Thisguy's 2-part AOR - Part 1 - Updated 10/14/07 - Over 1/2 Million in new lines and over $400K in new BT money!!

UPDATE: Part 2 now Underway. Check it out here:
Thisguy's 2-part AOR - Part 2 - Planning Kickoff 10/15/07

Thanks to everyone who helped out with the first round of apps in my wife's name. I completed them this morning 35 apps in about 3.5 hours. She did one by phone. Most were deferred for now with a few acceptances. I am going to update the post with the results and will continue to update as more info comes in. Some of my links needed to be updated so I will try to do that as well. So far approvals have resulted in pretty good credit lines so I am hoping this will be very successful. Can't wait to start on round two.

In order to keep the current organization by issuer, I will be putting a number in front of each card to denote the order in which I applied for them and I will fill in results under each entry.

Some stats:
Business Applications Submitted: 16
Total Applications Submitted: 34
Instant Business Approvals: 1
Total Instant Approvals: 5
Total Business Approvals: 14/16 (Final)
Total Approvals: 28 / 34 (Final)
Total Instant Business Approval Lines: $10K
Total Instant Approval Lines: $85K
Total New Business Lines: $284.7K+
Total New Lines: $535.7K+

Running Total of all available lines: $706,770
+ mine currently ($315.7) ==> $1,022,470 Household

Thanks again!

Original Post with Updates (7/5/07):

Hi all,

I am getting ready to kick of a two staged AOR

Round one: My Wife

Round two: Me

This is basically our second big AOR. Our first big one was a year and some months ago and then we did a mini-AOR about 8 months or so ago to re-up.

Our goal is to get more 0% money to replace the money we’ve had to pay back as the previous offers expired and pick up some bonuses along the way where possible.

We are trying to hit up as many as possible while staying within the maximum number of applications per lender.

I would love feedback on the plan and or any great offers that I may have overlooked. My wife will be applying first since I have paid off most of her balances and then with the new cash infusion we will pay down some of mine to make my credit profile juicy and attractive. I will focus first on my wife’s scenario.

HHI: $140K
AGE: early 30s
School loan (wife’s name only) $55K
Credit Scores (TU(inquiries) / EXP(inquiries) / EQ(inquiries)) : 779(1) / 767(3) /759(13) (6/11/07)
See below for credit score impact and resulting inquiries

We do have a mortgage but it is in my name only
Mortgage (my name only) 3rd year of 30 balance = $227K

Wife’s Existing lines:

Personal:

Card Name / Age years / Balance / Credit Limit / Utilization

WAMU Visa / 1 / 0 / $30K / 0.0%
Discover / 14.4 / 0 / $6K / 0.0%
ATT Univ. Rewards / 1.2 / 13769 / $28.3K / 48.56%
BoA World Points / 5 / 0 / $1K / 0.0%
BoA Platinum Visa / 5.2 / 10590 / $21.4K / 49.49%
Chase / 3 / 0 / $1K / 0.0%
Chase / 3 / 0 / $1K / 0.0%
Chase / 4 / 0 / $1K / 0.0%
Chase / 2 / 0 / $54.4K / 0.0%

Chase Amazon / 4 / 0 / $4.6K / 0.0%
Capital One Platinum / 1 / 0 / $12K / 0.0%
USAA Plat Cash Rwrd/ 1 / 0 / $25K / 0.0%
USAA Plat Cash Rwrd/ 1 / 0 / $34K / 0.0%
Citi Diamond Rewards/ 1 / 0 / $500 / 0.0%
Citi Platinum Select / 3 / 0 / $770 / 0.0%
AMEX Blue Cash / 4 / 0 / $20K / 0.0%

Business:
Advanta Plat Business / 1 / 7550 / $10K / 75.5%

Other:
Victoria’s Secret / 6 / 0 / $1K / 0.0%

No other debt

Total available lines: $251,970
Total balance: $31,919
Total Utilization: 12.67%

Planned applications:

AMX 2-max Bus 2-max Pers
25> AmexIn:Chicago 6mo 0% NBTF
Approved 7/10/07 - $2K limit

26> Starwood Preferred Guest Business 15K SPG Points
Instant Approval $10K When card arrived credit line was $50,700!!!!

DNA> Simply Cash Bus 0% purchases for 12 mo
Did not apply since 0% is on purchases only

27> Gold Deltaa Sky Miles Business 15K Miles
Approved 7/4/07 - $22,500

33> HHonors AMX targeted offer
Instant Approval $10K - CLI to $24,500 7/14/07

36> USAA AMX targeted offer 12mo 0% NBTF
Phone Application - Instant Approval $25K
Consolidated part of credit from other accounts to reach $60K and did a $30K BT

Bank of America 2-max
7> BOA platinum 0% for 12mo NBTF
Approved - $30K

8> BOA Business Visa Platinum 0% for 12mo NBTF
Approved - $25K Limit
Closed - combined with business power rewards visa for total $50K Limit

9> BOA Business Power Rewards 0% for 9mo 3%BT fee no cap :(
Approved - $25K Limit

10> NEA World Points 0% for 12mo $30Fee
Approved 7/22/07 - $2500 Limit

HCBC 2-max
DNA> Mastercard after prequal 6-12 mo 0% $75 fee
Did Not Apply - Concerns about multiple HSBC cards /apps

DNA> Targeted offer Orchard Bank 2% CB 400max/yr 0%6mo 5% fee
Did Not Apply - Pre-Qual offered only a card with an annual fee of $39

Juniper 2-max
11> Bank Atlantic Business 0% 15 mo $75 fee
Deferred
Approved 7/21/07 - $40K limit !!

21> National Parks 0% 12 mo max 50
Approved 7/5/07 - $5K

20> US Air 6mo 0% max 50 5-10K miles
Approved 7/5/07 - $20K

WAMU
30> WAMU ESPN 0% 6mo NBTF
Instant Approval $10K - BT with application for $9,500. Will attempt to reallocate from existing WAMU line to raise limit and possibly add to BT

Chase 2 bus, 2 pers
1> Chase Home Improvement / 0%, 12 months, $75 fee
Deferred
Approved 7/27/07 - $1K Limit

2> Chase Business Rebate Visa / 0%, 12 months, $75 fee
Deferred
Approved 7/21/07 - $10K Limit

3> Chase Business Mariott / 20K Mariott Points, free night, first year free
Deferred
Approved 7/21/07 - $25K limit

4> Chase Personal Mariott 20K free night first year free
Deferred
Approved 7/27/07 - $20K limit

Citi limit 2 personal 2 bus, affiliates don’t count
5> Citi Upromise 0% 12 months NBTF
Deferred
Declined - oustanding balance with another creditor high compared to CL. None were over 50%. Still negotiating they said they need another credit report and it's too late now

12> Citi Prof 0% 12mo NFBT +$15KTY
Deferred
Declined - oustanding balance with another creditor high compared to CL. None were over 50%.Probably won't argue this since we could apply again another time and use referral which I forgot to use this time

13> Citi Business 0% 12mo NTBF 15K TY points
Approved 7/5/07 - $20K Limit

14> Citi Bus AA $75 after 1st year 20K miles with $750 purchases in 4 mo
Approved 7/21/07 - $8K Limit

15> Citi AA $75 after 1st year 20K miles with $250 purchases in 4 mo
Deferred
Declined - too many apps

16> Citi Hilton 15K miles no fee
Instant Approval $25K

17> Citi Business PremierPass 0% 12mo NBTF $75 after first year 15K TY points
Approved 7/14/07 - $7500 Limit

18> Citi premier pass elite 0% 12 months nbtf $75 after first year 15K TY
Declined - too many applications

Discover
22> Discover Miles 0% for 12mo max $75
Approved 7/12/07 - $8K limit

23> Discover business 0% for 12 months NBTF with application
Approved 7/11/07 - $6K limit


Pulaski Bank
DNA> Pulaski Visa Gold 0%6mo NBTF
Did Not Apply - Feedback made me think it wasn't worth it

Capital One
34> Preferred no Hassle Miles Business 0% 12mo NBTF?
Approved - $7K

35> Visa Business Platinum No Hassle Cash 0% 12mo NBTF?
Declined - Application for other card already in progress. Must only be allowed one bus app at a time

Others
24> RBS Kroger 1-2-3 0%/12mo/2% fee up to $60
Declined pending verification - must call
Approved 7/21/07 - $7K Limit

DNA> **--Out for Now--**State Farm Good Neighbor Visa: LINK 0%/9mo/no fee (apply for BT within 30 days)
Did Not Apply - Feedback made me think it wasn't worth it

31> M&T Bank - Business Card / 0%, 6 months, no bt fee
Approved - $10K Limit - BT $9,500 in progress

28> National City Visa Business / 0%, 6 months, no bt fee + 5K points
Deferred - They faxed me an application that my wife had to sign and date and return. Request $50K line
Approved - $9K Limit - Called to request CLI to $25K they upped it to $35K

29> National City Visa Personal / 0%, 6 months, no bt fee + 5K points
Approved - $14K Limit

37> Old Navy card - We've wanted one since all the coupons require using one. This was a late entrant.
Had to call to verify information still outstanding the mentioned they only allow $300 limit?
Looks like this is run by GE Money. Got another letter stating that they could still not verify information even after we called and provided all requested info

Declined - "Could not verify information" I'm not going to waste any more time on this one

32> Principal 12mo 0% max 75 or if that link doesn't work Try this one
Approved $15K

TrueCredit Credit Scores before and After
Credit Scores (TU(inquiries) / EXP(inquiries) / EQ(inquiries)) : 779(1) / 767(3) /759(13) (6/11/07)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 779(1) / 767(3) / 767(13) (7/2/07 - Date of applications)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 765(9) / 759(7) / 741(24) (7/3/07)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 768(7) / 759(7) / 741(24) (7/4/07)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 766(8) / 759(7) / 738(25) (7/5/07)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 765(9) / 759(7) / 738(25) (7/6/07)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 766(8) / 759(7) / 738(25) (7/7/07)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 765(9) / 759(7) / 738(25) (7/8/07)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 765(9) / 759(7) / 738(25) (7/9/07)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 762(10) / 752(7) / 717(26) (7/17/07)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 765(9) / 744(7) / 717(26) (7/18/07)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 736(10) / 734(7) / 688(26) (7/19/07) (new accounts and one BT beginning to show
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 736(10) / 722(7) / 688(26) (7/21/07)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 722(10) / 722(7) / 688(26) (7/23/07)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 718(10) / 707(7) / 689(26) (7/26/07)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 708(10) / 707(7) / 684(26) (7/27/07) (showing $145K in debt ~ $90K BT)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 701(10) / 697(7) / 684(26) (8/1/07) (showing $145K in debt ~ $90K BT)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 703(9) / 697(7) / 684(26) (8/3/07) (showing $145K in debt ~ $90K BT)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 694(9) / 697(7) / 677(26) (8/8/07) (showing $165K in debt ~ $111K BT)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 694(9) / 697(7) / 684(26) (8/18/07) (showing $165K in debt ~ $111K BT)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 694(9) / 697(7) / 691(23) (8/20/07) (showing $165K in debt ~ $111K BT)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 690(9) / 688(7) / 693(19) (8/22/07) (showing $175K - 193K in debt ~ $121K - 139K BT)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 698(7) / 685(7) / 699(17) (8/23/07) (showing $175K - 203K in debt ~ $125K - 153K BT)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 700(4) / 685(7) / 701(15) (8/26/07) (showing $203K - 214K in debt ~ $153K - 164K BT)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 701(4) / 685(7) / 706(13) (8/30/07) (showing $203K - 214K in debt ~ $153K - 164K BT)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 701(4) / 685(7) / 710(13) (8/31/07) (showing $203K - 214K in debt ~ $153K - 164K BT)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 708(1) / 685(7) / 710(13) (9/4/07) (showing $203K - 214K in debt ~ $153K - 164K BT)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 706(2) / 685(7) / 709(13) (9/8/07) (showing $203K - 214K in debt ~ $153K - 164K BT)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 706(2) / 685(7) / 709(13) (9/11/07) (showing $203K in debt ~ $153K - 164K BT)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 708(1) / 685(7) / 715(11) (9/26/07) (showing $190K in debt ~ $140K BT)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 708(1) / 685(7) / 720(9) (9/27/07) (showing $190K in debt ~ $140K BT)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 708(1) / 685(7) / 723(8) (9/30/07) (showing $190K in debt ~ $140K BT)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 715(1) / 691(7) / 728(6) (10/1/07) (showing $190K-224K in debt ~ $140K-174K BT) Not sure why the jump in balance on Exp and corresponding score increase??
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 715(1) / 691(7) / 733(4) (10/3/07) (showing $190K-224K in debt ~ $140K-174K BT)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 715(1) / 691(7) / 737(2) (10/4/07) (showing $190K-224K in debt ~ $140K-174K BT)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 715(1) / 691(7) / 743(1) (10/7/07) (showing $190K-224K in debt ~ $140K-174K BT)
Credit Scores (TU / EXP / EQ) : 715(1) / 691(7) / 743(1) (10/14/07) (showing 224K in debt ~ 174K BT)

Resulting AOR Inquiries:
Creditor Name Date of Inquiry Credit Bureau
FIA CSNA 07/17/2007 TransUnion
CITIBANKNA 07/16/2007 Equifax (savings account app to open with CC - fee is OK if charged it is a calculated risk)
NCBK-NCCS 07/06/2007 TransUnion
GEMB/OLDNY 07/04/2007 Equifax
AMEX 07/03/2007 TransUnion
CAPITAL ONE BANK 07/02/2007 Experian
BANK OF AMERICA 07/02/2007 Experian
INFIBANK 07/02/2007 Experian
AMEX 07/02/2007 Experian
FIRST USA 07/02/2007 Equifax
CHASE 07/02/2007 Equifax
CITI 07/02/2007 Equifax
FIA CSNA 07/02/2007 Equifax
CITI USA 07/02/2007 Equifax
CBUSA/CBSD 07/02/2007 Equifax
CITI 07/02/2007 Equifax
KROGER 07/02/2007 Equifax
CAPONEBANK 07/02/2007 Equifax
ELANFINSVC 07/02/2007 Equifax
USAA SB 07/02/2007 Equifax
GEMB/OLD NAV 07/02/2007 TransUnion

I’ve put a lot of work and research into this so far but now I am hoping for feedback on the proposal. I’m sure you guys and gals have some great ideas, other don’t miss deals, or thoughts that will help this be a successful AOR. I will be travelling for the next couple of days so I will update / respond in about a week. I am looking to launch this AOR as soon as the credit report shows the current balances with <50% utilization.

Thanks in advance for your help!!
Thisguy

Your list looks pretty extensive. I cannot think of any other off the top of my head. Just make sure you apply for the ones you want most first becuase that will be a lot of inquiries and you will get turned down likely for many of your end appications. Just a heads up, I got an instant approval for a 12k principal bank card, when I called to activate it, they had closed my account becuase they got a report of many inquiries AFTER they approved me. So I never got to do the BT and they refused to reopen the card after a lot of yelling and screaming. FBNO is also problematic with inquiries and closing accounts after approving them.

You do realize that both the AMEX Simply Cash Bus and Discover Bus cards you've linked to have 0% only on purchases, not BTs - right?

You might add the Bank Atlantic Business card (0% BT for 15 months, $75 max BT fee) issued by Juniper/Barclays. (Props to kkerty89.)

Also, use this Link to get 25k bonus points instead of normal 15k for PP Elite (I think there is a fee however for BT)

Good call on keeping your and your wife's creddit reports seperate. It will make some gaming possible.

State Farm, Pulaski, and Principal Bank have all had scattered reports of being finicky about things. Rejections, or adverse action, or even a rescinded acceptance. Just a heads up.

As mentioned, the Simply Cash is 0% on purchases only.

The important question is the current debt that you're carrying, is it REAL debt (from spending more than income) or is it just leftover from previous 0% gaming?

One recent AORer had their Principal Bank approval rescinded after the rest of their AOR activity was detected.

Southpaw75 said: Also, use this Link to get 25k bonus points instead of normal 15k for PP Elite (I think there is a fee however for BT)

From T&C: Annual Membership Fee: $75.00

No language of waiving the fee for the first year. Do you know if this is prorated?

Yep, I admit I got carried away with apps for my first AoR, but I was having too much fun! The only real adverse action I have experienced was Principal Banks closing of my account after approval of 12k. Otherwise, I was approved for 20 of 34 apps with a total CL of $127k (keeping in mind my primary user CL before this AoR was ONLY a pathetic 5.5k). Of my 14 denials, about 10 of them were for too many inquiries, and the rest were for insufficient credit history. You have much better history than I do and will likely be much more successful! Good luck!

rogerbeagle said: Southpaw75 said: Also, use this Link to get 25k bonus points instead of normal 15k for PP Elite (I think there is a fee however for BT)

From T&C: Annual Membership Fee: $75.00

No language of waiving the fee for the first year. Do you know if this is prorated?

Some have reported success with downgrading to regular PP once their 25k points have posted. They got a prorated refund of the annual.

lhendricks92 said: MikeR397 said: Yep, I admit I got carried away with apps for my first AoR, but I was having too much fun! The only real adverse action I have experienced was Principal Banks closing of my account after approval of 12k. Otherwise, I was approved for 20 of 34 apps with a total CL of $127k (keeping in mind my primary user CL before this AoR was ONLY a pathetic 5.5k). Of my 14 denials, about 10 of them were for too many inquiries, and the rest were for insufficient credit history. You have much better history than I do and will likely be much more successful! Good luck!

Mike, I meant no disrespect. You kicked arse in your inaugural AOR! Just wanted to point out Principal's adverse action may have been specific to your situation, which may not be relevant for the OP.
None taken, but thanks none-the-less. I agree my case with Principal seems to be an exception, but when I called them about the closure, they did say specifically "After approving your card for 12k, we received notice from the credit bureaus of excessive inquiries (I was told 16) which is why we closed and cannot reopen your card." I asked them if they did another hard pull after the original pull that day, and they said no, "we just received notice." This sounds like a little bs to me and I yelled (mostly for fun, not expecting any results) all the way through the credit department, to the customer service department, to the bank personell themselves. But, I suppose thier move is perfectly fair as my multiple apps just might send a bit of a desperation signal to the credit companies.

ltcm said: I'd stay away from State Farm. If you search you'll find that they have a tendency to pull all 3 bureaus and still not approve you. Doubtful you'll get it any way given how far down in your list it is. Other than that, it all seems very well planned, but very ambitious. Good luck.


Great thanks for the tip!!

Lots of people get both RBS and Kroger (by RBS).

No Elan? e.g. Cambridge Trust has pers and business (and there are several others Elan cards, though PNC now does their own)

No CapOne? Probably worth a try, especially with a large BT in the app.

Good luck and thanks for the list with links.

sonnysighedup said: You do realize that both the AMEX Simply Cash Bus and Discover Bus cards you've linked to have 0% only on purchases, not BTs - right?

You might add the Bank Atlantic Business card (0% BT for 15 months, $75 max BT fee) issued by Juniper/Barclays. (Props to kkerty89.)

Thanks! No I missed that. I am sure I would have caught it when applying ( maybe. . .) Thanks. I'll have to look these over and refactor.

Thanks again for your help,
Thisguy

lhendricks92 said: Don't forget BofA business. Yes, they will charge you a BT fee (even though the promo page claims no fee for balance transfers), but several of us have been able to get the fee reversed. Totally worth the risk for a business card with a potentially high limit.

As far as WaMu, I would suggest asking for a BT with the application. Could explain the difference between a 7k limit (me, no BT requested) and a 30K limit (kkerty89, 30K BT requested).

good luck!

To add evidence to your experiences. Our existing WAMU $30K line came from an application with a BT request during application.

Thanks for your help,
Thisguy

markkundinger said: Good call on keeping your and your wife's creddit reports seperate. It will make some gaming possible.

State Farm, Pulaski, and Principal Bank have all had scattered reports of being finicky about things. Rejections, or adverse action, or even a rescinded acceptance. Just a heads up.

As mentioned, the Simply Cash is 0% on purchases only.

The important question is the current debt that you're carrying, is it REAL debt (from spending more than income) or is it just leftover from previous 0% gaming?

The carry over in my wife's name is left over from previous rounds. Same for the debt in my name which will be paid down with some of the new influx from this AOR. Then when things look better again on my balances I will do round two to get my balances back up again.

I always joke around that our nation has a huge problem with credit card debt and I'm no different. I can't get enough of it!!

I am actually in an airport (delayed. . .) on the way home now so I should have more time to review and revise in the next cocuple of days. I may reconsider Pulaski and I'll have to revisit the simply cash card. I may go for it anyway since I would really like to boost our business lines. Especially since they don't show on our credit reports in most cases.

Thanks again for your help,
Thisguy

lhendricks92 said: Don't forget BofA business. Yes, they will charge you a BT fee (even though the promo page claims no fee for balance transfers), but several of us have been able to get the fee reversed. Totally worth the risk for a business card with a potentially high limit.

As far as WaMu, I would suggest asking for a BT with the application. Could explain the difference between a 7k limit (me, no BT requested) and a 30K limit (kkerty89, 30K BT requested).

good luck!

How were you able to get the charge reversed?

DickWhitcomb said: I've been told that not only can you not have two HSBC applications at the same time, you cannot even have two open HSBC credit cards at the same time.
I agree with part 1; part 2 is definitely not true. (Though HSBC often gives low limits in an AOR, I've seen more than one that got decent limits.)

Despite a computer failure I managed to get in 35 apps for my wife in about 3.5 hours this AM. Mostly deferrals with a few acceptances. I will post the updated list and the results as sson as I have a chance and continue to update as more info comes in.

Thanks again for all of your help and suggestions. things went pretty smoothly.

Thisguy

cyberkost said: Hm-m, I put a $25K BT on my WaMu application, got a $12K CL.

yeah, perhaps an application BT request isn't a guaranteed method for a high initial CL with WAMU. jairocon has a similar datapoint in his latest AOR.

lhendricks92 said: cyberkost said: Hm-m, I put a $25K BT on my WaMu application, got a $12K CL.

yeah, perhaps an application BT request isn't a guaranteed method for a high initial CL with WAMU. jairocon has a similar datapoint in his latest AOR.

The good thing though is that they went above and beyond trying to put money into my checking account (I provided them with the bank-card # on the application, and it did not quite work ... so they ended up sending a check [I think] taking care of who/where to send the check to without much involvement on my part).

UPDATE: Part 2 now Underway. Check it out here:
Thisguy's 2-part AOR - Part 2 - Planning Kickoff 10/15/07