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Optimal Time to App 4 CSP & Amex BCE? BCE or Zync?

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LilNYC
New Contributor

Optimal Time to App 4 CSP & Amex BCE? BCE or Zync?

After yrs. of having iffy credit & arguing w/ the cedit bureaus I finally cleaned up my reports & in April got approved for a Citi Thank You for $13,200 & Chase Freedom w/ $3,100 CLI a few days ago. Eventually I'd like the CSP & an AMEX BCE & that's it. A few prime cards w/ good rewards & no crazy AFs that I can use/leave open for yrs. Absolutely NO store cards. I'm trying to figure out when's the optimal time to apply for the Amex & the CSP.

I'm thinking about app for CSP in 3-4 months but I know that Chase likes long credit history & I only have 2 indiv. accts, both < yr old. AAoA is >10 yrs if they take the AU TL into acct but I know that Chase places heavy emphasis on indiv. history.  I had an amex green card in 2000 so if I open a new Amex acct it will backdate to 2000? Chase will think that I've had an active indiv. acct for the past 12 yrs? I'm nervous that I won't get approved for the Amex BCE & I really don't want to take a HP unless it results in an approval. Since it's easier to get approved for the charge cards should I apply for the Zync instead & hope that I get approved & amex offers a same day SP for the BCE? I don't really care for the Zync but the $25 AF is low enough that it wouldn't kill me to keep it open for a few yrs & store it. From the looks of these boards lately it seems like everyone's getting approved for the Zync npsl. (I'd prefer true MR but I can't justify the high AF's after the promo yr is up & I don't want to ding my credit by closing acts quickly.) Would this make me more likely to get approved for CSP in Oct/Nov?


EQ: 769  0 inquiries
TU: 703 (Chase Pull 7/12) 3 inquiries (1 falls off in Oct.) 1 paid judgement $349 3.3 yrs ago
EX: 688 (security freeze)

My Cards:
Citi Thank You $13,200 (41% until.) 4/12
Chase Freedom $3,100 7/12 (waiting to hear back from exec office on CLI)

AU: Amex Hilton $3,000 (94% until.) (1984) Going to remove acct b/c the util. is bringing my score down
AU: Amex Delta $1,700 (1984)
AU: Macy's Amex $6,000 (1999)
AU: Macy's- limit not rep (1999)
AU: Bloomy's Limit not rep (11/09)

Oldest Acct: 28 Yrs
Newest Acct: 1 month
AAoA: 9.5 yrs (after removing Amex Hilton)


Citi Thank You $13,200 - Chase Freedom $3,100 - AMEX Zync NPSL (init. ability $17.5K) - Citi Forward $7,000 - AMEX BCP $6,000 - USAA Rate Adv $15,000 - USAA World MC $12,000 - Discover More $4,000 - Amex Hilton Honors $4,500 - Amex SPG $2,000 - Barclay's Priceline Rewards $6,400 - Chase Sapphire Pref. $7,500

EQ: 794. TU: 704. EX: 755
Message 1 of 18
17 REPLIES 17
OhioCPA
Frequent Contributor

Re: Optimal Time to App 4 CSP & Amex BCE? BCE or Zync?

Since you were just approved for the Freedom I would wait six to twelve months to app for the CSP. A Zync approval then application for a BCE on the same day when you aren't a current card member could result in two HP's from Amex. Even with the two HP's EX might delete one as a duplicate. You should be able to recover your AF on the Zync with special offers from Amex, i.e., Small Business Saturday, etc.

 

I would work to get the utilization down on the Citi card then apply for either a Zync or Green and a BCE on the same day. If they decline your BCE then I would apply again in a few months after you have some history with Amex. Since Amex is great with CLI's at 61 days and again at six months I would wait until you have seen your second increase on the Amex report before applying for the CSP. This will increase your chance of approval on the CSP with a higher CL as they tend to match current CL's.

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Message 2 of 18
Eschaton
Regular Contributor

Re: Optimal Time to App 4 CSP & Amex BCE? BCE or Zync?

If you don't feel too good about the BCE, just get the Zync and wait a few months, apply for BCE since it'll be a soft pull anyways. The first year AF is waived for the Zync, and you can close it after a year if you get the BCE. 

 

I'm still new to the whole credit thing; but it sounds like you're doing well and I don't see you being denied for BCE or CSP. But take that with a grain of salt. 

Capital One Journey (12/2010) $750 | Chase Freedom (03/2012) $3500 | American Express Zync (03/2012) NSPL | Amazon Prime (08/2018) $6000 | Chase Sapphire Preferred (10/2018) $8000 | Bank of America Cash Reward 10/2018 $8000 | Chase Freedom Unlimited 06/2019 $2700

Experian score: 793 (9/2018)
Message 3 of 18
Crashem
Valued Contributor

Re: Optimal Time to App 4 CSP & Amex BCE? BCE or Zync?

How did you leave amex before? Amex should be priority given the backdating.
               LIMITS IN CARD DESCRIPTIONS
Message 4 of 18
LilNYC
New Contributor

Re: Optimal Time to App 4 CSP & Amex BCE? BCE or Zync?


@Crashem wrote:
How did you leave amex before? Amex should be priority given the backdating.

In good standing.

Citi Thank You $13,200 - Chase Freedom $3,100 - AMEX Zync NPSL (init. ability $17.5K) - Citi Forward $7,000 - AMEX BCP $6,000 - USAA Rate Adv $15,000 - USAA World MC $12,000 - Discover More $4,000 - Amex Hilton Honors $4,500 - Amex SPG $2,000 - Barclay's Priceline Rewards $6,400 - Chase Sapphire Pref. $7,500

EQ: 794. TU: 704. EX: 755
Message 5 of 18
LilNYC
New Contributor

Re: Optimal Time to App 4 CSP & Amex BCE? BCE or Zync?

@OhioCPA- good pt. about the 61 days CLI, ttally forgot about that. 

Citi Thank You $13,200 - Chase Freedom $3,100 - AMEX Zync NPSL (init. ability $17.5K) - Citi Forward $7,000 - AMEX BCP $6,000 - USAA Rate Adv $15,000 - USAA World MC $12,000 - Discover More $4,000 - Amex Hilton Honors $4,500 - Amex SPG $2,000 - Barclay's Priceline Rewards $6,400 - Chase Sapphire Pref. $7,500

EQ: 794. TU: 704. EX: 755
Message 6 of 18
Crashem
Valued Contributor

Re: Optimal Time to App 4 CSP & Amex BCE? BCE or Zync?


@LilNYC wrote:

@Crashem wrote:
How did you leave amex before? Amex should be priority given the backdating.

In good standing.


Well any Amex should be priority. You should be backdated to your original member date. However it was a while ago so Amex might not have old file in active records. I hope you have some proof lying around. The backdated Amex will help fill in your credit file and increase your aaoa. I would go for zync and app for bce same day. However any delay on 2nd card approval/denial will likely result in two hard pulls. If on experian, you can likely get 2nd hard pull removed as dupe by calling experian. Other option is to wait a couple of months to app for bce will result in hp is approved and nothing if denied.
               LIMITS IN CARD DESCRIPTIONS
Message 7 of 18
Crashem
Valued Contributor

Re: Optimal Time to App 4 CSP & Amex BCE? BCE or Zync?

Forgot. You need to remove security freeze before apping for Amex.
               LIMITS IN CARD DESCRIPTIONS
Message 8 of 18
OhioCPA
Frequent Contributor

Re: Optimal Time to App 4 CSP & Amex BCE? BCE or Zync?


@Crashem wrote:

@LilNYC wrote:

@Crashem wrote:
How did you leave amex before? Amex should be priority given the backdating.

In good standing.


Well any Amex should be priority. You should be backdated to your original member date. However it was a while ago so Amex might not have old file in active records. I hope you have some proof lying around. The backdated Amex will help fill in your credit file and increase your aaoa. I would go for zync and app for bce same day. However any delay on 2nd card approval/denial will likely result in two hard pulls. If on experian, you can likely get 2nd hard pull removed as dupe by calling experian. Other option is to wait a couple of months to app for bce will result in hp is approved and nothing if denied.

While I agree on the Amex as being a priority I doubt there will be much of a bump in AAoA. Since the AAoA is already at 9 years I wouldn't expect much of a score change with hitting 10 years.


 

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Message 9 of 18
Crashem
Valued Contributor

Re: Optimal Time to App 4 CSP & Amex BCE? BCE or Zync?

Ohio, op's aaoa is primarily made up of au credit lines. Not sure if he would trigger fico 8 piggybacking rules which would discount or ignore au lines. Additionally, under manual review, he would be denied as he basically has a thin file with a bunch of au lines. The Amexs would help make his au lines look less out of whack.
               LIMITS IN CARD DESCRIPTIONS
Message 10 of 18
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