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making headway!! - question about when to get more credit

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pritchardhallhokie
Frequent Contributor

making headway!! - question about when to get more credit

This has been such a good month for me credit-rebuilding wise so far.  I'm almost nervous to talk about something I THINK I got removed from my CR today, until I actually get the letter in my hands, I'm going to hold off but suffice it to say it was a great potential move for me.

 

My current situation is this:  I'm at low 600s right now.  My current Credit util is 100% and will be 0% by the end of this month, that's right I will have all my credit cards paid off in full (low limits but still a great feeling/uti score).  I'm guessing this will put me over 625 hopefully and with what I just potentially fixed today should put me in the low-mid 600s. 

 

My question is this:  When do I want to start looking at other lines of credit to get my CL increased and get more positive reporting on my report?  I have no recent inquiries and my Average age is around 12 years so this wouldn't be terrible to do (I don't think).  Should I:

 

A:  Wait until I hit XXX number and apply for XXX YYY or ZZZ lines of credit to boost my score.  And if so, what is the ballpark number to start this and whom should I apply with?

 

OR

 

B:  Don't do anything, keep my score where it is and just let aging help my baddies become less and less bad and don't worry about opening anymore lines of credit?

 

 

 

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!! This forum ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!


Starting Score: 584TU / 580EQ
Current Score: 670 TU / 680EQ
Goal Score: 720 TU / 720 EQ


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Message 1 of 5
4 REPLIES 4
LIGHTNIN
Senior Contributor

Re: making headway!! - question about when to get more credit

IMO, If's hard to answer your question without more information. Are you asking to add another CC?

 

How many CC's do you have now?  and what's the CL for each?

 

 

FICO's May 2015 EQ764 ~~Live below your means and always keep an emergency fund -Love Everybody ~ Big Kenny ~ Big and Rich ~~~~~Credit Scoring 101 - Common Abbreviations - Freq Req Threads - Free Credit Reports - What Steps Do I Take?DV? PFD?
Message 2 of 5
diveforfun97
Frequent Contributor

Re: making headway!! - question about when to get more credit

Congrats on the head way.  You should notice a significant increase when your Util goes from 100% to 0%.  However, after that I do not recommend applying for a CL increase and I will tell you why.  If your Util is 0% and you increase the limit the Util will still be 0%, and you will not see much (if any increase).  However in regards to applying for other credit, you can do that after you feel comfortable (after you scores raise from the Util being 0%).  I would take a look and see if you will actually benefit from more credit right now,  for example will the new account help your mixture of credit.  I do not recommend that people apply for credit that they do not need.  I would allow time to runs its course on the baddies, and in the mean time start sending GW's and what not to improve your position.  That is my 2 cents on it.  I hope it helped, and anyone feel free to disagree if I made a mistake! :-)

Starting Score: Sep 23, 2014 EQ 577 TU 583 EX 567
Current Score as of 6/28/17 EQ 628 TU 643 EX 625
Goal Score: 700
Message 3 of 5
pritchardhallhokie
Frequent Contributor

Re: making headway!! - question about when to get more credit

Yeah, basically asking should I get another CC or some other form of credit such as a charge card at a department store, etc.

 

I currently have 2 cards, one with 250 and one with 350 limit = 600 total revoling credit.  I read that it doesn't matter the amount of credit you have JUST the util so 100000 credit limit with 85% util is still way worse than 500 limit with 5% util but I'm wondering if yet another line of credit reporting would help my score.  I know that by adding another card at first it would hurt my score as it would be a hard inquiry, right?  Also, isn't there some sort of best buy mastercard that I could possibly check out?  Again, I'm at around 605 FICO.

 

 

 

THANKS~


Starting Score: 584TU / 580EQ
Current Score: 670 TU / 680EQ
Goal Score: 720 TU / 720 EQ


Take the FICO Fitness Challenge
Message 4 of 5
RobertEG
Legendary Contributor

Re: making headway!! - question about when to get more credit

Pritchard, you are correct.  FICO scores % util of CL, and not the CL itself.

The problem with low CL cards is that  it is soooooo much easier to drive up its % util

 An unexpected bill hits your for $200.  On a $500 card, that is 40% util.  On an $5,000 CL card, thati is on.y 4% util.

Low CL cards require a lot more monitoring 

You cleraly understand the game, and undrstand the attention needed.  Most consmers dont.

 

Message 5 of 5
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