How did you test drive your credit?

[Anonymous]

That counterintuitiveness keeps a lot of folks in a post BK hole a lot longer than they need to be.

[Anonymous]

Started at a 580. Disputed EVERYTHING and some things fell off, some didnt. Started with a cap on secured, then platinum. Added myself as an AU on two of my wifes cards. Got some stor card and in 5 months i was up to a 641. App'ed for Freedom and got it and that was it...I lost my mind and went app crazy. Scores dropped to 607, but rebounded to where they are now. Once i get in with Amex and Discover, I'll be happy.

[Anonymous]

So I read that Chase, amex and citi won't give anyone credit with a BK on file...that doesn't seem to be true in your case. Good to know!

[pizza1]

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@Anonymous wrote:
So I read that Chase, amex and citi won't give anyone credit with a BK on file...that doesn't seem to be true in your case. Good to know!

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in whose case?  Mine?? If youre referring to me, I dont have Chase, Amex, or Citi in my lineup, because they blacklist like noboby's business, LOL.. Its years before people who burned them in a BK before they are "let back in"...Amex is usually the better of all of them, and seem to let you back between 6-10 yrs

[Anonymous]

my TU was always around 650, so one day I decided to do something about it, and applied for 2 more credit cards. and then myfico happened and what you see on my signature is the result (but last 3 are AUs).

[lg8302ch]

My first test run was when I found this forum in 2012. I had no clue of my Fico scores and have not applied for anything in years. The first score I pulled was 759  on EQ and then applied  for Cap1 QS....and the rest followed right after. My crazy apping brought down my AAoA  from 18yrs to less than 4 yrs 😳. Luckily the scores remained stable. But I need to slow down and garden for a while. 

[Firefly_1984]

In November 2013, I decided to just go for my CU's CC (didn't even pay ATTENTION to what my credit score was at the time, though I'd been getting plenty of offers and invites). Got it, Shortly thereafter, I found MyFico and signed up for ScoreWatch. At that time, my scores were all in the 770's (co-signed paid off auto-loan plus Firestone and CareCredit were all I had at the time before applying.) I decided to punch it and get going on establishing more prime accounts. Got a small CLI on the CU CC. Then started with the major issuers, one every 6 months. Though the Chase recently broke the timing mold I had set in place. LOL

[takeshi74]

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@TrialByFire wrote:
For the rebuilders, once you hit a certain point did you test drive your newly found improved credit status like a Cadillac, slow and smooth? Or did you run it like a Lamborghini on the autobahn?

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You're relying on outdated stereotypes if you're using that analogy.  Cadillac has been producing some performance vehicles -- Nurburgring tested, even -- in recent years.  Granted, a Caddy with an LS isn't a Lamborghini but still...

In any case, it was in steps.  I didn't have need for a bunch of new cards all at once.  Each card I add is carefully considered and I gradually added 10 new accounts over the course of about a year or more.  Two were significantly backdated AmEx cards that kept my AAoA from being killed.

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@TrialByFire wrote:
So what was your threshold score and did you go slightly crazy with it, like I did, or did you hang on to that precious score for a while?

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No idea.  Even back then I was relying on the data in my reports versus scores.

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@Anonymous wrote:
That counterintuitiveness keeps a lot of folks in a post BK hole a lot longer than they need to be.

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The problem with intuition is that it's kinda like common sense.  Always research and learn versus relying on feel and intuition unless you have sufficient knowledge and experience in the given field.

[Anonymous]

Once I hit 640 I applied for Cap One Quicksilver $500, Target $300 and Walmart $600 Jan 2014.  Got all 3 with low credit limits Now I am Cape One Q $4500, Target $800 Walmart $1000, Old Navy $1600 after starting with $400 in feb 2014 and Barclaycard $2000.  Scores are 680-710. 

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[pizza1]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@TrialByFire wrote:
We fall into several types of categories: new to credit, rebuilding, and established. I was wondering how did you test drive your credit once you felt like it was good enough to app for cards?

For the rebuilders, once you hit a certain point did you test drive your newly found improved credit status like a Cadillac, slow and smooth? Or did you run it like a Lamborghini on the autobahn?

Personally, the 690 mark was my threshold(after being sub 500 at one point). At that point, my credit put on gasoline drenched underwear and went dancing around a campfire drunk. Got approved for a 50k auto loan, Chase freedom, Barclay and BCE, among others that I am too ashamed to admit. All on the same day lol. Maybe not the most responsible thing to do but a year later it has worked out pretty good.

So what was your threshold score and did you go slightly crazy with it, like I did, or did you hang on to that precious score for a while? If you went on a massive app spree how far did you take it?

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675+ is when I decided to punch it..

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I punched it at 630 right after discharge in 2013, and never looked back, LOL!!!!!