***I am announcing my intention of doing an AOR. I am researching which cards to apply to by looking at this APP-O-RAMA site. Currently using this thread as a placeholder - will continuously update as info comes in.***
Purpose of AOR: To reap free monetary rewards, free miles and free gifts. To utilize 0% BT offers to make money with other people's money.
Profile:
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Status: Single
FICO: 767
Credit History: 8 years
Background:
Founded Azurik Inc., an e-commerce/consulting company as a sophomore in college. Earlier this year, I accepted a job offer to work for a government defense company financing their Missile Defense. In process of completing a partnership with a team in Thailand to fund my next entrepreneurial venture. Oh, and obsessed with Fatwallet Finance ![]()
Financial Status:
Assets: low-mid six-figures (cash and cash equivalents)
Debt: $0
Cards I Currently Own:
Business:
American Express Centurion ------------- $1,000,000
American Express Platinum -------------- $55,000
American Express Premium Cash Rebate --- $20,000
American Express Gold Rewards ---------- unspecified
American Express Gold -------------------unspecified
Personal:
American Express Blue -------------- $25,000 (increased from 11k)
MBNA Merrill Lynch Platinum Plus --- $29,000 (increased from 9k to 20k, then allocated 9k more from Schawb)
Citi Dividend ----------------------- $5,000 (wouldn't budge without a hard pull)
Discover Classic -------------------- $1,000 (wouldn't budge without a hard pull)
Discover Platinum ------------------- $6,250 (increased from 5k, wouldn't go higher without a hard pull)
BoA Platinum VISA ------------------- $5,000 (increased from 2k, wouldn't go higher without a hard pull)
MBNA Charles Schawb ----------------- $1,000 (increased 10k from 8k, then decreased 9k for allocation to Merrill)
Providian PayPal -------------------- $1,000
American Express Rewards Gold ------ (unspecified)
Miscellaneous Personal:
Old Navy
Gap
Banana Republic
American Eagle
J.Crew
*I have never manually asked for any of my credit limits to be increased. The big difference in credit limits comparing my personal to business is probably because I almost use the business ones exclusively. I charge all business related purchases on one card and personal purchases throughout the other lines of business cards I have. I have an EXCELLENT relationship with American Express and have no doubt my personal CL's would be higher if I apply for new cards from them today or ask for a credit limit increase.
**I plan to call all my existing credit card issuers up to increase any credit lines that won't require a hard pull. Will update this through parenthesis next to the card.
Update 09/20:
I have increased my EXISTING lines up $32,250 so far without any hard pulls.
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Cards I Am Applying For:
Personal:
American Express Fidelity Gold / (Approved: unspecified)
American Express Starwood / 10,000 SPG points / $40 / (Approved: $49,500)
BoA Choice Privileges / 1 Free Hotel / $30 / (Approved: $10,000)
BoA WorldPoints Platinum Plus / $50 & iPod Nano after $2000 purchases and/or balance transfer (Approved: $8,000)
Chase United Mileage Plus Visa Signature Card / 25,000 miles after $250 in purchases (Pending: tba)
Chase Sony Rewards / $150 after first purchase (Approved: $20,000)
Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards / 0% APR 12 months (Approved: $2,000)
Citi Honors HHilton Signature / 0% APR for 12 months (Approved: $15,000)
Discover Miles Card / 0% APR for 12 months / 12,000 bonus miles (1000 miles per purchase/month) / $40 (Approved: $10,000)
Business:
American Express Gold Rewards / $100 credit after $100 purchase / $75 (Approved: unspecified)
American Express Gold Delta SkyMiles / 15,000 SkyMiles after 1st purchase / $75 (Approved: $27,500)
Advanta Platinum BusinessCard / 0% APR & Purchases for 12 months / $50 (Approved: $10,000)
Advanta Platinum Rewards / 0% APR for 16 months / $50 / (Not Approved b/c of 1 card rule w/ Advanta)
Chase United Mileage Plus Visa Signature Card / 25,000 miles after $250 in purchases (Approved: $10,000)
CitiBusiness PremierPass / 0% APR for 12 months / 15,000 points after 1st purchase (Approved: $7,500)
CitiBusiness Professional / 0% APR for 9 months / 10,000 TY points after 1st purchase / $40 (Approved: $20,000)
Other Accounts:
Fidelity Brokerage Account / 25,000 United miles after $50,000 deposit ($50,000 sent)
Fidelity Brokerage Account / $100 after $10,000 deposit ($10,000 sent)
United Airlines Account / 10,000 miles after submission of college diploma (received points)
Lessons Learned:
#1. Get $720 FREE from applications.
Reap Free Miles & Rewards:
#2. Receive 85,000 UA miles from applications (enough for 3 roundtrip tickets with 10,000 leftover miles).
#3. Receive 15,000 Delta Skymiles from applications.
#4. Receive 10,000 SPG points from applications (enough for three free nights).
#5. Receiev 12,000 miles from Discover to transfer to airlines.
#6. Receive 5,000 AMEX Membership Reward Points from applications.
#7. Receive iPod Nano.
#8. Receive 1 free night at any Choice Hotels.
#9. Receive 25,000 TY points, redeem for multiple giftcards.
#10. Receive 15,000 Hilton Hotel points.
Utilize 0% BT Offers to Make Money with Other People's Money:
#1. Leveraged business card spending, Fidelity's AMEX Gold Card for balance transferring when issuers won't directly issue a check (instead they pay this card and the money goes directly into my savings account there, WOO!). Currently have over $124,000 as of March '07 earning 5.5%+ interest.
