Wanted to bring up a point regarding posting on this board, and while I do post, I sometimes am a bit hesitant to do so.  The reason I say I am hesitant is because to me, this board should be secure/encrypted - ie. https.   I realize that no one posts SS numbers, or CC numbers, and the message board does not accept payment of any type, but the reality of it is that we don't know who is lurking, reading our posts, and perhaps compiling information -  not to mention, any John/Jane Doe can browse this board without registration.  I am sure 99.99% of folks out there would never even attempt to compromise the security of this site, or its patrons.   Perhaps I am over-reacting a bit, and perhaps there is a reason why this board is unsecured - which, by the way is pretty standard for message boards, but I feel that this board is not your typical message board.   Anyway, that's my 2 cents.  Do with it what you will. ... View more

The following are my FICO scores from September of last year which is the first time I've pulled them.    TU: 706 EQ: 693 EX: 705 - 9/24/07 TU: 706 EQ: 690 EX: 705 - 1/15/08 TU: 706 EQ: 693 EX: 705 - 1/22/08 TU: 701 EQ: 693(2/14/08) EX: 705 - 2/13/08 TU: 702 EQ: 693 EX: 705 - 3/21/08 Since then, WAMU raised my CL by 50% from 2k to 3k (No inquiry) I've converted a 10k Delta Amex Skymiles to a Blue cash (No inquiry) Had an inquiry for a mortgage (TU, EX, and EQ) Hard pull to double the CL on my bank issued Visa to 10k (TU) Had HSBC close my $750 MC account b/c of inactivity - BOO!!!! I HATE HSBC Opened a 3k Discover More (TU) Opened a 2k Citi Platinum Select MC - Just opened this week and have not received the card (Not sure who they pulled from - yet) Possibly some others I may be forgetting, but nothing bad - I know C(r)ap1 increased my CL, but I can't recall if that was prior to 9/07. And, finally... About to apply for a mortgage in the next week My scores have not budged.  No baddies for 38 months.  I generally PIF every month, so it's quite rare that I ever carry a balance if at all.  Am I doing something wrong, or is it normal to have scores which don't budge?  Thanks for the anticipated replies. Message Edited by mipema on 03-28-2008 03:36 PM ... View more

Hey all, I got this offer in the mail from Citi for a platinum select MC. and I am debating whether or not to accept. The offer is 0% APR on Purchases and BT's (3% fee applies, $5 min., and BT must post to account by 8/01/08) which applies until 4/01/09 - After that 9.99% FIXED. 0 annual fee. I already have a Juniper MC with 13.99% FIXED, and 0 annual fee which has been opened for about 2 1/2 years with perfect payment history, and one CLI to speak of. It got me to thinking. I want to slim down the number of cards in my wallet. I have seven major cc's, and would like to carry four, maybe five (one each - Amex, Discover, Visa, some MC, and maybe an Amex Gold Rewards Plus as my fifth). If i were to do this, I would be getting rid of three visa's (opened 1998 w/$39 AF, 2006, 2007), and one MC (Juniper opened 2005). I'd be giving up over $8k in CL's, and the 10 year history on the visa with the AF. The 8k won't kill me, but I am concerned with losing the history. I'd still have something like 23k in CL's available with the three majors I'd have left, and if I get the Citi, then more credit available. So what are your opinions? Do I really need a MC? Isn't Visa accepted everywhere MC is, or do I still need a MC? And if so, do I get rid of the higher rate Juniper, for the Citi card? What are your experiences with either card? ... View more

Called Amex to question a charge on my account yesterday, and the CSR remarked about what a great customer I've been.  I didn't think much of his comment, as I know I've been a good customer, but got to thinking about his comment later in the day, and decided to call back and ask for an APR reduction since I've been such a "good customer" - I was previously at 18.24%.  Expecting the same canned response, "Sorry, this is the best rate we can give you", I was surprised to hear that the CSR could, with my permission of course, lower my APR to prime plus 5.99 variable (Why they need my "permission" to lower my APR, I dunno - I am sure they would NOT ask my consent if I had missed a payment to raise my APR).  Summing it all up, this means as of yesterday, with the Fed cutting the rate again, my APR now stands at a nice 11.24%.  w00t! w00t! ... View more

Hey all,   Just got my second Discover statement last night since opening the account in January, and on there was a note stating my due date will be changing with my May '08 statement.  It did not specify when it was changing to, but after a call to one of their CSR's, I found that my new due date will be pushed back around 4-5 days, from the 3rd of the month to approximately the 30th of the month.  While this really doesn't affect me, (I use the monies from the same paycheck to pay on the 3rd as I would to pay on the 30th), I was curious if this has happened to anyone else.   On a side note, I asked the CSR if I could replace the design on my card (which I have already done once).  She gladly ordered a new design for me (Baseball), and said it would be DHL'ed to my house next day.  By the way, in case any of you were interested, according to the CSR you are allowed up to 9 (nine) designs on one account.  Why nine, and not ten I have no idea, but nine is the number - hmm.   Also, basically have heard too many stories about folks running up charges close to their CL, and after payment (especially with Amex) will cut your CL to just above your outstanding balance.  So I asked if Discover prefers PIF every month or if they are okay with regular monthly payments (of course above minimum), and she told me Discover doesn't have a preference, or at least one that she is aware of.  I am sure this varies depending on the customer, nevertheless, it's good to know. Message Edited by mipema on 03-11-2008 10:19 AM Message Edited by mipema on 03-11-2008 10:20 AM ... View more