How is my DW doing, should I add her to a backdated AMEX?

[wHiTeSoL]

My wife just recently received her SSN in June and applied a few cards, no CRA will give us a CR yet so I have no idea where her INQs lie (though I can certainly guess) and if the AUs are reporting properly.

1. Declined for Freedom - Chase could not find a CR for her 6/13 (recon no go as well)
2. Approved for Capital One Newcomer Card - $1000 Limit 6/13
3. AU on Capital One - $1200 Limit 6/12
4. AU on Capital One - $1500 Limit 10/12
5. AU on Freedom - $1500 Limit 6/13
6. Made her a Joint owner on Chase Checking/Savings

She doesn't use her card much, just a small purchase we put on and PIF right away. Our short term goal is to prime her credit for her own Freedom, Discover IT, CSP, and United Chase cards. So, how are we doing? Something else we should be trying? Should I add her to one or both American Express cards (mine is backdated to 2012)

[Anonymous]

Well the bank account (checking / savings) won't report to the credit bureaus unless something goes wrong and there is a collection filed. It is good that she has at least one credit card in her own name. And you have added her to a sufficient number of cards if they are all reporting as AU's.

At the moment I would suggest that you simply keep up her Capital One account with a good payment history until it is at least six months and preferably a little longer before she makes any more applications. At that point she may want to apply for one more bank card and perhaps a store account if there is anywhere that you do a significant amount of shopping.

You may want to head over to the Credit Card forums for advice on which cards are friendly to those who are establishing a credit history. A keyword search in that forum will provide plenty of advice.

[Anonymous]

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@wHiTeSoL wrote:
My wife just recently received her SSN in June and applied a few cards, no CRA will give us a CR yet so I have no idea where her INQs lie (though I can certainly guess) and if the AUs are reporting properly.

1. Declined for Freedom - Chase could not find a CR for her 6/13 (recon no go as well)
2. Approved for Capital One Newcomer Card - $1000 Limit 6/13
3. AU on Capital One - $1200 Limit 6/12
4. AU on Capital One - $1500 Limit 10/12
5. AU on Freedom - $1500 Limit 6/13
6. Made her a Joint owner on Chase Checking/Savings

She doesn't use her card much, just a small purchase we put on and PIF right away. Our short term goal is to prime her credit for her own Freedom, Discover IT, CSP, and United Chase cards. So, how are we doing? Something else we should be trying? Should I add her to one or both American Express cards (mine is backdated to 2012)

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Why can't she get her CR?  If she has any accounts reporting she should be able to get one.  The FICO score is the only thing she won't be able to get for 6 months.

[wHiTeSoL]

I havent tried to get her CR since August started but I figured I couldnt in July becuase things werent reporting yet.

Edit - I just tried online, since she hasn't lived here for more than 2 years I couldn't provide a previous address, when I lied and said she did live at this address for more than 2 years it asks me to mail everything in. Seems like I am going to have to go buy some ink

[wHiTeSoL]

bump?

[pizzadude]

You could add her as an additional cardmember to your AMEX, but it won't backdate on her reports. She'll get a member since date of 2013.

[wHiTeSoL]

So if I add her to one or more of the Amex(s) it'll hurt her AAoA and not help it?

[pizzadude]

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@wHiTeSoL wrote:
So if I add her to one or more of the Amex(s) it'll hurt her AAoA and not help it?

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It will show up as a new account and will lower her AAoA.

[wHiTeSoL]

and so it starts..... DW got her first ever credit card solicitation in the mail today: the Citi Diamond Preferred!