it does, indeed have a small diamond in the upper left corner. 
@NRB525 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@NRB525 wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone for the advice! I decided to app with USAA and was approved for $11K....I'm doing my happy dance!!! I plan to sit tight with this card for at least 6 months so I can get some credit card history under my belt. Then I will app for NFCU and Cap One (Frizclotz .... I will keep in mind what you told me about Chase).
Congratulations! That's a nice starting limit.
I think you should still go to the Citi website and run the prequalification link. It is not a HP, and there's no obligation when you go through it, but in my opinion, the output you get is an excellent feedback source to how your credit looks to CCC. Over the last year, I've checked this link every few months (or few weeks recently) and the proposed offers evolved and improved along with my actual credit reports in the background. When it got to the lowest APR and stayed there a few times, I then apped, and got that lowest APR. It really is a no-cost, no HP method to get a read on where your credit file stands. You don't have to get a card, but it's nice to know.
Good luck!
NRB525 … I took your advice and checked Citi pre-qual page. It came back with this “we couldn't match your records to a Pre-Qualified credit card offer. See below for 4 other cards you may like” and listed the 4 cards Simplicity, Double Cash Card, Thank You Preferred Card and Thank You Premier Card with the generic APR’s.
So I’m assuming my credit doesn’t look favorable to CCC right now (I don’t have credit card history). This was excellent feedback like you suggested. I will not app for anything for at least 6 months and I will check the pre-qual page first.
Again, thanks for the advice!!! I am always open to suggestions as this is all new to me.
Agreed, this is a signal that you want to work on your scores for a while. The USAA paperwork should include a Reasons letter, hopefully that is a real FICO score, although I am not qualified to join USAA so I can't say whether it's real.
If you don't want to pay for the FICO score here, another place to try would be the Discover prequalification page. Discover is often open to newer files, their prequalification may turn something up, and the monthly statement includes a free TU FICO score.
I get my current FICO 8 scores from CCT. Since USAA approved me for $11K, I will garden for 6 months to get some credit card history and then app for NFCU (since I have an acct with them).
I checked the pre-qual pages for Discover and was pre-qual for Discover IT. Also checked pre-qual for AMEX and was pre-qual for BCE, AMEX Everyday and Delta Skymiles. Cap One pre-qual page came back with Venture and QS. Citi was the only one with no offers.
Since I don't have credit card history, I didn't want to app just yet with other creditors even though something came up on the pre-qaul pages. Just want to be cautious with inq and high APR. And didn't want to appear desperate for credit.
My current FICO 8 scores:
Experian Fico 8 - 715 (2 inq from car finance 8/2014)
Tran U Fico 8 - 669 (1 inq from car finance 8/2014; 1 inq from NFCU 4/15)
Equifax Fico 8 - 708 (5 inq from car finance 8/2014; another inquiry just added for USAA approval)
@jbsea wrote:NFCU cash rewards and Cap 1 QS are about the same cards... I would take the NFCU cash rewards and the Cap1 Venture. That will keep all your CL high and you really want to have a account with NFCU. Although I love me Amex NFCU is my most import creditor.
Thanks...I will keep this in mind! NFCU will be the next card I app for and I am definitely looking at the Cap 1 Venture. Since USAA just approved me, I was thinking to garden for 6 months to get some credit card history and then app. Just want to be cautious with inq and high APR's.
Now you have me thinking about throwing caution to the wind and apping sooner for NFCU! Ugh...decisions...decisions
But, I think I better wait!