CardCollector

Point taken, but they hadn't budged despite being open for years. WIth a now clear credit report and other cards with a far higher credit line, it was time to be done with them.

Thanks to all for the prospectives! After searching their website, I found the card type I had was more reflective of my credit situation of 10 years ago. I should have looked into this a while ago. I called Cap1 for the PC, and was able to keep the same type of card with no AF. The rewards aren't great, but this card sees infrequent use a backup and for utilization. They no longer combine limits so I decided to just close the other toy card I had with them. Being down to a single card, it's possible they'll be more willing to do a CLI on the remaining card now.

I'm working on getting rid of toy cards and those with annual fees. For example, I just closed a Chase card as it stayed at $3k and they wouldn't budge. I'm considering closing the Cap1 with the annual fee, but as it's one of my older cards I'm slightly concerned about the impact on the average age of acounts. Will this be significant enough to be a consideration? I know Cap1 doesn't combine limits anymore, but if I close one account, will they be more willing to give me a CLI on the remaining account? Is a better option to see if Cap1 might be willing to do a product change to eliminate the fee? Here's my current situation -- utilization across all accounts is minimal: Card -- limit -- year opened Firestone $10k 2012 Citi $25k 2016 PayPal $8k 2016 AmEx $10k 2017 BofA $15k 2015 Walmart (Cap1) $4k 2013 Credit Union $16k 2017 Cap1 $12k 2012 (AF $39) USBank $15k 2020

You should try logging in again and see if they give you access. It worked for both me and my wife and we owed them about 50k on cc's and a second mortgage. My last payment transaction with them was back in January 2010. I just tried before writing my original message. No dice.

Welcome to CB. I've Been there, done that. It can be fixed. First, the AU can be taken care of quickly. I was once able to get AmEx to stop reporting to the CRA's a card I was an AU on. A quick phone call should take care of that. Secondly, consider how you got to this point. Quite a few of us didn't budget well, and forget the credit is not free money, and that money to pay these cards off down the road is not guaranteed. Be sure to set a good spending plan, pay the necessities, eliminate the extras and use the rest to clear debt. Bottom line is: hang in there -- you can do this!

I have a graduated $99/500 BOA card that is stuck at $1000. I got the card back in 2015. Other relevant details: I had a $99/500 in 2008 that defaulted, but I paid (don't remember if settled or PIF). While my reports are clean, my scores early this year were low (TU 630ish) due to utilization in the 65% range. Having aggressively paid my cards down, TU is up to 684 as of a couple weeks ago. I hit the CLI button, with the obligatory HP but no results. I called BOA with the intention to close the card since it has my lowest credit limit and that pesky $39 AF, with 20.99% APR. I was able to get the AF back as a credit on my account, the interest lowered a whopping 1% and another request for a CLI. Anyway, I have multiple other cards in the $3k - $10k range. Any ideas on what has to occur for them to give me a similar limit? I'll keep it open for now, since it doesn't cost me anything and the rewards for gas and groceries are better than my other cards.

I tried to access their site: "For security reasons, your access to usaa.com is currently restricted. Call 877-632-3003 for assistance. (10:45004)" I've called several years ago and was told this was because I settled a card with them back in 2010ish... At the time, did not know that doing a settlement with their CA would blacklist me forever. They didn't tell me anything of the sort at the time. Interesting that I tried to make right with them, and I'm still blacklisted, but oh well.

Vauge subject I know, but I'm trying to formulate a plan for the future, rather than submitting applications "because I can..." Current status: 675 TU FICO, 655ish EX FICO -- both have had recent increases (20-30 pts) due to utilization decrease and old baddies dropping off. Creditor -- Credit LImit -- Issued -- APR / remarks C1 $5500 -- 2012 -- 19% APR C1 $1850 -- 2010 - 14% APR (formerly HSBC) Wallyworld $1200 -- 2012 -- zero balance, occasional use. PayPal $3400 -- 2007 - OMGWTF% APR Local Credit Union $2000 - 2013 -- 18% APR B of A $500 (secured with $99) - new -- 20% APR -- zero balance. I messed up with these guys a while back and trying to get into an unsecured card with a reasonable limit. Sits in a safe. Discover $800 - new -- 22% APR PIF card. Firestone $1800 - 2013 -- zero balance, occasional use, I have a few baddies on my reports. Within a year, most if not all should be obsolete, or revert to a positive status. Will dispute early on TU. TU has no recent INQ's. EX has too many (four). Utilization is one challenge -- I have a few thousand I'm working to pay down, though it's much better. Overall utilization just under 40%. My interest rates suck, I'd like to fix that. I'm guessing this is a credit score and utilization issue. I need to maintain diverse credit sources -- I'm self employed; credit can be helpful through slow periods. I don't want creditors to rate jack me (more than they already are) if my utilization is too high. My limits are lower than I'd like -- C1 is bumping me up nicely, the sub $2k card will be increased to over $2k through credit steps at the end of the year. Credit union approved me for $3k limit, but wants tax returns. No thanks. I'm hoping Discover will bump me up after having the card open for six months. Bank of America, just hoping to get unsecured at some point. I travel a lot (fly Southwest, use Choice hotels usually) and would like rewards cards that better fit this. There is a Southwest credit card, I'm guessing no way I'll get approved for it anytime soon. There is also a Choice Hotels credit card. I'm blacklisted for the time being by Barclays, but my scores seem to be in the range... Finally closed First not-so-Premier a month ago. Anyway, my main thoughts would be to hold off on additional apps for 6 - 12 months. Reduce utilization and focus on CLI's for the cards I have. Anything else I should consider in the next several months?

Yes. I have had several nearly obsolete accounts deleted from TU very quickly following a dispute as obsolete (so fast I doubt they "investigated.") EX and EQ are a major PITA and several TL's are hanging on for dear life.

I applied to Barclays recently for their Rewards MasterCard. The denial was rather fast in coming, and no CR pull was made. I received a letter today detailing the reason why: "Our records indicate that a previous credit card account that you held with Barclays Bank Delaware experienced charge-off, bankruptcy, severe delinquency or other negative performance." I had a CO with them that was paid about 4 years ago. The associated TL has aged off of my reports. So, I thought I'd throw this tidbit out for anyone in a similar situation -- it appears Barclays will blacklist for CO, BK or significant delinquency, and they'll use that as a factor even after the reporting period is up.

I suspected that could be the case... I've verified online and via a CR that the account has indeed been closed. Thx!

After a lengthy phone call, I closed FP. After five years, I have no need for that toy card. She was rather insistent that keeping the card open would be so helpful for my credit score. I said okay, get rid of the fees and give me a CLI and I'll keep it. No CLI, and she offered a credit for 4 months of fees. No thanks. Done and done.

I wasn't aware of the inclusions of closed accounts in the AAOA. Good to know. Thx. Will do. Thanks for the input!

Not MCM... I tried it with them and got the usual "we are obligated to report accurate information" line.