i honestly can't be mad, (it just smarts!) because you wise ones in the know here warned against high util. and since i cancelled the card (w/ a balance-risky) i keep the 7 percent rate at least.  sad part is they just doubled my cl a few months ago and a few weeks ago sent me a "valued customer" zero percent balance transfer offer, go figure.  my deceased wamu platinum was on it's way to being a nice acct. too-boo hoo! lucky for me i'm somewhat diversified.  i think it's the mixed signals that really throw me off sometimes.  what can i say, i'm generally paying down balances litigiously but the wamu card had my best rate so it was one of the last to be targeted to zero out (still, i pay 5 and 6x's the minimum, sometimes twice a month on it)- well, they got to me first in any event.  busted!  they wanted to take me from 7 to 16 percent... couldn't be surprised really though since providian/wamu apparently perfected the ratejack.  it's the first time i remember this (a ratejack) happening to me and i have to say my heart sank when i read the enclosure.  a ccc is still one of the only businesses that can legally change the price of a purchase after you buy it so i hope those bills wrending their way through congress put an end to some of this outrage. Well, i figured that as their concellation prize i would close my checking acct. with them this week and open a totally free checking at my credit union instead under the idea that it is a safer place to do my banking anyway.  I wanted to ask ya'll if that action could have any negative fico consequences b4 i take my business elsewhere.  i just feel like if i'm too risky for them to play nice -looking at their current financial position i could come to the same conclusion and head for the hills Message Edited by score_building on 07-29-2008 07:12 AM ... View more

I just got off the phone w/ amex with the vaguely delusional idea that they would consider my request to waive my Amex One card yearly fee (i currently have two amex cards with good histories-the One and the Clear).  Avg FICO is around 689.  I've paid the One card off each month in the year i've had it.. up until a few months ago when i was unable to do so- still, i am making regular timely payments in 4 or 5 x multiples of the min due and am in good standing with all creditors for the past several years. When i called today the guy asks me to hold while he checks my acct. gets back and says with a smug attitude, 'well about your green card' (this card was charged off 18 years ago i do not have one currently, it was my college clueless wonder card) you had a 200 balance on that card do you want to pay that now with me on the phone'  somewhat taken aback but not entirely surpised i declined to do so and instead i said he could send me whatever paper work they had about the bill and i could forward them the proof that i had taken care of it over a decade ago.  The fact is i no longer have the proof and wouldn't know where to begin to find it.  I am fairly certain that i would be doing myself serious fico damage by re-paying the 200 again at this point.  can any of ye sage fico forum folks advise me how i can handle an almost two decade old debt/charge off w/ amex so that every time i make a customer request they may not treat me like a permanent miscreant?  Ive worked long and hard to rebuild a semblance of good credit and i would be happy to pay them again even if they didn't mess with my score by submitting new payment info on an old charge off for current reporting-which is how i understand this works if you pay something that's already fallen offf your report.  Is there a solution to this apparently long festering chargeoff they are rehashing now?  Or are my hands tied on this One?  Any thoughts would be much appreciated!! ... View more

I applied for the Amazon store card (GEMB) tonight and was instantly approved for $400. EQ score 676 w/ 1 inq. My lowest limit ever with GEMB, however i heard they have a CLI button... with a little luv, it can be a bigger account in a few years. I had not intended on apping in '08 (except maybe a CU app) really but with this new offering from amazon, my apping finger got the best of me...the clincher was when i read that they offer some 90 day and 18 month! no interest purchase promos, doesn't sound too shabby... yay approval! Any other takers or naysayers on this new store card from Amazon? ... View more

since they anticipate rather modest changes for most, I think i am among the lucky since my pfico score shot up 35 points! I missed the boat on the au approach to quickie rebuild, so this may bode well for others who haven't dabbled with the au tag, other factors notwithstanding... "CREDIT SCORE CHANGE AVAILABLE Your credit score has changed +/- 35 points since SEP 2007 and is available online. To access your credit score and view your score changes over time, go to www.wamucards.com , log in and click the "Credit Profile" tab. Although FICO(R) scores can change over time based on changes in your credit file, we want to let you know that a recent update to the FICO scoring system may result in an additional change to some people's FICO scores. Our system has been updated to return the most recent version of FICO score, so you might see a different score the next time you visit the site. We expect that most people will see a relatively small change in their score as a result of this update. Fair Isaac--the company that developed the FICO score--changes the scoring model periodically to reflect the current lending environment. This updated version of the model ensures that the FICO score continues to be reliable, consistent, and powerful risk assessment tool. Please do not reply to this message. For additional assistance, contact us securely through our Customer Service area on www.wamucards.com To update your alert preferences, go to www.wamucards.com and visit the "Manage My Account" tab. (c)2000 - 2008 Washington Mutual, Inc. All rights reserved" ... View more

Well, new to the game, i prematurely requested a cli on my boa world points after about 3 months with the card, i specifically only asked for a 500cli  --which was of course summarily declined with a friendly 'you're a new customer, hold your horses' type letter.  However,  just 3 months later (scores unchanged and balances slightly higher) i noticed that i was granted the 500 cli i had been rejected for just 3 months ago.  With all the recent reports on boa's seemingly poorly conceived rate changing -even on rather unblemished customers w/ long histories i'm thinking they're hoping i take the bait and charge more or transfer a balance putting me ever so precariously closer to my max and thus making me an even more likely target for a rate jack scenario.  In any event, my response to the cli was to immediately make an online payment of 1,000 bringing my balance down to a more acceptable level (under 35% util) and hoping as i continue to make payments of 5 and 6x's my minimum the cli's keep rolling in over the next few years.   One of my goals in '08 is to pay down all cards to 0-10% and see how that feels for a few!  and the cli did help with this process by helping my util. so i am equal parts grateful and leary of their motivation for the cli.  I hope that they don't deem me a hard core revolver b4 i finish paying cards down in the next  3 to 12 months.  I had heard that at amex "revolving" means a max of 90 days and not one day more or you are potentially earmarked as a 'problem revolver'.  I'd rather get in the habit of pif'ing all cards and have the infrequent well timed instance of revolving for ever so brief periods since you just can't be too careful these days, can you?  Hope i get there b4 any foolishness assails me :) yay boa! (i think!?!) ... View more

CC holders should shop around: http://www.bankrate.com/nltrack/news/fed/winners-losers_jan302008.asp?ec_id=brmint_ns_cc_20080204&s=5&caret=3#tab Message Edited by score_building on 02-04-2008 08:39 AM ... View more

When Amex informed me that they were going to put a leash on my Amex One card, i was really happy.  I thought that the 1300 which they 'temporarily' capped off my heretofor 'no limit' charge card was fine (of course it was never really a 'no limit' card but 'open ended', -not subject to reporting a cl.) anyway i was glad because i mistakenly thought that this meant that they would be reporting this temp 'preset' limit to the cra's since up till now my statement balance hasn't risen over 400 or 500 and this max bal reports as the limit as far as i know for scoring artificially depressing my scores when i'm not careful about the timing of payment (which i'm not, but pif way b4 due date)...but they don't report this preset limit automatically, at least they haven't for me.  It seems worth the effort  to keep my util down by requesting they report it if they are willing, but wonder if i should just wait until it's lifted naturally with me pif ing evry month i hope they see it's a no brainer and i can just make a higher balance report with large purchase at the right time for reporting and then pif.  In any case i am comfortable with this limit on this card, just wish they'd report it! Message Edited by score_building on 02-01-2008 05:47 PM Message Edited by score_building on 02-01-2008 05:50 PM ... View more