The planets are currently aligned in such a manner that I've decided to go on an application spree. Credit score be dammed, the time is right for me to shop for the following products:
1. Auto and Homeowners and Rental Property Insurance 2. Mortgages 3. HELs/HELOCs 4. Online/offline Brokerages 5. Online/offline bank accounts 6. Credit cards 7. Moving money, via BTs, convenience checks, gift cards, paper bags, etc.
Along the lines of the Joe Debtor thread, I am open to suggestions from the FW community as to where to apply and what to do. Some deals I'm just going to get in for the bonus money (ie online bank deals), others will be to try to beat my current rates/premiums.
I'm open to all suggestions, but I'm fairly lazy, so if a suggestion requires too much work, I'm not going to do it. I'll keep this thread updated with the action I take so others may see what happens w/o having to first take the credit hits themselves...
UPDATE 1/15/04- 1. opened Penfed account and funded some high rate 5 year CDs 2. bought some Charter One Gift Cards to hit CC rewards tiers, before deal dies due to WSJ effect 3. applied for Sovereign Bank's HEL/HELOC special 4. Opened Imperial Capital Bank checking and savings accounts
UPDATE 1/22/04 Ok, I've completed much of my Application-o-Rama.
CREDIT CARDS I tried to only apply for cards that offer rewards, so that I'll have some use for them after any initial 0% promo/signup bonus. Also tried to get cards from a number of different issuers. I may have gotten a little carried away
1. Citi 5% automated app 2. Amex 25,000 point green 3. AMEX Business cash rebate card through Cardoffers.com - $40 app bonus 4. AMEX Blue Cash personal card through Cardoffers.com - $30 app bonus 5. $50 Barnes and Noble MBNA card 6. $30 Amazon Bank One Visa 7. Principal Bank cash rebate card 8. People's Bank 0% card 9. US Bank Cash Rewards Visa 10. State Farm Bank rewards card 11. Nordstrom Bank Visa 12. Farm Bureau Bank rewards card 13. Patelco Credit Union Cashback Mastercard 14. Huntington Bank (Chase) 0% for 15 months card 15. Wells Fargo Business Unsecured Card 16. Wells Fargo Business Secured Card
INSURANCE (auto and home) 1. Wawanesa 2. Amex/ Amex/Costco 3. GEICO 4. Amica 5. Chubb 6. Firemans Fund
still have some more shopping to do, such as checking account promos and brokerage promos to go....
UPDATE 2/4 with most credit decisions (on oage 3) UPDATE 2/22 with credit report info (see page 4)
Yes, Ive been holding off on many of the deals in this forum and will now app all at once for them....
The Palm is certainly one of my goals. AMEX 25k point Green AMEX 20k point gold $150 Citibank checking account Citibank 5% card (the non AT&T one) Maybe a couple of cards on cardoffers/ebate/netflip
What are some of your goals for applying for more credit, other deals, etc.? I remember seeing in another thread that you have a total limit > $1M. What more would you need?
While the mortgage/HEL/HELOC/insurance shopping is being done primarily to reduce current rates/premiums, most of the CC apps would be to take advantage of signup bonuses, and then use the cards to consolidate credit limits, etc. Also to get some cards from different issuers (most of my old cards have now been consolidated into Citibank and Bank One/Chase) My credit report will already be taking a hit from the loan and insurance inquiries, so might as well throw a couple cc apps in there too
<< Yes, Ive been holding off on many of the deals in this forum and will now app all at once for them....
The Palm is certainly one of my goals. AMEX 25k point Green AMEX 20k point gold $150 Citibank checking account Citibank 5% card (the non AT&T one) Maybe a couple of cards on cardoffers/ebate/netflip >>
I thought the AMEX 20k Gold deal ended last December. I've been wanting to open one but thought it was too late to do so. If I am mistaken please someone correct me.
You're not worried that the 5% might only apply to "grocery, gas, drugstore" purchases? It seems that the type of purchases that qualify for the 5% has not been clarified.
I actually called in today to apply for the card with the promo code 9069 (20K)ready. The rep. told me that I have a RSVP for free first year member and 5K but have no idea what the 20k was.???
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