hdporter

Carrot porn.

My understanding is that either pull results in the same report information ( @MarvBear very likely has more accurate knowledge re this). The only difference is when the pull is in conjunction with a request for additional credit, the creditor is supposed to designate it as a "hard" request.

Technically, ANY credit app can prompt a creditor to update the employer named on your CRA file. I find that to be very inconsistent, and typically am surprised when my employer noted on a credit report has updated. With respect to mortgage companies, specifically, again they update with no consistency (in my experience) Because of the lack of consistency in when the employer field is updated, I don't gather that prospective creditors place much stock in that information and wouldn't blink an eye when what's on an application doesn't match a CRA report record.

Keep the AU's for the sake of age. One frustration with closing an AU card is that the issuer tends to then instruct the CRA's to remove the tradeline completely ... immediately killing any contribution to average age. For what it's worth, the removal is a godsend when it comes to an AU on which you're established, and the account owner has screwed up, having incurred delinquencies and/or is carrying a high balance. But otherwise, it's a shame.

Low limit, low age, and of no use? Burn that sucka! Not worth the maintenance to try and keep it open.

A key reason for signing up for a card is that it offers superior cashback in a purchase category. Amex Blue Cash Preferred: 6% on groceries, up to $6k in annual purchases (we have 2) Chase Sapphire Reserve: 3% (up to 4.5%) on dining/travel Bank of America Customized Cash: 3% on online purchases (up to $2500/qtr, I think ... we have 2) US Bank Cash +: 5% on select purchase categories (up to $2000/qtr ... we have 2) various retail cards with specific premium rebates/benefits with that retailer and of course an "all purchase" 2% cb card. I have about $25k in total balances currently (monthly purchase balances that will be paid in full prior to the next statement and a couple of balances that I'm paying off over time on promotional rates (for the sake of financial flexibility). With $100k in total limits, my overall utilization would be 25%, which is considered rather high and would depress my credit score. With $500 in total limits, that drops to 5%. With $1 mil in limits, util drops to 2.5%, where < 3% is a particularly sweet spot for credit scoring. (AZEO buys more points, the the difference on FICO 8 can be modest) Setting that benefit aside (some people aren't inclined to run up significant credit card balances), there are the very attractive sign up bonuses on some card that, at times, exceed $1000 in value. Whenever one of these shows up on the radar, I'm likely to be first in line ... and then even if I never use it again, I'll nurse the card along. Every now and then an attractive promo will show up on a card I've otherwise mothballed.

Practices vary. Very seldom have seen a hard pulled, but Bev and I have "softs" on our credit reports for new lines and updates. But I agree, it's odd because for a 21 or 30 day float, it should be sufficient to see a half dozen or so lines in place, for equivalent amounts, with occasional use and no adverse reporting (bounced checks). The anecdote above was at Atlantis in Reno, who proved to be absolutely idiosyncratic to an extent that no other casino comes remotely close (and I've encountered some bizarre casino management behavior over the years). I consider that near tragic because I love just about everything about that property. I enjoyed reasonably good luck on my first two visits there (this is something like 15 yeqrs ago), about 3 mo apart, scoring wins of $5000 and $3000. No way that would should have registered anyone's notice. however, future mailed offers (free bet credits and restaurant comps) were discontinued; I was dumbfounded. When I related this to a knowledgeable friend, he said, "yeah, that's par for the course: you had the temerity to win!". Then he related the fact that there's a story that an Atlantis keno player was "no mailed" because he had a lucky streak. For the uninitiated, the casino has a 6%-10% advantage on keno machine play (maybe as light as 4% at Atlantis, who does have more favorable machine odds) -- that translates to an expected player loss of $4k or even 6k+ for every $100k in wagers. A player certainly can enjoy a "lucky streak", but with a casino edge that strong, it simply can't be maintained and once things turn, the casino will handsomely recover with player losses. YOU DON'T DISCOURAGE KENO PLAY, for any reason! So, I had a fantastic Tahoe host who recently moved to Reno Atlantis. In culling through her Rolodex, she gave me a shout out to invite me into Atlantis. I sadly told her I'd love to come in, but that I'd been denied offers to the property ever since my first visits. Further, a couple of years ago I visited, without incentives, to enjoy the property and give respectable play, ending with a modest loss. I booked a subsequent visit with a host, who was delightfully receptive and confirmed a reservation, only to have the host call back to say my free room had been rescinded and that the host staff was restricted from assisting me in the future ... OMG! My "Tahoe" host was dumbfounded, and I suspect she had her doubts I had my facts straight. (As I relate them now, I'd assume the narrator was a nutcase who likely invited such handling!) She said given her history with me should, she be able to smooth over any problem. She sheepishly called back to say, "sorry", but that her management wouldn't budge. Sorry for excessively venting some frustration ... but in an extremely competitive market, I can't fathom their strategy. (I suspect an "8-ball" plays a prominent role).

< post feedback above was Bev's >

Just let on to Bev (who's chilling with me in the room before I head down for play) for the first time that you're her "fanboy" (ever since I related the dolphin tale ... "don't get out of the boat, Harry!") This post was good for a heartfelt belly laugh!

Making a hex sign at the mention of Quest ... 3x losers in our book, having (all within a year's time): -- billed under the wrong proc code and thus the claim was rejected by BC/BS, -- billed under an affiliate company/location that wasn't a participating provider (despite using the same location as before), and -- failed to pre-auth as required for a test -- once again jamming up the ins paperwork.

I'm going to intercede with a stab that the "non-existent difference" @centex alludes to is a practical difference in credit worthiness. In your example, 825/830/840 scores are indistinguishable from one another as positive credit approval factors. "850" can occasionally be a stand-out score. A few years ago I applied for a casino credit line at a time when my FICO peaked at 850 and the credit manager who assisted me when I arrived on property treated me with the deference one would afford someone who walked on water ;). (I suspect they see a LOT of subpar 500+ apps.)

The head scratcher for me is that EVERY card I've activated by phone was using a phone number specifically provided on a sticker on the card or printed on the card mailer. I've never activated a card by dialing the default CS number on the back of the card. Nonetheless, given your certainty that you dialed the number accurately (which I fully accept ... you set the gold standard for having your facts straight), I'm at a loss as to how your call managed to be redirected to a scam outfit. In the past I've been connected to shady outfits who clearly purchased a phone number that's one digit off from a legitimate CS number (say, one ending in 7474 when the correct number ends in 7447 and I unwittingly transposed digits when I called). Are you saying that when you redialed the number, you were again routed to the same fraudulent ops? Or was it just the first call that somehow got hijacked? Bottom line, in light of your narrative, I'd call and request a new account number as a precaution.

First, while I absolutely grasp that you'd like to resolve this within a couple weeks, having a home purchase in the hopper, I don't think you're going to have any choice but to accommodate a expectation of a longer time frame (likely 4-8 weeks, minimum). If you never received a card, nor received statements after your purchase, it sounds like an incorrect address was provided in the credit app or Citi entered an erroneous address. What's really surprising here is that after the third missed payment, Citi should have been trying to reach you by phone. If you never received a call, then there's a real mystery in place here (do they also have an incorrect phone number on file?). Your situation highlights the importance of having at least one credit monitoring product in place (say, something free like Credit Karma). I'm very surprised that in the course of the past credit experience you've discussed here that you didn't find your way to establishing a CK account. Just as an aside, sign up for something immediately! This would have provided back up notification of the steady stream of delinquencies reported on this account. Generally, in circumstances such as yours, others don't find much success with a request to remove adverse reported credit information. Someone who had been in an accident and laid up in the hospital for 3 months might be accommodated, but short of that odds are slim. That's not to say it's not worth trying. Start by calling and requesting assistance with the payoff and the "goodwill" reporting changes that you desire, concisely detailing the facts that best explain how you came to overlook the payments that otherwise should have been anticipated.. If denied, you request a contact to whom you can appeal the decision (ultimately asking how to contact their Executive Customer Assistance department). I wish you the very best, whatever the outcome.

Better the premium get jacked now than on renewal! Very gentle 2-day run at Eldorado ... hitting much heavier these next 3 days at Harrah's, but the play is backed by a fairly strong promo.

I just want to know how they recreated that very special sound of "hi fidelity" cassette tape that made the 70's all that it was ...