It has been close to a year since my first AOR and I am more than ready to do another one
My first AOR was quite successful. I doubled my credit line (added $141K) and made almost $5000 in bonuses and interest income over the last 11 months.
- Paid off all my balances and disputed them with all 3 CRAs. - Closed AMEX Starwood and Chase Priority Club to avoid annual fees. - Made small purchases on the oldest cards I carry to discourage issuers from closing them for whatever reasons. - No soft CLI requests to avoid hitting maximum exposure per issuer. - Downloaded and installed RoboForm.
FAKO Scores
All the inquiries on EQ and TU have been bumped off using CreditSecure. My current FAKO scores are as follows:
EX: 762 (9 inquiries on EX but only 1 is from 2007) EQ: 783 (0 inquiries) TU: 783 (0 inquiries)
Current Accounts
Card, CL, Member Since Citi Simplicity, $33.8k, Dec 06 Citi Dividend, $2k, Oct 99 Citi Platinum, $4k, Oct 98 Citi Professional, $1k, Dec 06 Citi AT&T Universal, $4k, Dec 06 AMEX Blue, $56.7k, Dec 06 AMEX Blue Cash, $5k, May 03 BofA Money Return, $49k, Dec 06 BofA Platinum, $4k, Aug 04 BofA World Points, $1k, Dec 06 BofA Rewards AMEX, $5k, Dec 06 Chase Sony, $41.5k, Dec 06 Chase Platinum, $1k, Jul 05 Chase Flexible Rewards, $1k, Jun 06 Chase Cash Plus Rewards, $3k, Dec 06 Discover Gas, $11k, Dec 98 Discover Miles, $6k, Dec 06 Sears, $3.5k, Jan 06 Kroger 1-2-3 Rewards, $10.4k, Dec 06 PNC Rewards, $8k, Dec 06 Capital One Platinum, $2k, Dec 06
Age: 31 HHI: $125K Number of accounts: 21 Total Credit Line (personal): $255K Total Credit Line (business): $0 Total Utilization: $0 (no mortagage, no car loans, no nothing!!)
The idea is to secure more BT opportunities by applying for around 15 credit cards. I am not yet decided if I should throw some biz apps in there as I am reluctant to do it without actually owning any business.
Update: After enough research I have decided to apply for biz cards too, hurray!!!!
- Based on feedback from dealcather and JuNooNi I have removed Juniper National Parks card from the list. - Based on feedback from markkundinger I have removed all FNBO cards from the list. - Based on feedback from djspray I have removed WAMU Platinum card from the list. - Thanks to devildoc for letting me know that GE Money now has uncapped BT fees, hence it is out of the list. - On bogalusa's suggestion I have added US Bank Baylor Alumni card to the list. No fee offer may still be valid. - Added Wells Fargo Platinum card after some research. I have checking/savings accounts with them. - Finally decided to go for biz apps too; 3 biz cards added to the list. - Took out Key Bank from the list as I already have high exposure with Citi. - Economist suggested to do a BT request of $25k with the app for Lifespring VISA. - Added Chase Professional to the list. I got a targeted offer for this. - Chase WWF is out and Chase Platinum MC is in as the latter also has $25 CS bonus. - Moved Principal Bank's app to the top of the list based on cardjuggler's suggestion. - On cardjuggler's suggestion I added SunTrust Platinum to the list. - Got a pre-approved offer from HSBC, goes at the end of the list. - Citi Home Rebate is out (realloc problems reported) and replaced by Citi Drivers Edge. - Last moment additions are State Farm VISA, GE Money and Citi AMEX Platinum.
AOR was done on 17th Dec morning except for Principal Bank and US Bank Baylor Alumni cards (applied on 16th Dec).
1) Principal Bank - Deferred/Approved, $15k CL 2) US Bank Baylor Alumni - Deferred/Approved, $25k CL 3) LifeSpring VISA - Deferred/Approved, $12.5k CL 4) Advanta Business - Approved, $12.5k 5) Citi Drivers Edge - Deferred/Approved, $3.7k CL** 6) Citi Business - Deferred/Approved, $10k CL 7) BofA NEA - Approved, $5k CL 8) Chase Platinum - Deferred/Approved, $11.5k CL 9) AMEX IN:LA - Approved, $2k CL 10) Discover More - Declined, already have 2 discover cards 11) AMEX Business Freedom Pass - Deferred/Approved, $59.2k CL** 12) Chase Professional - Deferred/Approved, $15k CL 13) RBS Platinum - Deferred/Declined, too many inquiries 14) SunTrust Platinum - Deferred/Declined, excessive active bankcard accounts 15) Wells Fargo - Approved, $12k CL 16) HSBC Platinum - Approved, $6k CL 17) State Farm - Deferred/Declined, too many inquiries 18) GE Money - Deferred/Declined, too many inquiries 19) Citi AMEX Plantinum - Deferred/Approved, $8k CL**
** means no new CL, issuer reallocated CL from existing cards
Total personal cards applied/approved/declined: 15/10/5 Total business cards applied/approved/declined: 4/4/0 New personal credit line: $89k New business credit line: $37.5k
Credit Pulls EX: 5 Principal Bank, BofA NEA, AMEX IN:LA, Discover More, State Farm
Credit Pulls EQ: 12 Advanta Business, Citi Drivers Edge, Citi Business, BofA NEA, Chase Platinum, Chase Professional, Wells Fargo, HSBC Platinum, GE Money, Citi AMEX Plantinum, State Farm, RBS
Credit Pulls TU: 3 US Bank Baylor Alumni, State Farm, National City
12/17: AOR done, waiting for results and cards. 12/18: GE Money declined, too many inquiries. 12/19: AMEX Business Freedom Pass approved but reallocated CL from Blue card. This means I have hit my max exposure limit with AMEX. 12/19: Citi Drivers Edge and Citi AMEX Plantinum approved but reallocated from existing Citi cards. This means I have hit my max exposure limit with Citi. 12/19: Got e-mail from US bank that my card is approved, no CL info given. 12/20: Got e-mail from Citi that my Citi Biz card is approved, no CL info given. 12/24: Received Advanta card with $12.5k CL. SunTrust declined with excessive active bankcard accounts reason. 12/26: Received Chase Professional card with $15k CL and Baylor Alumni with $25k CL today. State Farm declined. 12/27: RBS declined citing excessive inquiries. 01/02: Received Principal Bank, Citi Business and LifeSpring VISA today. 01/10: E-mailed US bank and got the offer for 0% for 12 months with no fees. 01/12: BTed $20k from Citi Simplicity to US Bank. Plan is to request a check for the negative balance on the Citi card once it posts. 01/13: BTed $10k from Citi Simplicity to LifeSpring VISA. 01/13: BTed $12k from Citi Simplicity to Principal Bank. I am almost sure of a review and some negative action from them. 01/13: Called Chase to consolidate $39k from Sony card to Professional card. If it goes through I will have a CL of $54k on my Professional. Plan is to use the BT check I received in welcome package. 01/15: Got Advanta to transfer $11k to my checking account. 01/15: Deposited $48k Chase Professional BT check into my checking account. 01/15: Reallocated $54k from AMEX Business to AMEX Blue. This dropped my personal CL utilization. 02/01: Got my Chase Platinum card today with $11.5k CL. 02/05: Got the $42k refund check from Citi today. 02/15: Consolidated BofA cards and got $43k direct deposit. 02/16: Put in a consolidation request to move CL from Citi Simplicity to Citi Business card. I hope it goes through. 02/22: CL consolidation to Citi Biz card went through. Thats a relief!! 03/05: Got my $29.5k check from Citi. This completes my AOR.
New personal CL: $89k (10 cards) New business CL: $37.5k (4 cards) CS and card bonuses: $190 Citi ThankYou points: 30k
Total personal CL: $311k Total business CL: $82k
Card --------------------- Credit Line / BTed amount ------ Utilization ----- BT offer US Bank Baylor ------------- $25,000 / $22,000 ---------------- 80% -------- 0% for 12 months with no fees LifeSpring VISA ------------ $12,500 / $10,000 ---------------- 80% -------- 0% for 12 months with no fees Principal Bank ------------- $15,000 / $12,000 ---------------- 80% -------- 0% for 12 months with $75 fees Advanta Business ----------- $12,500 / $11,000 ---------------- 88% -------- 0% for 15 months with $90 fees Chase Professional --------- $54,000 / $48,000 ---------------- 89% -------- 0% for 12 months with $99 fees BofA NEA ------------------- $49,000 / $43,000 ---------------- 88% -------- 0% for 12 months with $30 fees Citi Business -------------- $29,000 / $33,000 ---------------- 89% -------- 0% for 12 months with no fees
Total BT (personal): $87k Total BT (business): $88k Total BT amount: $175k Total Utilization (personal): 29% Total Utilization (business): 83%
To enter a coupon code in your post please enter the following info:
Coupon Code:
Coupon Offer:
Merchant:
Expires (optional):
Restrictions (optional):
saving...
Quick Summary is created and edited by users like you... Add FAQ's, Links and other Relevant Information by clicking the edit button in the lower right hand corner of this message.
Hindustani said:This time around the idea is to secure more BT opportunities as the card bonuses have almost dried out. I think it's almost the other way around now, that there are plenty of sign up bonuses, but few good BT opportunities. It seems that all of our lists are starting to look the same, lol.
I wouldn't expect too much from Key or WAMU. Key is ran by Citi, and I'm curious how that plays into hitting a credit ceiling with them. The BucksBack is an FNBO card, right? You might get it for a short time, but might be canceled as they are quite skiddish about new lines and inqs.
You can add another citi professional card (points or cash whichever you don't have). I would also seriously think about business cards because a lot of the avenues for 0% are tapped out for you.
Stay away from Juniper unless you are a US Citizen. National city lifespring visa approved me last month and for some reason froze the account after the BT went through. They sent a letter with list of things to share (I refused income docs and other personal stuff) and eventually it took a few phonecalls and some ID verification docs before they restored it.
djspray said: I think it's almost the other way around now, that there are plenty of sign up bonuses, but few good BT opportunities. It seems that all of our lists are starting to look the same, lol.
That's true but most of the cards that give sign up bonuses are already in my wallet.
djspray said: I wouldn't expect too much from Key or WAMU. Key is ran by Citi, and I'm curious how that plays into hitting a credit ceiling with them. The BucksBack is an FNBO card, right? You might get it for a short time, but might be canceled as they are quite skiddish about new lines and inqs.
I was a little bit reluctant about Key Bank myself but decided to put in on the list for now. I also have a separate list of backup apps in case I want to replace some of the ones on the list above.
Check my aor for business CC applications with a "start up business" (meaning no real business), we seem to have pretty similar credit profiles. Its been a few days since I applied and of all the business apps I've only heard from Citi...just an e-mail saying I've been approved and card in the mail.
mhesidence said:Check my aor for business CC applications with a "start up business" (meaning no real business), we seem to have pretty similar credit profiles. Its been a few days since I applied and of all the business apps I've only heard from Citi...just an e-mail saying I've been approved and card in the mail.
Thanks mhesidence. I have been following yout thread closely, hence the mention in my original post. Good to hear about Citi biz card, I will add this one to my list too!!
dmlavigne1 said:You can add another citi professional card (points or cash whichever you don't have). I would also seriously think about business cards because a lot of the avenues for 0% are tapped out for you.
I already have the Citi Professional card with ThankYou network. I believe I cannot get the same card again. The Citi Professional Cash card doesn't have any bonus if I am correct.
When I applied few months back for the BankAtlantic Biz card and Juniper I fly america, Biz card was approved without any problem, infact instant approval but after waiting couple of days wihtout hearing anything from Juniper, I called and I have been told to provide proof of residence or citizenship. I sent them the copy of my Green Card. Finally I got approved and I consolidated I fly America card with Bank Atlantic Biz card to make limit just under $18k.
Hindustani said:dealcather said:Stay away from Juniper unless you are a US Citizen.
Thanks dealcather. Can someone second this?
I remember I used to have a Juniper card in my college days and I am not a US citizen.
Also to add further, I applied 5-6 Biz cards last month 2 Citi's, 3 Chase and 1 BankAtlantic (Barc/juniper). All have been approved and after consolidating and reallocting, I got one Chase Biz card @ 30000, did BT for $29000. I am still not sure what to do with Citi Cards as I have my car loan on 0% cards which will be ending in June 08, May be I will keep those Citi Cards clean for a backup. BTW the limits on Citi Cards are $12000 and $6000.
As for the business, I just sold one Home Depot Gift Card on eBay in my entire life and now listing few items from BF on Craigslist.
I will strongly consider removing Juniper from my list as I am neither a Citizen nor a GC holder.
One of the reasons I am so reluctant to apply for biz cards is my immigration status. Being on temporary VISA doesn't allow me to run a business (well it does but it quite complicated). So my applying for biz cards I am kind of violating my status (not sure though). I just want to play it safe I guess.
Yes you are right about messing with the immigiration status. I wouldn't recommend anyone who are on temp. Visa to apply for Biz cards. You might get few or all of them but but if it somehow effects your immigiration status then it's only a loss-loss situation. Play safe with IRS and INS.
JuNooNi said:Yes you are right about messing with the immigiration status. I wouldn't recommend anyone who are on temp. Visa to apply for Biz cards. You might get few or all of them but but if it somehow effects your immigiration status then it's only a loss-loss situation. Play safe with IRS and INS.
Thanks. I could technically still apply for biz cards because I have my EAD card (though GC is still years away).
Consider USBank Baylor card, at least for purposes of utilization percentage. See my AOR for details and possibly other ideas.
Your thread has been in my favorites for a while now I did look at the US Bank Baylor card but they seem to have no cap 3% BT fee. I guess the no BT offer is no longer valid.
Disclaimer: By providing links to other sites, FatWallet.com does not guarantee, approve or endorse the information or products available at these sites, nor does a link indicate any association with or endorsement by the linked site to FatWallet.com.
