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

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

Hey thisguy, did USAA balk any at giving your wife a third credit card, and reallocating credit between them?

You know, your wife managed to get some really eye-popping initial credit lines. Of course, she had all of the ingredients 1) high reported HHI 2) good scores, and 3) individual cards with high lines already. But dayumn.

... Getting approved for a $30k BofA card when you already have 50k of credit
... Getting the ridiculous $50k AMEX Biz Starwood.
... Getting the $25k Citi Hilton when you have a $28k card carrying a balance.

What did you say to NatCity Biz to get the $35K line???

One other question: I find my Wife-O-Ramas to be a little challenging because she barely tolerates my credit card investing shenanigans. It's hard to get her to make phone calls, so I try to minimize them. Lately, I've been telling her to just verify her identity and say my husband will be taking it from here.

Do you have any other suggestions or strategies?

I just posted over in another AOR thread how I almost have my wife convinced to let me do one in her name. That is my biggest problem...that she doesn't want to talk to any customer service reps. If she has to do this it could be the deal breaker. So you have not had any problems with her just authorizing you to speak on her behalf when you are on the phone with the CC reps? That makes me feel alot better if that is true.

I did pretty good during my first AOR (posted in Stats thread) and she has much better credit and bigger existing lines than I had when I did mine. I am in the planning stages for my AOR 2.0 right now. I am just going to mirror most of the apps I do in mine except I will obviously use her large lines to our advantage when I can.

MikeR397 said:lhendricks92 said:What did you say to NatCity Biz to get the $35K line???

One other question: I find my Wife-O-Ramas to be a little challenging because she barely tolerates my credit card investing shenanigans. It's hard to get her to make phone calls, so I try to minimize them. Lately, I've been telling her to just verify her identity and say my husband will be taking it from here.

Do you have any other suggestions or strategies?
I've been doing just that, saying I'm calling on someone else's behalf, then having them authorize it for a minute, then I take over. The other thing I'm starting on doing more is asking questions online via thier internal message center/email. This works particularly well with AMEX, they are very speedy at responses and have solved all my issues.

I also leverrage the online meesaging heavily where I can although I have found that with Citi for example they always write back that you need to call in. I think it is because they are so inconsistant with their answers that they don't want you to have any answers documented in writing. I find them to be very squirrely,

lhendricks92 said:man, leave some credit for the rest of us!

seriously, do you think it's the lack of mortgage that's helping your wife attract such big initial lines?

I would hate to guess but it might. I'm not really sure to be honest but I have no complaints. I guess always paying on time and having already established high lines probably contributes positively. Who knows

More updates. I need to do a lot of updates to my spreadsheet but my paper record of new cards shows that we broke 1/2M today!!!

I need to do some work to reconcile balances and BTs that still need to be arrange. I am traveling for business again tomorrow through Thursday so I will update as I can.

THANK YOU ALL!! Again for all of your help in making my WOR (Wife-O-Rama) such a big success.

Cheers!
Thisguy

you guys do the AOR's too? i always call up for wife to do the dirty work i'm surprised their systems don't keep the MR or MRS on file. I mean if they did, and called you MR then that would be a seriously blow to any woman beyond belief.

Fortunately both names of ours are uni-sex so i've never ever been questioned. Besides i know alls the infoz including having the tri-reports on file so anything they can dish i can pass

Is that wrong? I have permission from wife.

I was just curious if others did it.

got juniper 15.25K BANK ATLANTIC right off the bat! awesome! thanks for the tip i just ran out of business 0% didn't want to load my personal up right now.

btw if you refi your mortgage you will find a dead spot between the old mortgage $0 and the new one showing up (up to 6 months!) this is an awesome time to AOR since you removed a huge installment payment.

Thanks for the tip on Bank Atlantic. Really easy app.

duna said:Sorry: do not understand leaving good cushion---if main purpose is large BTs then you want to take as much a possible from the BTs.

thisguy said:markkundinger said:Hey thisguy, did USAA balk any at giving your wife a third credit card, and reallocating credit between them?

You know, your wife managed to get some really eye-popping initial credit lines. Of course, she had all of the ingredients 1) high reported HHI 2) good scores, and 3) individual cards with high lines already. But dayumn.

... Getting approved for a $30k BofA card when you already have 50k of credit
... Getting the ridiculous $50k AMEX Biz Starwood.
... Getting the $25k Citi Hilton when you have a $28k card carrying a balance.

No problem with USAA. In fact they even honored the targetted offer after its expiration. We were conservative in how we moved the credit though. After they approved the new AMEX for $25000 we had 25 each on AMEX and MC and anotherr MC with 34. I moved equally from the two MC cards to get 60 on AMEX and did a 30K BT request. This way it didn't sound like we were milking anything. leave good cushions all around and the banks are less likely to get concerned. As far as the limits I couldn't be more pleased. We also just called Nat City about the $9K line the issued on the business card we got and they upped it instantly to $35K over the phone. I have a lot more updates to make but I am traveling all this week and next for business so just managing all of this stuff is challenging. I will get to the updates as soon as possible but wanted to answer your questions first. Thanks for all your help and support.

Thisguy

It's all tradeoffs. The trick is to get as much BT money as possible without freaking out the CC companies. If they see that you are well below your limit they are less likely to be conerned about your ability and intent to repay the debt. In the past we have had much higher consumption levels and have drawn negative attention and had to fight closures and line reductions with supporting documentation of assets. Our hope is to find a good compromise of oustanding BT balances while not drawing negative attention.