Thank's all for the info and guidance, it is appreciated definitely. In terms of just high balance (so I can have a lot of credit to balance out utilization if/when I decide to use the cards) which cards would be my best bet to get the highest CL given my credit/financial profile?
Current Score: TransUnion (820) Equifax (818) Experian (823)Also would I have better luck asking for a CLI to $20k (seeing as my current CL is onl $1k) or going for a completely new card? On the one had since I have a previous relationship with the companies (Chase and BOA) I figure they might be generous... on the other hand since my limit is so low to begin with they might not. What do you think?
Any thoughts from anyone? This will be my first spree so I want to make sure it's successful. 
@itpromike wrote:Any thoughts from anyone? This will be my first spree so I want to make sure it's successful.
How do you define success?
Obtaining 3 new cards? thats probably a shoo in.
Getting $20k on one card to start? Highly unlikely. But an American Express, like the Blue Cash Everyday, could easily get there and beyond in less than a year. Maybe even just 61 days with a tad bit of luck.
I suggest you concentrate on what spending categories you spend the most money in, and then finding the best reward cards for those categories. Once you know that, then you can determine the order in which to apply. That is NOT the order that you spend the most in, its the order in which the cards are easier to obtain 
leave the more difficult ones for after you have 3-6 more months of credit history using the new, higher limit cards you are about to obtain in the first spree.
Oh yeah, and the Blue cards in my signature are pretty good cash back cards. just don't apply for the Shattner card. That one is mine...
@Themanwhocan wrote:
@itpromike wrote:Any thoughts from anyone? This will be my first spree so I want to make sure it's successful.
How do you define success?
Obtaining 3 new cards? thats probably a shoo in.
Getting $20k on one card to start? Highly unlikely. But an American Express, like the Blue Cash Everyday, could easily get there and beyond in less than a year. Maybe even just 61 days with a tad bit of luck.
I suggest you concentrate on what spending categories you spend the most money in, and then finding the best reward cards for those categories. Once you know that, then you can determine the order in which to apply. That is NOT the order that you spend the most in, its the order in which the cards are easier to obtain
Oh yeah, and the Blue cards in my signature are pretty good cash back cards. just don't apply for the Shattner card. That one is mine...
Thanks for the info mate Interestingly enough I just called and asked for my BOA gold card to be lowered in interest rate (was currently 25% since I got it 10 years ago and barely used it) and I asked for my credit limit to be adjusted to $15K. The interest rate was immediately lowered to %14 (is this a good rate for BOA?) and they said that I would get an response within 3 business days about the rate increase. Additionally they are sending me a different card, a 'BoA Rewards 123' card to replace my gold card.
Is this 3 day waiting period normal considering my starting CL was on $1K or would they have approved it immediately if they were going to approve that kind of increase? It's probably a dumb question but my only frame of reference when dealing with credit cards was when I had bad credit many years ago and in that period usually if they had to get back to you, it meant no to your increase request. Also if they do get back to me and let's say $15K was too hgih, will they usually counter offer or just say no? I'd hate to waste an INQ on a denial...
Additionally how close or far apart should apps be in a spree? I just called for the BoA CLI tonight, should I/Could I call for the chase Freedome increase as well or wait a few days or it doesn't really matter?
@itpromike wrote:
@Themanwhocan wrote:
@itpromike wrote:Any thoughts from anyone? This will be my first spree so I want to make sure it's successful.
How do you define success?
Obtaining 3 new cards? thats probably a shoo in.
Getting $20k on one card to start? Highly unlikely. But an American Express, like the Blue Cash Everyday, could easily get there and beyond in less than a year. Maybe even just 61 days with a tad bit of luck.
I suggest you concentrate on what spending categories you spend the most money in, and then finding the best reward cards for those categories. Once you know that, then you can determine the order in which to apply. That is NOT the order that you spend the most in, its the order in which the cards are easier to obtain
Oh yeah, and the Blue cards in my signature are pretty good cash back cards. just don't apply for the Shattner card. That one is mine...
Thanks for the info mate
Is this 3 day waiting period normal considering my starting CL was on $1K or would they have approved it immediately if they were going to approve that kind of increase? It's probably a dumb question but my only frame of reference when dealing with credit cards was when I had bad credit many years ago and in that period usually if they had to get back to you, it meant no to your increase request. Also if they do get back to me and let's say $15K was too hgih, will they usually counter offer or just say no? I'd hate to waste an INQ on a denial...
Additionally how close or far apart should apps be in a spree? I just called for the BoA CLI tonight, should I/Could I call for the chase Freedome increase as well or wait a few days or it doesn't really matter?
CLI 'spacing' doesn't really matter. The inquiry hits the credit report(or reports) immediately. Its when you apply for a new credit card that you get hit for the INQ immediately, and then a new credit line gets added to all 3 reports, but that part is delayed somewhat. So you apply for several cards close together hoping that your FICO score only gets lowered by each additional INQ, and not also by each additional credit line (you're assuming you will be approved, of course).
@Themanwhocan wrote:
CLI 'spacing' doesn't really matter. The inquiry hits the credit report(or reports) immediately. Its when you apply for a new credit card that you get hit for the INQ immediately, and then a new credit line gets added to all 3 reports, but that part is delayed somewhat. So you apply for several cards close together hoping that your FICO score only gets lowered by each additional INQ, and not also by each additional credit line (you're assuming you will be approved, of course).
Ok so here's an update.
1.) I called BoA with request for a CLI to $15K and got the 3 days waiting period so still waiting for that.
2.) I called chase and got a really rude person so then I hung up and called back and got a CLI from $1K to $5K however my interest rate is 27% and 'not eligible to be lowered at this time' which is crazy! I guess I wasted that INQ and should have just got a new card with them.
3.) Called for an Amex Blue Cash Preferred and got instantly approved for $8K with a 14% APR
So... I'm guessing CLI's don't count towards a 'spree' technically but since both CLI's had a HP associated with them (got notified of one this morning) does it count or should I be able to do 1 or two more cards today?
Each CLI request could have pulled more than one credit report, but hopefully not. And you generally don't know that for sure until much later. Hopefully they don't all pull the exact same credit report(s). So, the impact to your FICO scores can be fairly low if they just happen to be spread out a bit. If you got notified of only one HP on one of your reports, thats a pretty good sign for that reports corresponding FICO score.
I usually use the credit pulls database, and try to guesstimate what FICO a certain creditor will use. But often you only get an inclination as to what might be used. There are some exceptions, like Barclays always pulling TransUnion.
You may want to wait for the CLI's to be approved and have a chance to get added to your credit reports (just kinda guesstimate that). Then if you are ready you try applying for several new cards at the same time. You can even use different browsers and/or private-browsing and get all the card applications mostly filled out and then submit all at once, though I really dont think that level of timing is necessary.