Unintentional USAA...

[Anonymous]

I called USAA yesterday. (We finally got around to adding me to my husband's account, only to find out that I was already a member by way of my Mommy Dearest...  Weird.)  I was looking for a small business loan for a box trailer and pavilion and maybe that industrial strength sewing machine I've had my eye on- well, they don't do small business loans, and couldn't finagle the trailer as a secured loan.  We talked about personal loans briefly, but then the nice lady mentioned that the rates on a USAA credit card were lower than the personal loans...

I had no intention of applying for any more CC's for me.  Maybe one for the husband, as he needs to build history, and doesn't have any major cards other than being AU on mine.

But with the loan not a viable option, and the card being a rate as low as 6.something %, what did I have to lose other than an inquiry?

10k limit, right out of the gate.  She didn't ask what limit I wanted, no haggling, nothing.  The interest rate isn't what I hoped (11%), but I think the util. improvement (from 46% overall to 36%, and that's before applying the tax rebate/refund) will help my scores enough that I can ask for a better rate in a few months.  I'm at 696 currently, with util. being the biggest bad.

So, beware when you're talking to banks!  You might wind up with yet another credit card!

[Anonymous]

Congrats and in about six months call request a APR reduction...I wouldn't do it before then thought. Again, congrats and good luck!

[haulingthescoreup]

Congrats! Did you find out how long you've been a member, without knowing? A lot of the goodies you'll get offered come from length of membership, so it's useful to find that out.

Once you set up your on-line account, keep an eye out for the "My Offers" tab, although they'll also add a banner when they're waving some goodies at you.

[Anonymous]

Congrats MsMs! Great opening cl!

[Anonymous]

Thanks!

I figured I'd give it 3-6 months at least before asking for a better rate, to give the scores time to update, and to recover from refinancing the truck loan (with USAA).  We haven't done it yet, we want to get our CC balances down first with the tax refund.

I'm not sure how long I've been a member, though it's probably been 10 years or so... I haven't talked to Mommy Dearest in about that long- so it would have had to be prior to that.  Could I have been signed up as a minor?

-MsMS

[haulingthescoreup]

If she had her auto insurance with them when you were a teen driver, that might have done it. You can call USAA back and ask them. It's handy info to have.

[Anonymous]

Congratulations! My mom goes on and on and on about the USAA MC. That's the only card she uses and swears by it. I'm going to apply for it end of this year or next year, whenever my utilization goes down and my score goes up.

[Anonymous]

Lyssa, keep that card at the very tip top of your list of cards to get! Please don't let an opportunity slip through your fingers.

I could just kick my DH for not joining when he had the chance. Now I'm afraid he's(and me) are not eligible.

[Anonymous]

You might still be eligible... it's worth a try at least!  I didn't think I would be eligible (other than through my husband, whose stepdad is retired military)- but apparently Granddad was a member (retired military), Mommy Dearest got it through him, and then she signed me up.  All sorts of ways to get in...

-MsMS

[Anonymous]

Ok so I kinda messed up...but maybe not...I called USAA and asked if I could get a membership based on the fact that my soon-to-be exhusband is a member...guess I should not have told them that part...But...I wanted to make sure I would not be associated with anything he has going on with them...especially since I am just waiting on a court date to get rid of this person I haven't seen in over a year and a half that has totally tore slam up credit....recent repoed car....yucky...they told me no...oh well...