What to do...

[Anonymous]

I recently got approved for a Barclays rewards card. I got denied at first but called recon and got approved.

So far I have,

BofA secured visa

Barclays reward master card

I really really want an AMEX card to start building a relationship with AMEX. I was thinking about applying for a Green Card and if I got denied, calling recon and trying to get the green or zync. Does that work?

Now, I have 5 INQs on my CR.

Is it safe to apply so soon after I got my Barclays? or should I wait another 6 months before trying for AMEX? I'm trying to build up credit the best way I can and thought maybe having one more card would help more than what I have now.

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Thank you

[improvingmycredit]

Congrats on the Barclays Rewards card!!!!  Yeah!

Barclays is super sensitive to inquiries.  I recommending not apping for anything for the next 6 months if you wish to keep that card since you had to recon to get it.  There are many posts here for AA with Barclays after getting a card with them then apping for more credit.  They close down accounts or reduce CL all the time for this reason.  I personally was in the garden for 6 months before apping after getting my Barclays and it did a world of good for my FICO score.  JMHO 

[Anonymous]

How long have you had your BofA secured? And what is your history with them, usage/payment wise? I ask because you could graduate that card to a Student platinum plus, then after a while, PC that card to a Cash Rewards card..

[Anonymous]

BofA secured is about 6 months old, utl is about 1-9% reported.

I actually wanted to up the limit by putting more cash into it but heard they do a HP to do this.

[clocktick]

Have you ever had an Amex in the past?  Did Barclays pull TU because Amex will most likely pull EX.  Congrats, by the way, on the Barclays!

[bichonmom]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I recently got approved for a Barclays rewards card. I got denied at first but called recon and got approved.

So far I have,

BofA secured visa

Barclays reward master card

I really really want an AMEX card to start building a relationship with AMEX. I was thinking about applying for a Green Card and if I got denied, calling recon and trying to get the green or zync. Does that work?

Now, I have 5 INQs on my CR.

Is it safe to apply so soon after I got my Barclays? or should I wait another 6 months before trying for AMEX? I'm trying to build up credit the best way I can and thought maybe having one more card would help more than what I have now.

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Thank you

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In general Amex likes to see at least a year of credit history. There are exceptions, but that's a general rule of thumb with them.

If you app with Amex and are denied, #1, you cannot recon. Period. They will ONLY recon if the reasons for declining you have been remedied. #2, If you are denied, you cannot app for another Amex card for 30 days. Any apps in that period will be voided by them.

Your best bet is an Amex Zync. That said, given your short credit history and that you did just get a Barclay's, I'd wait 3 to 6 mos before apping for the Zync.

Also, you said you have 5 inq on your CR, but which one? Amex usually only pulls EX. Occasionally they'll pull others in addition, if you're borderline or they want more info. They are VERY inq sensitive, so I'd also be sure you haven't any inq on EX for *at least* 6 mos, preferrably longer. When I was approved, there weren't any inq on my EX CR for almost a year (April 2011 to Feb 2012, so 10 mos. was my most recent EX inq).

[cutemarty1]

I had an amex Gold for a year.  On my fourth month was denied AMEX Blue.

As soon as my Gold turned one year, I product changed to Zync.  I got approved for AMEX Hilton Honors while being denied by ATT Universal Card, Nordstrom.

[LS2982]

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@improvingmycredit wrote:

Congrats on the Barclays Rewards card!!!!  Yeah!

Barclays is super sensitive to inquiries.  I recommending not apping for anything for the next 6 months if you wish to keep that card since you had to recon to get it.  There are many posts here for AA with Barclays after getting a card with them then apping for more credit.  They close down accounts or reduce CL all the time for this reason.  I personally was in the garden for 6 months before apping after getting my Barclays and it did a world of good for my FICO score.  JMHO 

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+1

[Anonymous]

I have 5 on EX 3 on TU and 1 on EQ. Seems like Barclays did a HP on TU and EX. I'll most likely wait out 6 months before I apply for anything. Thanks for the advice all!

[LS2982]

for AMEX you may want to hold off for a year IMO, they may decline due to too many INQ's. If you can wait that long i think it would imprive your chances of approval.