What should I say to my CU re: request on CL? Should I add another store card or two? Help?

[Anonymous]

Beginning of month:

561/592/596

Only change has been adding 2 Comenity store cards ($250 limit each):

575/603/601

I am expecting another bump from paying off my Cap1 card as I paid if from 89% UTIL to 5% UTIL this past month (only non store card I have). Going to go into my CU when Cap1 reports and get an unsecured card from them (I don't expect issues with this). When they ask me what credit limit I want, is it weird to tell them I am trying to raise my credit scores and would like the highest credit limit I qualify for? 

And do you think I can benefit by another store card if it is something I can use? Express or J.Crew is on the list as I could use them monthly or every 2 months with smaller purchases and can qualify through the shopping cart trick thus no credit pulls. Will adding 1-2 more help my score? Or is it just adding too much credit all at once?

[Duke84]

I would aim for another credit card, like a credit union or bank. I have 2 Comenity cards (Express and Gamestop) and don't use them at all. YMMV, but for me, they really don't contribute to my overall scores, so beyond the initial jump in scores, they're not that helpful.

I'd get one more card and then garden both credit cards for a while. I wouldn't tell the CU that you're trying to increase your scores, but give them a figure and see what they counter with.

Just my thoughts.

[Anonymous]

I agree, get another bank card. You can always get another Cap One card, QS or Platinum...

[SunriseEarth]

When I was shopping for an auto loan, I applied through my CU.   I actually got better offers through the dealership and through another CU, so I didn't take their auto loan.   However, I asked if the same HP could be used for a CC and they agreed.   When they asked what CL I wanted, I stated $5K but I would accept a counteroffer.   They gave me $2500.  

With your current scores, you might be looking into a secured CC, if your CU is on the conservative side.  I'd probably hold off, but it might help if we knew more about your profile.  What issues are you working on in your credit?  What baddies do you have?   How long have you had the Cap One card?   What's the CL on that card?

[Anonymous]

Ch 7 BK in 2011 with plenty of baddies - all included in bankruptcy. Clean credit since then. $2k CL on the Cap1, opened Nov. 2012. There's an auto loan with my CU since a few months after the BK - clean history.



My CU is not conservative in our experience - they have offered me a credit card in the past (June 2013 or so) with a $2k limit when I requested a personal loan (not understanding that my auto was seen the same as an installment). I declined, stupidly. I didn't understand enough about credit scoring - I am learning a lot every week here. My CU pulls only from EQ (it was about the same in June 2013 as it is now, I have struggled to increase it) - we have a great repayment history with them and I have zero doubts there will be any issue in gaining an unsecured Visa from them. I just have NO IDEA how to go about looking for the right amount. We have our checking and 2 savings accounts with them - solid balances in the savings. 

My Cap1 is a Platinum. Adding a quicksilverone and a CU visa would be good? Or just one?

[gdale6]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Ch 7 BK in 2011 with plenty of baddies - all included in bankruptcy. Clean credit since then. $2k CL on the Cap1, opened Nov. 2012. There's an auto loan with my CU since a few months after the BK - clean history.



My CU is not conservative in our experience - they have offered me a credit card in the past (June 2013 or so) with a $2k limit when I requested a personal loan (not understanding that my auto was seen the same as an installment). I declined, stupidly. I didn't understand enough about credit scoring - I am learning a lot every week here. My CU pulls only from EQ (it was about the same in June 2013 as it is now, I have struggled to increase it) - we have a great repayment history with them and I have zero doubts there will be any issue in gaining an unsecured Visa from them. I just have NO IDEA how to go about looking for the right amount. We have our checking and 2 savings accounts with them - solid balances in the savings. 

My Cap1 is a Platinum. Adding a quicksilverone and a CU visa would be good? Or just one?

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You want at minimum 3 bankcards so if you only have 1 now I would be looking to increase it to 2 ASAP, you can do it as fast as you are comfortable with.