Update 5/7/08: Whew! I started loading all the pages into tabs in FF around 12:30 PM and filling them out (for later simultaneous submission) but various sites were timing me out after 15-30 mins and Discover's site was down so I felt like the little kid sticking his finger in the dike. Around 2:30 I said forget it and started submitting the first forms, but those few (Junipers) that didn't SAY they had timed out gave errors on submission. I basically started all over, click back back back here and there to get things going again and was done around 3:30. I called Swift at 3:45 and was on with them till just after 5:00! I'll detail that (postitive) experience along with my results in the follow up post.
Update 5/6/08: Wow, it takes a lot more time and followup to organize an AOR than I'd hoped. I've gone back over all my apps and updated the ones that have changed. Big thanks for all the comments and better app links, you guys rock. I've updated the app list and moved it to the bottom. I'm planning to go over it one more time in the AM and start applying tomorrow (5/7). Last minute comments/ cuts/ additions welcome.
OP - 4/30/08: I'm organizing for my first AOR, was going to start it tomorrow but I think I'll wait till Monday... and am looking for feedback/advice/tweaks from the experienced ppl here to get the most and highest new CLs. I've spent the last 3 full (dizzying) days reading dozens of AOR threads here and think it best to post in advance for any feedback.
Objective: I'm trying to get as much cash as possible for one of my businesses (this is my day job, I own the co's 100%). Whatever I get out ought to do ~25% return in the next 4 months so I'm not too concerned about BT fees, though it would be nice to keep them at a minimum. The window is only open for about 3-4 mos, thus I'll be paying 80-100% of the balances off in the fall; latest by the end of this year if it doesn't go well. I'm not targeting rewards/points/Cash Back or purchase rates, just want low BT rates and fees.
Please keep the following questions in mind as you read, I'd really appreciate the help/feedback: - How much does the order of the apps matter? I don't fully understand what goes in to determining the order of the apps. - Since I already have cards with a lot of the usual banks (some multiple like Citi), is it bad to try for more with them? - Citi has a "shortcut" for existing customers on the Associated Bank card app for existing card members, is that safe to use? - Is it really bad to do this all in one sitting on a Thurs or Fri morning? I _could_ wait till next Mon or Tue. Should I spread it across multiple days or weeks? - Does it help or hurt that its the first of the month? Only thing I can think of is offers might change. - Ever BT'd a lot to a BoA debit card? Some say it works, some say no. All the money needs to wind up in L's BoA checking acct.
Pertinent Info: Biz 1: S-Corp (S) - high 6 fig gross rev, the main co, 5 yrs in biz Biz 2: LLC (L) - mid 5 fig gross rev, almost 2 yrs in biz Personal: (P) HHI: 205k CC Debt: 14k riding a P WAMU 1.9% card deal for S Mortgage: ~390k bought the house 10/07, refi'd 02/08, old mtg shows paid and the new one isn't showing up yet on my CR 2 closed auto loans. Never had student loans.
Pre-AOR cards: P (3) Citi 25k CL each (75k CL total, just CLI'd via the luv button yesterday; was 20k total before, still showing 20k on my CR today) P Chase 16k CL P BoA Plat+ Visa 30k CL (was 25k, just got 5k CLI online today) P HSBC GM Card 10k CL P WAMU 15.5k CL (14k used riding @ 1.9%) P AMEX Cash Rebate 5k CL (my main "walking around" card) P AMEX Blue 4k CL P Discover 8k CL P Misc store cards, low CLs, I never use them.
S AMEX Biz Gold (NPSL, main card for this co, 6k current mo bal, gets PIF monthly) S AMEX Cash Rebate 41k CL S AMEX Capital Line 10k CL S Citi Biz Plat Select 24k CL (was 19k, just got 5k CLI via the luv button yesterday) S Advanta 23k (10k current mo bal, main MC for places that don't take AMEX, gets PIF monthly) S BoA Plat+ Biz 35k CL
L BoA Plat+ Biz 10k CL (5k on it, riding @ 1.9%) L BoA Capital Line 10k CL (3k on it, riding @ 1.9%)
Total P CL: 163k (9% util) Total Biz CL: 153k (0% util)
Goal: to get combined CL's over 500k so I can take _at least_ 400k out and still support daily operations.
TC Fako on 4/30/08: TU 772 EX 762 EQ 762 CK Fako on 4/30/08: 882 PFICO Apr 2008: 752
Other: I don't have a D&B file for L, but I do for S with 1 tradeline. Not sure of the paydex score, and I don't feel like paying them to find out. L's cards are only 10 mos old. S also has EQ file, L does not. I'm very interested in keeping the biz's separate from each other and myself, thus no Citi Professional card and all cash from pers cards is carefully documented as loans. CLR's between P and S or L might be ok, but its a low priority. None of my CRs are frozen, I don't have access to do it other than TU via TC. I _could_ make up a sole prop for myself to get more cc's, but my taxes are already complicated enough... is it worth it? I don't want to state projected income for S or L, I'll use 2007 info in case of doc requests/adverse action/FR.
At the end, I'll probably just click through SiS' sticky and see what else I can roll the dice on. I'm going to wait to use cc access checks I have on existing cards so I don't scare Citi/Chase/BoA. Huge thanks to Sis, swishyx and everyone else who's posted about an AOR in the last 6 mos.
Apps:
Here's the original list, results/last minute changes go in the followup post as they come in:
Ent Bank Card Name Type BTR BTM BTF URL
P Brclys iFly Visa 0% 12 $50 Link - see also Link
S Brclys BankAtl Biz MC 0% 15 $75 Link
L Brclys BankAtl Biz MC 0% 15 $75 Link
P Citi Associated Visa 0% 12 $0 Link
P AMEX In:NYC AMEX 0% 6 $0 Link
L Citi Biz TY MC 0% 12 $0 Link
P BoA Nea Rewards AMEX 0% 12 $30 Link
L Advanta Plat Biz MC 0% 15 $90 Link
S Citi Biz TY MC 0% 12 $0 Link
S Chase BizCshRwd5% Visa 0% 12 $99 Link
L Chase BizCshRwd5% Visa 0% 12 $99 Link
P Chase Plat Visa 0% 12 $75 Link
S Discvr Biz Card Disc 0% 12 $75 Link
L Discvr Biz Card Disc 0% 12 $75 Link
P Discvr More Card Disc 0% 6 $75 Link
P St Farm Good Nghbr Visa 0% 9 $0 Link
P WAMU Espn Card Visa 0% 6 $0 Link
S HSBC Biz Card MC 0% 6 $0 Link
L HSBC Biz Card MC 0% 6 $0 Link
P FIA Mrl Lynch Visa 2% 12 $75 Link
P BoA Elite Rwds MC 0% 12 3% Link
P BoA Money Rtrn Visa 0% 12 3% Link
P GEM Cash Rwds MC 0% 12 3% Link
P InfiBk Prncpl Plat Visa 0% 9 3% Link
S WAMU Biz Card Visa 0%W 12 3% Link (targeted)
L WAMU Biz Card Visa 0%W 12 3% Link (targeted)
P RBS Pples Plat MC 0% 8 $60W Link
P USBank Baylor Alum Visa 0% 12 $0W Link
P USBank LinuxFund Visa 0% 12 $0W Link
P Elan M&T Bank Visa 0% 12 $0W Link
S M&I Swift Fin. CL/Visa P=0-14% nana Link (targeted)
CapOne No great BT offers I see, don't need another daily spender
Nat City I'm out of their area and not already a customer
Wells Fargo I'm out of their area and not already a customer
SomeOtherChick said: Please keep the following questions in mind as you read, I'd really appreciate the help/feedback: - How much does the order of the apps matter? I don't fully understand what goes in to determining the order of the apps. - Since I already have cards with a lot of the usual banks (some multiple like Citi), is it bad to try for more with them? - Citi has a "shortcut" for existing customers on the Associated Bank card app for existing card members, is that safe to use? - Is it really bad to do this all in one sitting on a Thurs or Fri morning? I _could_ wait till next Mon or Tue. Should I spread it across multiple days or weeks? - Does it help or hurt that its the first of the month? Only thing I can think of is offers might change. - Ever BT'd a lot to a BoA debit card? Some say it works, some say no. All the money needs to wind up in L's BoA checking acct.
This will be fun! Some thoughts:
1. Order: apply for the more attractive/important cards first. 2. Multiple from same issuer: controversial subject and more relevant issuer by issuer. Citi and Chase are multi-app friendly in my experience. 3. Associated shortcut - I used it. Make sure to ask for a fat BT. 4. Do it all in one sitting. Use Roboform or some other field filler. 5. Timing - I don't know that time of month has any impact. 6. Transfer vehicle - Citi is getting more restrictive. No experience with Debit. Try HELOC? There should be a thread on creative ways. Plus many of cards will come with a convenience check.
6. Transfer vehicle - Citi is getting more restrictive. No experience with Debit. Try HELOC? There should be a thread on creative ways. Plus many of cards will come with a convenience check.
Be careful with the convenience checks. In a previous unofficial AOR - I found out a business like Advanta who sends convenience checks considers them cash advances - therefore making it useless.
Chase on Monday denied a business app with a 750 credit score for too many inquiries. Total number was 8 (all in the last 24 hours from the pull). Lots of reports of Citi not liking inquiries either, so it may be worth it to backdoor Experian and watch for inquiries as they come in - and consider freezing after a set number.
Discover and Elan seem to not like more than about 2 business cards in the bucket..
So consider inquiries when planning it - I did associated bank first - got 25k (had to call), bank atlantic next with 20k (instant), ESPN Total Rewards next with 10k instant, and at that point they started to get uppity.. YMMV, as always. The next Citi only hit 3k, Discover and Merrick are TBD still..
markkundinger
Senior Member - 2K
posted: May. 1, 2008 @ 6:26a
More banks are getting more skittish about multiple apps. Definitely rank apps in order so that the first ones out are for the cards most likely to generate the most 0% money. Something like one citibank card, then one chase biz card, then one BofA card, then one AMX card, etc.
Also, you currently list the bank for several juniper cards as "discovr".
Discover *might* limit you to two apps across all entities. Likewise, don't know what advanta will do with LLC versus S-corp. Might be worth clarifying in advance, so as to not waste an inquiry.
If you are worried about the threat of adverse action, I would probably cut the AOR in about half or a third. If you don't mind the risk of lines getting closed, then go for it.
Here's a CitiBusiness card with no BT fee. I recently did a CitiBusiness PremierPass card also without the BT fee, but I can't find the link. Perhaps somebody else has it.
For WAMU, the ESPN card is 0% w/ no BT fee, though only for 6 months.
For the LinuxFund card, there is no BT fee with the Visa Platinum Card.
For the Associated Bank, I didn't use the shortcut to be safe, but I don't know if it would have mattered. I got a $15K CL without even asking for a BT.
I think I've also seen a Citi Professional card out there with 0% and no fee. You can probably find it on one of the threads here in FW.
I usually only do mini-AORs with about 6 cards every 6 months or so, so I wouldn't be the best person to give you advice on that many apps. Good luck!
No BT fee game is ending quickly. I did an A0R a month ago and Citi Pro Cash and US Bank Linux had 0 BT Fee, now they don't. The best I could find now on Citi Personal cards was the Citi Pro and it had a $50 fee. You might want to get started sooner rather than later, as the Citi Pro Cash just changed in the past few days. The card selection link was even broken.
Looks like you have your Juniper cards listed as Discover cards in your OP. Tip on Juni - go for the iFly instead of the National Parks. iFly gives you a $15 statement credit after purchase or BT. National Parks is supposed to give some bag but I never got one and don't know anyone who has.
Also, you might be able to get the Citi Biz without the BT fee, even though I know you said you don't mind the BT fees. Here's the link I used... Citi Biz (thanks Swish!)
Oh yeah, thanks for the Baylor link. All of my links showed 3% BT fee. Your link had 0 BT. GREEN!
(EDIT) - another gem from swish. Accessorize and set up an account online when you do your Citi Assoc card so you can check the status (if you don't get immediately approved). Citi Assoc is a separate site than Citi Personal. Here's the post from my A0R thread:
swishyx said: On the personal card - did you get the accessorize page & set up an account online login at the end of the app? If so, you can try logging in to determine status. For my Citi Associates Bank I think it said something like my account was not set up "yet," and later in the week I was able to get in well before receiving the card.
TyroneSchulace said: Per Advanta CSR, second card will be approved only if second biz has its own D&B at a SEPARATE address from the first.
I've read more than once that you're limited to 1 advanta per SSN, no matter what. If what you're saying is true, it is hot, although I've seen them give very low $2.5k lines often now.
Green for OP, this looks like it will be a well planned 2 entity AOR. Really can't wait to see the results! HSBC wants a 4506 for their biz cards as I remember. You may want to add Nat City, Cap 1 to the list. GE has some cobranded personal cards as well you can add.
PolarDude said: I've read more than once that you're limited to 1 advanta per SSN, no matter what. If what you're saying is true, it is hot, although I've seen them give very low $2.5k lines often now.Also must have different TINs. I was denied. I have more than one legit biz, different TINs, each with D&B, but same address. CSR said it was the address that killed the deal.
I got large lines by requesting large BTs with apps.
PolarDude
Senior Member - 1K
posted: May. 5, 2008 @ 8:47p
Getting different addresses with D&B is pretty easy. I may try this on my next AOR
SomeOtherChick
Senior Member
posted: May. 6, 2008 @ 9:16p
I've updated the OP... looking for last minute comments, I'm going to do the apps tomorrow AM.
markkundinger
Senior Member - 2K
posted: May. 7, 2008 @ 6:15a
Good Catch on the People's RBS card being a slightly better deal (by 3 months) than the regular RBS card.
Doing two biz apps each for Discover Biz and BankAtlantic Biz, and even HSBC biz is going to be somewhat "experimental", and I look forward to hearing how it goes for you.
I don't predict good things from three personal WAMU apps. The targeted offers traditionally yield better credit lines. But it doesn't look from you list like they have a good BT deal. So it's a conundrum.
Simultaneous separate entity Bank Atl Biz apps; my fingers are crossed in hopeful anticipation. I attempted to communicate with an ebonics CSR last time around who said it should be a go.
SomeOtherChick
Senior Member
posted: May. 7, 2008 @ 5:26p
7/14/08 4pm Update: Final update to this post. I accomplished what I wanted and got the cash I needed.
- Scores updated below. They've understandably tanked, though not as bad as I thought they might. - Final card results are updated below as are INQs. - Not all cc's came with convenience checks (that was a pita) and I didn't note how quickly the cards came, I really wish I had. - In the future I think I'll do rolling mini-AOR's, there's no point in trying to do it all at once, it took a lot longer to set up and stay organized and the INQ's show up instantly so there's no outrunning them.
FIA CSNA 5/20/2008 TransUnion
WASH MUTUAL CARD SERVI 5/13/2008 Experian
STATE FARM FINANCIAL S 5/8/2008 Experian
STATEFARM 5/8/2008 Equifax
FIRST USA NA 5/8/2008 TransUnion
INFIBANK 5/7/2008 Experian
CHASE BANK USA, NA 5/7/2008 Experian
CBSD/UFC 5/7/2008 Experian
CHASE BANK USA, NA 5/7/2008 Experian
U S BANK CONSOLIDATED 5/7/2008 Experian
CITI 5/7/2008 Experian
SWIFT/M&I 5/7/2008 Experian
BANK OF AMERICA 5/7/2008 Experian
WASH MUTUAL/PROVIDIAN 5/7/2008 Experian
FIA CSNA 5/7/2008 Experian
ADVANTA FINANCIAL CORP 5/7/2008 Experian
GEMB/GEMON 5/7/2008 Equifax
PEOPLES CC 5/7/2008 Equifax
SWIFT/M&I 5/7/2008 Equifax
ST FARM BANK 5/7/2008 TransUnion
BRCLYSBANKDE 5/7/2008 TransUnion
KROLL FACTUAL DATA/060 1/9/2008 Experian
FACTL DTA 1/9/2008 Equifax
FDC 1/9/2008 TransUnion
5/12/08 4pm Update:
- Scores updated below. Looks like the First USA Inq is the only change @TU accounting for the 2pt drop there and the 13 pt drop @CK.
- WAMU Biz - I got the welcome packet for S's WAMU biz card today. A letter with it says they reduced the BT to 15.3k (90% of the 17k CL)
- Got a letter from Chase to S/me saying that app is a dupe so they're ignoring it. Weird since I submitted S's first, then L, then P. Thinking of calling if I get a sec.
- The BoA Nea Rwds (8k) and an FIA 5k CL account (don't know which, assuming the ML card) are on my EX report already... weird for them to report so fast when I haven't received anything in the mail from either yet.
INQ's appear to have stabilized, though it doesn't look like RBS, M&T, or Discover pulled yet. I'm assuming CBSD is Citi.
STATE FARM FINANCIAL S 5/8/2008 Experian
STATEFARM 5/8/2008 Equifax
FIRST USA NA 5/8/2008 TransUnion
BANK OF AMERICA 5/7/2008 Experian
INFIBANK 5/7/2008 Experian
CBSD/UFC 5/7/2008 Experian
CHASE BANK USA, NA 5/7/2008 Experian
CHASE BANK USA, NA 5/7/2008 Experian
U S BANK CONSOLIDATED 5/7/2008 Experian
CITI 5/7/2008 Experian
SWIFT/M&I 5/7/2008 Experian
WASH MUTUAL/PROVIDIAN 5/7/2008 Experian
FIA CSNA 5/7/2008 Experian
ADVANTA FINANCIAL CORP 5/7/2008 Experian
GEMB/GEMON 5/7/2008 Equifax
PEOPLES CC 5/7/2008 Equifax
SWIFT/M&I 5/7/2008 Equifax
ST FARM BANK 5/7/2008 TransUnion
BRCLYSBANKDE 5/7/2008 TransUnion
KROLL FACTUAL DATA/060 1/9/2008 Experian
FACTL DTA 1/9/2008 Equifax
FDC 1/9/2008 TransUnion
5/9/08 2pm Update:
Scores are updated below, EX is tanking as expected. Apparently St. Farm went and pulled the other two CRA's. I'm learning a bit about how TC shows INQ's... the two TU INQs that showed as "alerts" yesterday now show in the list, while the First USA one is out of the list, but appears as an "alert"... apparently you have to combine them to get the whole picture. Talked w Advanta and Discover:
- Advanta rejected - an individual can be primary on only one Advanta account. The way around it she said is to have a partner or spouse or other company officer apply for (guarantee) the second account then add me as an employee card. I think I'll try that, as Advanta is the best deal going and L could use the credit.
- Discover Biz - called me b/c we moved within the last 8 mos, so they needed to verify the address. S got approved, but he didn't tell me the CL. I asked about the P app, and he transferred me to the consumer rep. She said the P app had been flagged as duplicate b/c I already have an old Discover card and encouraged me to close the old one, I said keep the old and please process the new, then went through the same thing with the address. She also had a problem with the fact that I was calling from work and my line did not match the main biz line I'd put on the app. She had to call me on that # as "proof" that my app was legit. That got approved too, but didn't tell me the CL either. No idea what happened to L's biz app... I'll follow up on that next wk. Weird that Discover isn't in the list of pulls, maybe they pulled while I was on the line? Neither rep mentioned the high # of INQs.
- Citibank 1 for 2 - I got two emails, one saying my biz app was approved and another saying my biz app is a dupe and they only allow one biz app per individual and company every 90 days. No idea which biz got approved and which biz got denied, I guess I have to wait for the card to come.
STATE FARM FINANCIAL S 5/8/2008 Experian
STATEFARM 5/8/2008 Equifax
CITI 5/7/2008 Experian
BANK OF AMERICA 5/7/2008 Experian
INFIBANK 5/7/2008 Experian
CBSD/UFC 5/7/2008 Experian
CHASE BANK USA, NA 5/7/2008 Experian
CHASE BANK USA, NA 5/7/2008 Experian
U S BANK CONSOLIDATED 5/7/2008 Experian
SWIFT/M&I 5/7/2008 Experian
WASH MUTUAL/PROVIDIAN 5/7/2008 Experian
FIA CSNA 5/7/2008 Experian
ADVANTA FINANCIAL CORP 5/7/2008 Experian
GEMB/GEMON 5/7/2008 Equifax
PEOPLES CC 5/7/2008 Equifax
SWIFT/M&I 5/7/2008 Equifax
ST FARM BANK 5/7/2008 TransUnion
BRCLYSBANKDE 5/7/2008 TransUnion
KROLL FACTUAL DATA/060 1/9/2008 Experian
FACTL DTA 1/9/2008 Equifax
FDC 1/9/2008 TransUnion
5/8/08 Noon Update:
I'll update my score changes below. I got an email from Advanta saying I couldn't have two cards but they want to keep their customers happy so I can call to discuss it. I updated TC and CK around noon and practically everyone pulled EX (see below). The weird thing is that TC shows alerts for 3 more TU pulls that aren't showing on the updated report... anyone else seen this? Also, it looks like the Swift guy went and pulled my EQ too, maybe to see a rpt with fewer INQs. Maybe being nice on the phone helps.
INQs:
FIRST USA NA 5/8/2008 TransUnion
CHASE BANK USA, NA 5/7/2008 Experian
CITI 5/7/2008 Experian
BANK OF AMERICA 5/7/2008 Experian
INFIBANK 5/7/2008 Experian
CBSD/UFC 5/7/2008 Experian
CHASE BANK USA, NA 5/7/2008 Experian
U S BANK CONSOLIDATED 5/7/2008 Experian
SWIFT/M&I 5/7/2008 Experian
WASH MUTUAL/PROVIDIAN 5/7/2008 Experian
FIA CSNA 5/7/2008 Experian
ADVANTA FINANCIAL CORP 5/7/2008 Experian
GEMB/GEMON 5/7/2008 Equifax
PEOPLES CC 5/7/2008 Equifax
SWIFT/M&I 5/7/2008 Equifax
KROLL FACTUAL DATA/060 1/9/2008 Experian
FACTL DTA 1/9/2008 Equifax
FDC 1/9/2008 TransUnion
5/7/08 5PM Initial Results:
Even though I spent all afternoon, it really only took about 1 hour of submitting. Thanks Venturion for the tip on RoboForm (and everything else).
My TC FAKO's had ticked up just slightly a few days pre-AOR:
5/6/08 TC: TU 772 EX 765 EQ 763 CK: 882
5/8/08 TC: TU 771 EX 741 EQ 756 CK: 879
5/9/08 TC: TU 768 EX 738 EQ 754 CK: 875
5/12/08 TC: TU 766 EX 738 EQ 754 CK: 862
7/14/08 TC: TU 694 EX 674 EQ 700 CK: 751
I'm chopping the links and condensing things so I have room for comments.
Apps in italics were skipped. W stands for "with application"
Ent Bank Card Name Type BTR BTM BTF Status CL
P Brclys iFly Visa 0% 12 $50 def,APV 15k - came with convenience check
S Brclys BankAtl Biz MC 0% 15 $75 def,APV 15k
L Brclys BankAtl Biz MC 0% 15 $75 def,REJ 0 - duplicate app, will try again next AOR
P Citi Associated Visa 0% 12 $0 INST 25k - best card of the lot
P AMEX In:NYC AMEX 0% 6 $0 REJ their excuse: I already have 4 cards with them!?
L Citi Biz TY MC 0% 12 $0 def,APV 12k - best card for L
P BoA Nea Rewards AMEX 0% 12 $30 INST 8k - reallocated other line here and used convenience check (which came 5 weeks after acct opening)
L Advanta Plat Biz MC 0% 15 $90 def,REJ 0 - can't be primary cardholder on more than one Advanta acct
S Citi Biz TY MC 0% 12 $0 def,REJ 0 - can't have more than one CitiBiz card for same business
S Chase BizCshRwd5% Visa 0% 12 $99 def,REJ 0 - dupe, they processed L first, said to apply after L was done
L Chase BizCshRwd5% Visa 0% 12 $99 def,REJ 0 - L doesn't have a D&B file or it's own util. bills so they wouldn't grant it credit
P Chase Plat Visa 0% 12 $75 def,??? 0 - Never heard, I ran into trouble with some submissions so I'm guessing this one error'd out
S Discvr Biz Card Disc 0% 12 $75 def,APV 6.5k - discover gives PUNY lines, rep said 6.5k was big for them. ick.
P Discvr More Card Disc 0% 6 $75 def,APV 8k - wanted to close out my old card, I said no, but they might've since I don't see an inq from them
L Discvr Biz Card Disc 0% 12 $75 def,REJ 0 - dupe, an individual can't have 2 biz apps at the same time, even for different businesses
P St Farm Good Nghbr Visa 0% 9 $0 def,REJ 0 - too many inq's excuse, they checked all 3 bureaus, might be good standalone or done first
P WAMU Espn Card Visa 0% 6 $0 INST 10k
S HSBC Biz Card MC 0% 6 $0 Their app is phone or mail, I don't have time for that
L HSBC Biz Card MC 0% 6 $0 Their app is phone or mail, I don't have time for that
P FIA Mrl Lynch Visa 2% 12 $75 def,APV 5k - small line, but convenience checks came quickly so I used one
P BoA Elite Rwds MC 0% 12 3% def,APV 0 - no new credit, they took 10k from my existing BofA Plat Plus Visa line and allocated it here
P BoA Money Rtrn Visa 0% 12 3% BT changed to 6 mos + I got cold feet about doing another BoA/FIA
P GEM Cash Rwds MC 0% 12 3% def,REJ 0 - couldn't verify my address, I had a Syms store card from GEMB statements still went to my old address, oops.
P InfiBk Prncpl Plat Visa 0% 9 3% def,REJ 0 - too many INQ's, they are very sensitive to INQ's, apply here early next time
S WAMU Biz Card Visa 0%W 12 3% INST 17k - req'd 19k BT, they cut it to 15.3k
L WAMU Biz Card Visa 0%W 12 3% Got cold feet since above used SSN not EIN
P RBS Pples Plat MC 0% 8 $60W def,APV 10k - req 15k BT to pre-AORWAMU card w/app, they cut BT to 9500
P Elan USBk Baylor Alum Visa 0% 12 $0W I realized USBank uses Elan so I skipped this one
P Elan USBk LinxFund Visa 0% 12 $0W def,APV 15k - BT 12k to AMEX Cash Rebate, which AMEX accepted even though its 2.5x my CL on that card!
S* Elan M&T Bank Visa 0% 12 $0W def,APV 21k - req 20k BT to pre-AORAMEX npsl w/app, bt went through no problem
L* Elan M&T Bank Visa 0% 12 $0W def,APV 15k - req 12k BT to BoA CL w/app, bt went through no problem
S M&I Swift Fin. CL/Visa P=0-14% na INST 15k Extensive talk w/underwriter, see below
Addtl Comments going in order: - The BankAtlantic's took SSN only, so I don't expect to get them both. - AMEX said that since I already have 4 cards with them I can't have more. I only have 2 personal cards though. S's npsl, cash rebate, and biz cl don't show on my CR and shouldn't count imho. I could have called them, but I probably have too many INQs now. Save that for AOR 2.0. - I did the Discover More Card (P) before the second Discover Biz (L) due to the warnings in the posts here. I'll cancel L if I have to cancel one. - Turns out HSBC only takes apps over the phone or mail for new customers and I was trying to hurry, so I skipped them. Save for AOR 2.0 - The Money Return terms changed to only 6 mos @ 0%, and I didn't realize BofA and FIA are one in the same (at least they use the same signup forms) so I skipped this one. - The targeted WAMU Biz card app I had only took the SSN, so I only did it for S and skipped L. I'm guessing this will report to my personal CR. - The Baylor Alum app looked like others so I realized the last four were really all Elan. I didn't (still don't) know if Elan does the underwriting or if they just take the app and pass it on, so I picked the linux one - I didn't go to Baylor and Tux is a cute little penguin. - *Turns out the M&T app is a Biz app but I had it down as personal, so I doubled up and did both S and L.
S - Swift Financial: I should have started with them. I wound up talking directly with the underwriter for a while and he said the big problem was that I already had 12 inq's on my EX report today and even though he understood I was shopping for credit he couldn't give me more than 15k @ prime + 9.99% (I was asking for 100k at prime + 0%). Apparently they always pull Experian because its cheapest, though they can pull the others if they want. They don't like seeing more than 3-5 inqs in the past 6 mos. Also signed up for their checking product which is the only one I've seen that gives you a check scanner for free. By comparison when I asked last week Citi wanted $300 for the scanner, plus you had to get an analyzed acct which is $60/mo.
All in all I'm happy with the results. I was hoping for $100k in instant CLs but 75k isn't bad. I can see how freezing EX next time would help (I won't get to see my CR till tomorrow AM - going off the info from the Swift guy).
I'm done updating this post but will happily reply to questions below.
markkundinger
Senior Member - 2K
posted: May. 7, 2008 @ 7:57p
Crap, should have noticed the Infibank/prinicipal bank app in there. no way you're going to get it, there will be a reject for too many inquiries.
And remember, most big decisions come from deferrals, so any amount of instants is good. Especially with WAMU in your case. I hope the fees on the targeted card are capped?
SomeOtherChick
Senior Member
posted: May. 8, 2008 @ 11:44a
markkundinger said: Crap, should have noticed the Infibank/prinicipal bank app in there. no way you're going to get it, there will be a reject for too many inquiries.
And remember, most big decisions come from deferrals, so any amount of instants is good. Especially with WAMU in your case. I hope the fees on the targeted card are capped?
Thanks for the info... I'd never heard of Infibank, just found the link on another AOR so I went for it. I can always try again in 6-12 mos.
Not sure which WAMU you're looking at... both ESPN and the targeted biz one came back instantly. I skipped the second one for L. Maybe you meant another card?
swishyx
Senior Member
posted: May. 8, 2008 @ 4:10p
Sweet AOR. Very interested in the results. Nice achievement there with the WAMU cards.
markkundinger
Senior Member - 2K
posted: May. 8, 2008 @ 5:02p
oh, and for more details, infibank is a part of first national bank of omaha. And they HATE seeing lots of inquiries when they field an application. And they often pull a credit bureau late, so it's often pointless to apply for them in an AOR.
ALL my WAMU biz targeted offers have been uncapped, and my wife even gets 4% uncapped.
SomeOtherChick
Senior Member
posted: May. 9, 2008 @ 11:16p
Argh! Figures... I do my AOR and two days later what comes in the mail? A SWEET targeted Chase offer for a Plat Visa with 0% for 15 mos bt and purch, $0 bt fee with app, and 6.99% APR FIXED after the 15 mos... oh well.
SomeOtherChick said: Argh! Figures... I do my AOR and two days later what comes in the mail? A SWEET targeted Chase offer for a Plat Visa with 0% for 15 mos bt and purch, $0 bt fee with app, and 6.99% APR FIXED after the 15 mos... oh well.
So? Apply for that puppy.
SomeOtherChick
Senior Member
posted: May. 12, 2008 @ 4:02p
VanceWade said: SomeOtherChick said: Argh! Figures... I do my AOR and two days later what comes in the mail? A SWEET targeted Chase offer for a Plat Visa with 0% for 15 mos bt and purch, $0 bt fee with app, and 6.99% APR FIXED after the 15 mos... oh well.
So? Apply for that puppy.
I would love to, but do you really think they'll approve it with the 19 new INQ's I have?
markkundinger
Senior Member - 2K
posted: May. 12, 2008 @ 4:59p
Remember, they'll only see the inquiries on the bureau they pulled for the other apps. So it will only look like 6
SomeOtherChick
Senior Member
posted: May. 14, 2008 @ 5:42p
Weird... I got an email from GE Money Bank directing me to their secure messaging site. The page says they're declining my app because they are "UNABLE TO VERIFY IDENTITY" It said they pulled my EQ and I could write EQ for a copy of my CR. Would calling GEMB help (there's no phone # on the page)? I've never run into this before, seems like an odd reason to decline... they didn't call or email for clarification and my EQ report as seen via TC is accurate.
markkundinger
Senior Member - 2K
posted: May. 14, 2008 @ 9:07p
Yes it's definitely worth a call.
Go to www.Equifax.com/fcra, pull the report from them, check for discrepancies with names, addresses, and employers, then call GEMB and ask them what the problem is.
philbert80
New Member
posted: May. 20, 2008 @ 8:27a
Also signed up for their checking product which is the only one I've seen that gives you a check scanner for free. By comparison when I asked last week Citi wanted $300 for the scanner, plus you had to get an analyzed acct which is $60/mo.
While there is no initial cost for the Swift remote deposit scanner, there is a monthly scanner fee when average daily balances are less than $15K.
LaJollaInvestor
Senior Member
posted: May. 20, 2008 @ 6:59p
philbert80 said: Also signed up for their checking product which is the only one I've seen that gives you a check scanner for free. By comparison when I asked last week Citi wanted $300 for the scanner, plus you had to get an analyzed acct which is $60/mo.
While there is no initial cost for the Swift remote deposit scanner, there is a monthly scanner fee when average daily balances are less than $15K.
Any other info on Swift?
I just was approved for their BLOC today (targeted offer)
Maybe they are targeting all the FW girls
philbert80
New Member
posted: May. 21, 2008 @ 7:16a
You can check out their website at www.swiftfinancial.com
lhendricks92
Senior Member - 1K
posted: May. 28, 2008 @ 11:34a
any updates?
SomeOtherChick
Senior Member
posted: May. 28, 2008 @ 11:53a
lhendricks92 said: any updates?
Thanks for the reminder, I'll update the followup a little later this afternoon.
SomeOtherChick said: lhendricks92 said: any updates?Thanks for the reminder, I'll update the followup a little later this afternoon.any updates?
zxx7x
Member
posted: Jul. 14, 2008 @ 2:19p
How did you end up doing with the Advanta Plat Bus? The approved me but gave me a puny line, wondering if you tried for a credit line increase before a BT, thanks.
SomeOtherChick
Senior Member
posted: Jul. 14, 2008 @ 3:11p
Hi again. Sorry for the delayed followup, I've been busy doing "real work" - this was my Biz-Boost AOR after all
@zxx7z - no, I didn't get approved for the Advanta, they said an individual can be primary cardholder on only one acct, I could have biz partner or spouse sign up and add me as an additional card holder though. IIRC, S's original line was 10k in 2004 and through auto CLI's is up to 23k now.
In summary, I think I bit off a bit much for my first AOR but am happy with the results. It would be a lot easier to manage a few apps every 3-6 mos, so I think that's what I'll do beginning next year (after most of these cards are paid) assuming I can still find a good place to invest the cash (something better than the silly 5% accounts everyone seems to use).
Huge thanks again to everyone who posted to help me. Good luck to everyone else doing AOR's and feel free to ask questions here, I'm happy to help if I can.
Pangloss1980
Member
posted: Jul. 25, 2008 @ 7:59p
SomeOtherChick said: Hi again. In summary, I think I bit off a bit much for my first AOR but am happy with the results. It would be a lot easier to manage a few apps every 3-6 mos There's a reason we bunch them - CCCs don't like to see new accounts/inquiries, where 6 months old still counts as "new." Rolling from one card's BT to another is obviously what we'd all love to do, best of luck trying to pull it off. SomeOtherChick said: assuming I can still find a good place to invest the cash (something better than the silly 5% accounts everyone seems to use). If only "silly 5% accounts" were something I could still get my AOR money into
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