Yiro

I applied for the Hooter's Mastercard shortly after I read on here that it would be a good card to get to rebuild my credit. I got approved for a $500 CL. This is my first card after filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy which was discharged in Oct. 2008. I'm not sure what my credit score was, i'm just thankful that I have an opportunity to start rebuilding my credit.

I have a 1st Financial Bank card, I applied for it before I graduated high school, it is my first card and i've had it for about 6 months now. My terms are a little different though, because my Card has 0% on balances up to $250. Customer service has always been friendly and helpful to me. I think its a great card for those that want to help establish their credit. You can't beat 0% on balances up to $250!

Since you have a banking history with Wells Fargo they would be more inclined to approve you for their card. I do not know much about Citi cards, so I would trust legitimate user's assessment on them. I work for a company that handle's American Express applications, so I know more about American Express cards than any other card. I had the same feeling about establishing a good relationship with them as soon as possible as well. My first card and only card currently is a First Financial Bank USA card. What attracted me to this card is that it has a 0% purchase rate for the life of the card on all balances under $250. That may not be a lot but it helps. Their APR is around 19% as well like Wells Fargo, for balances above $250. This card seems to only be given out upon invite but if you call their customer service department they may be able to help you. Their website is http://www.1fbusa.com if you are interested. At any rate, I waited about four months and checked my credit report and it came back telling me I had a 690 score with 'Average' credit. I asked on here what they think I should do about applying for Blue for Students and I decided to go ahead and try my luck. Well, they denied me, so I called their New Accounts line and requested redecisioning they haven't given me a decision yet. They initially denied me for 'high' utilization, i'm assuming they only look at the percentage rates and not the acutal balances. At any rate, I called them and explained to them that if you have two small numbers divided by each other you'll always end up with a high percentage rate. So the situation may appear to be worse than it really is. The representative agreed with me and put that down on my application. My advice through my personal experiences, is to take legitimate user's advice and wait at least 6 months before applying for Blue for Students. Make sure your card utilization is low, I would say around maybe 25%-30%, you could get away with a little higher maybe, but that is what I suggest. I would start out if I was you with Wells Fargo because you have banking history with them. You can also try your luck with Citi bank if you like instead. I hope this is helpful, and good luck on the goal of the Centurion card

Thanks for all your help I appreciate everyone's assistance. You all have been very helpful and kind.

I completely agree with you that it comes down to personal responsibility, I'm not disagreeing with you. I am just telling you what they mean when they say 'household' income. The primary reason is to give you a CL within your income that you can rely on receiving. I am not depending on credit to add to my income at all, i'm just trying to find credit to help me pay for school. I do have a part time job, thats where my 7500 dollar income comes from. I was just trying to explain what they meant, not offend anyone.

When they say "Household" income they mean income from your house that you can RELY on. Meaning yes, legally, you can put your parents income if you would like to, but the problem with that is, they are thinking you can rely on that income to pay back the bill when it comes. Which also means they will put your CL in accordance to what your income is, so say your personal income is $7500 a year. Let's say your family makes about $40,000, and you put $48,000, they may give you a CL in accordance to that $48,000 dollar income. Problem, your parents aren't willing to help you with your CC bills, so you have a CC with a CL, that is too large for your income. That may cause an issue if you use your CL to full capacity or what not and you aren't able to pay it back. That is why its best to put income you can rely on. I take credit card applications for American Express, so thats how I know a lot of this stuff about American Express and how I found out a lot about Blue for Students. UPDATE: I talked to a customer service representative from American Express and explained to her my situation. She told me that she is going to update my application with some additional considerations and submit it to management for review. They told me that my credit card utilization was high and that was one of the reasons for denial. I told them, if you take two relatively small numbers and gather a percentage rate from them, the percentage always is higher than the relative balance really is. Meaning if I have a $200 dollar balance and a $250 dollar CL that balance is really small relative to other possible balances, but the utilization percentage rate is rather high. If I took another figure like the same 200 dollar balance and put it to a 500 dollar CL or a 1,000 dollar CL the percentage rate would be smaller and the balance would appear to be smaller too. The same is true with higher balances say I have a 5000 CL and a 3000 balance. The utilization is smaller but the balance is a lot higher. Anyway, I told that to the representative and she agreed with me so I guess we'll see what happens.

That is probably what the problem is I put only my income, the reason being is I can not depend on my family's income because we are on a very fixed income and budget. I work with American Express at my job and do take a few card applications for them over the phone. Usually they want you to note your familys income if you can depend on it. But your idea is probably what I should have done. Like yourself, i'm trying to establish good credit as well, and I figured getting a Blue for Students card would be a good way for me to establish myself not only with American Express but with both of those Cards to help with school expenses. Maybe I have the wrong idea in mind...

Thanks for all your help guys.

I only have one credit card with a 250 dollar credit line. It is with First Financial Bank USA. I called American Express and asked them why for the Denial and they said for High Utilization. I said well, if I need to buy food and gas on a student budget, you are always going to have a high percentage for utilization if you CL is low and you are utilizing what you need. Where as if I charged that 200 dollars and my CL is 700 or 500 my utilization would be lower. Anyway, I explained my situation to one of their representatives, and she said she is going to put my application through again to a Manager to look over. I don't know what good that will do, but its better than nothing.

How do I go about the reconsideration process?

I think the reason why they denied me is probably two things, only about 4 months of history and my income is less the $10,000 since i'm a student. That is kind of why I wanted to apply online, because online they ask for ranges and for more information, like your GPA, your bank account balances or what not that makes it seem like they are trying to get a bigger view on you and your financial handling. Where as on the phone they ask you questions like they do everyone else (I work for American express and take applications for them, suprised they denied one of their own) so they get specific generic information and don't go to much into detail. I guess i'll find out later online or in the mail.

I guess i'll just have to wait and find out why then..

Well, I went ahead and applied for Blue for Students over the phone, because the internet application was being weird with my information. I went to go check my application status today online, and it said that it was Declined. I don't quite understand why, I clicked on the 'reason' button, and it said they couldn't tell me why. It makes no sense if some of the people here said they got it with no history and I have some history. Maybe it is my income? But what do they expect me to make? Thousands? I'm a student, working a student job, on a student budget... Or does American express just put declined as the decision while they are decisioning? I am really confused. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Alright, they have a question on there where they ask me for my School mailing address, if I do not know it, do I have to put it?

It isn't me, I am interested in becoming an American Express cardholder. I currently have another credit card with a $250 dollar CL. I am just afraid of being denied for the card. So you think it is safe to go ahead and apply with 4 months of history and a score of 690 from experian?