what to do next.

[Anonymous]

Hello!

Not sure what to do next to increase my scores. FICO's - Ex 652 - TU 628 - EQ 642. 

Credit cards: 

Cap QS: 1000 limit -0 balance

Cap 1 secured: 500 limit- 0 balance (1 credit increase)

First Premiere: 300 limit - 0 balance (contemplating closing. i regret using an inquiry for this)

Kay jewlers: $5100 limit- $150 balance

Loans:

12k school loans that im paying off as im still in school.

11k car loan. with a very high interest rate. making on time monthly payments.

Collections:

i was a bad teenager with careless buying power:

macys- paid off

credit one- paid off

tmobile-paid off 

Not sure if i should open more CC- take the risk of getting denied (scores aint that good) 

or let time run its course. 

any advice will help!

[Anonymous]

How old are your current credit card accounts? How many inquiries over the last six months? Past 12 months?

[Anonymous]

Hi captool,

capital one and first premiere are both about 15 months old.

in the past 6 months i've have 3 inquiries.

past 12 month 7.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Hi captool,

capital one and first premiere are both about 15 months old.

in the past 6 months i've have 3 inquiries.

past 12 month 7.

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Well, you have some decent age to the cards and you're not over-loaded with inquiries. I might consider adding one more card to the portfolio right now, and then let things simmer for a while. Try the Cap One pre qual link and see if it comes up with anything. You can also try pre quals for other banks like Chase and Citi, but your scores might be an impediment with them.

[Anonymous]

PS: You might also want to take a look at getting a couple store cards using the shopping cart trick - search the forum for additional info on that. But, only get cards you might actually use, don't load up on useless ones.