What real credit card can I get?

[ScottL]

I have been trying to rebuild my credit over the past 2 years. when I started 2 years ago, i recall my FICO score being just under 500. It is now in the low/mid 600s. So I have made some improvement. But still not where I want to be. 

Mainly because of 2-3 chargeoffs.  2 of them are a couple thousand dollars and I cannot afford to pay them right now. The other just recently showed up for $167 which dropped my scores from the 650 range down to 630 range.  I called them and asked for a PFD but they told me no.  So I do not know what my other option is, other than just pay it, then try and dispute it again later (i did dispute it and came back valid).  The other 2 more expensive ones will have to be there a little while longer.

Also I do not have much credit currently other than my mortgage and car.  2 years ago i got the Capital One secured card, then Credit One, then Capital One Quick Silver.  Then just recently, I did the pre approval Express, J Crew and Overstock cards.  So I now have all these cards and the credit line is around $500 on all of them. I did request increases and I think my Quicksilver went up to $750. I do carry a balance currently higher than it should be on a few of these cards. So I am going to pay them all down/off in the next month or two. Which I hope will bump me up a little as well. Even when I make a single payment of $100 i get a FICO notification my scores go up like 5 points. So i am hoping paying down more will really help.

That said, I want to be able to get an airline rewards card ultimately. But would like a real credit card with a line of $5,000 instead of $500.  How far off am I?  What is a good card to try for?  Are there any pre approval credit cards like that similar to the JCrew, etc I did?  I went on BOA and it said pre approval. But didnt give me any real information so I figured it was fake.  I got the same thing with Discover but they are one of my chargeoffs. How could I possibly get approved with a current chargeoff from 4 years ago?

[OmarGB9]

With scores in the 630 range, approvals will be tough as it is; if you do get in, you'll more than likely get a low SL and high APR. If you have high UTIL as well, then that'll make it even harder to get approved. :/ I'd recommend paying down your balances as much as possible and clean your reports up a bit before applying for anything in order to give yourself the best possible odds. This may take some months.

[Anonymous]

I'd go for Cap 1 Venture, Discover, Amex Charge Card/Delta Gold Skymiles

Who is your charge off with?

If it isn't with Chase you can try for freedom or one of their co-branded cards. 

Might as well take a stab at it, but as the other poster said, you really need to pay off your debts before you need a $5000 card to take vacations with.

[ScottL]

Yes, before I apply for anything, I am going to pay off all my current debt.  I currently have about 59% credit line used.  But the good news is, thats only about $1500.

[ScottL]

and my chargeoff is with Discover.

[Anonymous]

I know I personally just applied and was approved for a barclaycard reward 1,300 & barclaycard apple rewards for 2,000. I have some baddies and as you can see in my sig my scores are a little lower then you. Also did a kay card and was approved with a 5100 limit.

The barclaycard rewards card seems to have decent rewards also.

[TiggerDat]

If this is a new chargeoff, I wouldn't expect anything right now in the way of new cards.  Recent chargeoffs tend to scare new and old creditors.  Regardless of the score and how much it dropped, chargeoffs will likely signal to new, and even old, creditors that you might have a hard time paying.  Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Boa and discover prequals are useless. Do not go by them.

You maybe able get synch backed cards (Walmart, Amazon) depending on your tu score. They may not start big, but my Walmart went from 600-5k in one year. Definitely helps utilization too.

But think it through and try to be smart about it. When i was 620-640s, i wasted valuable hps apping for chase, amex, barclay. It definitely kept my scores down longer. When were at that score range, every point is very valuable.

If you wait a few months and pay down utilization, your scores and report will be in a better position to apply.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

If you cannot afford to pay your charge offs (seeing as they are still somewhat fresh), perhaps you should reassess your credit needs. Even if your goal was attainable, would it actually, honestly benefit you?

[Anonymous]

for real, don't go with ANYTHING rmitche8 said. that is all bogus information and you'll be instantly denied. idk why they even said that