No credit card required
Browse credit cards from a variety of issuers to see if there's a better card for you.
As @CreditSweeper mentioned, NFCU might be an avenue to try. Since you already have amassed all these HPs, I don’t see the problem in taking one more but I would wait until you get those student loans fixed before doing that and go for the cashRewards. It will knock out the Capital One goal with a MUCH better card.
NFCU is a unique lender, they may well extend you the card as your profile is now with a low limit and then give you a decent CLI in 6 months. I have seen cashRewards approvals at your score and they’re not known to care about inquiries.
@Anonymous wrote:Gardening is a bitter pill to swallow, especially when I see that my FICO scores surpass that of the minimum require FICO score to obtain entry-level unsecured cards.
To be honest, my intention were to improve my credit, get a ton of positive tradelines, get an enormous amount of "On-Time" payments, all of which I've done, then apply for four or five entry-level (bottom teir) unsecured credit cards, then sit on those for a year to two years, then go after the Chase Trifecta.
I cringe having to garden with secured credit cards for that long, especially after my credit improved 165 points, after having five secured credit cards, four stores cards, a Self lender account and a credit-builder loan from two separate local credit unions.
I was hoping to get the unsecured Cap1 Platinum, BOA Cash Reawards Mastercard, the USAA Cash rewards Visa and the Citi Double Cash and sit on those specific cards and continue to do what i am doing now.
Am I wrong?
I think many of understand your pain to one degree or another, but unfortuantely it is going to take time. You have down well to get your score up +165 points. The goal now is to continue focus on the accounts you have, by demonstrating your commitment to on-time paymets.
As for your original question, regarding the recon, your premise is off: "too many inquiries" is no small thing. Quite the contrary - it is a pretty big deal when it comes to applying for new credit. Too many inquiries suggests you are "seeking credit", which does raise flags with potential creditors. In addition, a pre-approval is never a guarantee. You still have to apply, and as long as that is the case, creditors will review your file, and make a final decision based on that.
You have a lot of good advice from other Forum members which you should take to heart. Gardening is not so bad (and sometimes you have no choice) - and before you know it, 3-6-9-12 months have gone by, during which time, with continued on-time payments and no additional inquiries, you can see your score (continue to) grow and position you for new opportunities.
Stay encouraged!
I appreciate your advice, but here's a couple of more questions:
1. Since "Too Many inquiries" are the "only" reason for denial, should I call my current secured credit card companies and respectfully request that they pull back the numerous inquiries prior to the actually inquiry/application that I was approved for? I don't want to get my current cards closed.
2. Should I dispute inquiries from card issuers i didn't recieve?
3. Should i do both and hope the number of inquiries are cut in half at least, down to a third, at best, then reapply for these unsecured cards?
@Anonymous wrote:I appreciate your advice, but here's a couple of more questions:
1. Since "Too Many inquiries" are the "only" reason for denial, should I call my current secured credit card companies and respectfully request that they pull back the numerous inquiries prior to the actually inquiry/application that I was approved for? I don't want to get my current cards closed. That's not the 'only' reason for denial, that's just the one they're giving you.
2. Should I dispute inquiries from card issuers i didn't recieve? Disputing legitimate inquiries simply because you didn't recieve a positive response is unethical at best.
3. Should i do both and hope the number of inquiries are cut in half at least, down to a third, at best, then reapply for these unsecured cards? Why are you in such a rush to skirt the system?
You're throwing up lots of red flags, both to lenders and also in here. Can you not see that?
1) No.
2) No.
3) No.
Seriously, you have gotten the best advice you’re going to get. Go to the garden for a year.
As a Navy veteran, I've had a Navy Federal checking/savings account for twenty-eight years, however, I burned them on an auto loan back in 1996, and they have charged it off, but it's still listed in their system, even though, it hasn't affected my checking/savings.
But, I only used those accounts for small things with a small balance in each $6.11 in checking and $2.94 in savings.
I'm afraid to do any other business with NFCU, because I know I screwed up with an auto loan 23 years ago.
I'm somewhat surprised that NFCU hasn't closed those accounts, but I'm thinking they got their money from insurance, and charged it off, as it was never on my creit report, even back in the late 90s
So, I keep my money in my Chase, Bank of America and a couple of local credit unions in North Florida.
@Anonymous wrote:Am I wrong?
Yes, time to grow some roses, wait for them to bloom.
You misunderstood me, and I apolgize, because I edited my original post, due to length.
I stated in my original post, that I applied for the current five secured cards I have now and was declined numerous times due to several reasons, many of which were as minor as validating an address(BOA) or sending them proof of income(Capital One)and was finally approved and was "only" asking about disputing the nuemrous inquires prior to the inquiry I was eventually approved for.
In respect to the inquiries from cards I didn't recieve, it's only two, Discover and US Bank, however, I applied for them back to back to back, which means, when I applied for the current cards I have now, I also applied for the Discover and USBank, and Discover and US Bank, just like Citi, explain that they couldn't speak to me about the reason for being declined until after I recieved the reason for being declined.
So, I waited and once I got the letters I called and explained what happened, yet, they told me, that I could reapply, but it would require another Hard pull, since credit files change daily.
So, because of that, I have a total of six total inquiries(combined) from Discover and USBank, and with the exception of the first inquiry, of which I have always owned, I feel the additional two inquires for both(four total) are unfair, as I was told the best route to take is to reapply, as that's required by them.
The remaining inquiries I considered disputing was the Marriott Chace credit card, that I was sent numerous pre-approvals for on my Marruott online account, as well as in the mail and Chase Disney World credit card that they sent me numerous offers in the mail.
BOA and Capital One approved me for secured cards, and like each of my tradelines I've managed them to perfection, so each and everytime I logged on, up pops a "pre-approval/recommend," and after ignoring them for months, until late January when my FICO score jumped 86 points, that's when I accepted their offers, only to be told I was declined due to numerous inquiries.
I actually spoke to credit analysts at BOA and Capital One, who expressed to me that the "ONLY" reason for being decline was "Too Many inquiries."
As for you beleiving I'm being "unethical" or trying to skirt the system is ridiculous and you are out of line!
Please read the reviews of others before jumping to an asinine conclusion like that!
I'm only here for empirical advice from people who have experienced what I'm going through, and I respect your opinion, but you truly came off as a self-rigteous bully!