Advice For The Dear Neighbor on Best Route For Starting Again

[lukegotswag]

Ok... so Dear Neighbor has open loan with USAA never late on it as well as a mortgage which had a series of lates, however paid all on time for the last year. She has no other positive credit.. probably about 13-15 mediclal baddies however with collection agencies. I am going to coach her through handling them, however, she is interested in trying to at least open one account in the meantime to start it aging. My questions here are...

 

1 - Since the relationship with USAA has been ongoing with the loan for about 2 years, should i have her inquire about an unsecured product that may be weighted on with her flawless payment history on their other product...

 

2 - If denied, is she automatically offered the secured card option without having to do another pull for this?

 

She is military retired therefore i would assume full member as well. Just didnt want to route her to Cap One secured or straight to the USAA secured if the history may work in her favor to get USAA unsecured having already established a relationship with them. Your thoughts here?

Edited June 27, 2013 by lukegotswag

[evapor8ted]

One card app for USAA triggers one inquiry, EQ. Then you can app for all the cards you desire the same time frame. So app for whatever USAA card she wants and if it is rejected, can still app for a secured on the same INQ. As opposed to C1 where they will reject after hitting all three.

 

USAA is very good to its full members (myself included) that have not burned them before. Try for the generic Visa.

 

Does she travel? USAA can do a chip and pin MC.

[lukegotswag]

One card app for USAA triggers one inquiry, EQ. Then you can app for all the cards you desire the same time frame. So app for whatever USAA card she wants and if it is rejected, can still app for a secured on the same INQ. As opposed to C1 where they will reject after hitting all three.

 

USAA is very good to its full members (myself included) that have not burned them before. Try for the generic Visa.

 

Does she travel? USAA can do a chip and pin MC.

No travel.. actually dealing with an injury incurred during time of serving.. so is the product called the generic Visa? is there somewhere to see their list of CC products from the outside as a non-member? What exactly is the chip and pin MC. Thanks for the prompt reply as well

[nachocredit1]

Have your neighbor follow Whychat's medical dispute method. It's helped many people, including myself.

 

In regards to USAA they seem to be pulling Experian instead of EQ now, at least with myself and a couple people I know.

 

You may want to want to have her consider Navy Federal as well. Not sure though if they require having a checking/saving before getting a credit card.

 

Tell your neighbor to keep their head up.

[pistolp44]

Have your neighbor follow Whychat's medical dispute method. It's helped many people, including myself.

 

In regards to USAA they seem to be pulling Experian instead of EQ now, at least with myself and a couple people I know.

 

You may want to want to have her consider Navy Federal as well. Not sure though if they require having a checking/saving before getting a credit card.

 

Tell your neighbor to keep their head up.

All of this. Seconded. Whychat's method for the medical works. I could easily see USAA doing unsecured for your neighbor especially considering her positive loan history with them. My last pull from them was Exp. And definitely have her consider Navy Fed. Good luck to her.

[lukegotswag]

Thanks for all the input guys... but she is definitely doing good. She is looking to finally get into a new home after being in the current townhome for 8 years. The VA will be giving her a grant of $25,000 to $30,000 to make modifications to the home due to the injuries, however, she is definitely in good spirits. And especially good spirits once she realized her neighbor she knew all this time had a thing or two to show for himself by way of credit repair. She is a kid in a candy store in this process right now and I can only thank CreditBoards for that!