Topic Wiki

Credit Bureau Info:

Experian: 800-493-1058 With A Report Number

Experian: 714-830-7000 (Without A Report Number) Call and Press 0. You will get connected to the switchboard operator. Tell them you just called in and entered your report number and the automated system disconnected you. Ask them if they can get a human on the line for disputes. That's the only way you'll be able to get through to a live person at Experian without a Report Number.

Equifax: 800-846-5279

TransUnion: 800-916-8800


Comparison between FAKO from Credit karma and FICO from Barclays and Citi.


Cards that give you free monthly FICO's


AMEX personal cards = EX 08 Switched to FAKO (VantageScore 3.0)
Chase Slate = EX (either 08 or Bankcard enhanced)
PSECU = EX 04

Citi branded cards = EQ 08 Bankcard enhanced
Citi AA = EQ bankcard enhanced
DCU= EQ 04
PenFed = EQ NextGen
Elements Financial (Credit Union, score available for without opening CC) = EQ 5

Barclays = TU 08
Discover it = TU 08
Walmart (store or MC) = TU 08
« Last edited by Lev26 on April 13, 2022, 02:28:07 AM »

Author Topic: credit score  (Read 810103 times)

Offline PETERP

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 2924
  • Total likes: 5
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: NYC
Re: credit score
« Reply #2440 on: March 02, 2016, 10:51:24 AM »
No.  In most cases, they can see usage.  Payment history is reported by most issuers, so the statement balance is not all that they see.

I do this every month and have never had issues showing heavy usage.

My Thanks , also !

Offline Mendelssohn

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2015
  • Posts: 672
  • Total likes: 11
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: North Texas
Re: credit score
« Reply #2441 on: March 02, 2016, 11:14:05 AM »


You missed a lot of points there.

$2 trick works not only to maximize FICOs, but to show consistent payment behavior.  Your payment history for most creditors is reported, and issuers certainly track internal payment history.

If an AF is not waived the first year, I understand why you would cancel a card.  If the AF IS waived the first year, there is no reason not to keep it open for 12 months in many cases, and even go for a retention offer or PC to another product when the AF comes due.  Having tons of accounts that are 1-2 months old and closed does look bad on your credit report and an UW certainly knows what you are doing.

I said no usage after hitting the bonus spend.  When usage goes to $0 after the bonus spend, many issuers take note of that.  Even a small purchase every couple months keeps it active and shows usage.

I thought you all were heavy into MS here.  If not and if you don't have a business, then no it is not possible to show heavy usage on all cards.  It is possible, however, to show usage on all of your cards.

Instead of making excuses for why you can't do these things, look for a solution.  You also need to imagine how an UW views your report.
« Last Edit: March 02, 2016, 11:34:36 AM by Mendelssohn »

Offline newdealseeker

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Aug 2014
  • Posts: 391
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: United States
Re: credit score
« Reply #2442 on: March 02, 2016, 11:50:19 AM »
For a Sapphire Preferred, they aren't going to check your business credit.  The only thing they may check is their own internal records for business credit history with Chase.
So then I don't see how I could have helped myself. I only have 4 Chase cards: 2 Freedoms, 1 Sapphire regular, and 1 Brittish (the latter being the only one I used only to get the bonus. The others are heavily used.)
Besides for that I have 1 BofA, and 1 Discover, + 1 Amex AU.
They did mention all my new accounts, which were already closed by then, and they were all Biz Charge cards using my SS#!

Offline newdealseeker

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Aug 2014
  • Posts: 391
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: United States
Re: credit score
« Reply #2443 on: March 02, 2016, 11:57:08 AM »
Having tons of accounts that are 1-2 months old and closed does look bad on your credit report and an UW certainly knows what you are doing.
Unfortunately, I was FR'd soon after opening a few biz accounts. Some of them I didn't even get to meet spend threshold before I was forced to close them... >:( :'(

Offline Mendelssohn

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2015
  • Posts: 672
  • Total likes: 11
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: North Texas
Re: credit score
« Reply #2444 on: March 02, 2016, 11:57:28 AM »
So then I don't see how I could have helped myself. I only have 4 Chase cards: 2 Freedoms, 1 Sapphire regular, and 1 Brittish (the latter being the only one I used only to get the bonus. The others are heavily used.)
Besides for that I have 1 BofA, and 1 Discover, + 1 Amex AU.
They did mention all my new accounts, which were already closed by then, and they were all Biz Charge cards using my SS#!

It looks to me like the real issue was that you have such a thin file, at least in terms of open cards.  You only have 6 primary CCs, and 4 of them are with Chase.  That's very Chase heavy, which I'm sure they noticed. 

If you add to that a bunch of closed cards open a few months each, it doesn't improve your report.

Offline PillanSmye

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Aug 2015
  • Posts: 1028
  • Total likes: 68
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: credit score
« Reply #2445 on: March 02, 2016, 12:00:13 PM »
Unfortunately, I was FR'd soon after opening a few biz accounts. Some of them I didn't even get to meet spend threshold before I was forced to close them... >:( :'(

FR'd by Chase or AMEX?

Offline yochiek93

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2015
  • Posts: 4456
  • Total likes: 92
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: credit score
« Reply #2446 on: March 02, 2016, 12:01:52 PM »
FR'd by Chase or AMEX?
Amex he did say a couple of charge cards that he was forced to close

Offline newdealseeker

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Aug 2014
  • Posts: 391
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: United States
Re: credit score
« Reply #2447 on: March 02, 2016, 12:03:26 PM »
It looks to me like the real issue was that you have such a thin file, at least in terms of open cards.  You only have 6 primary CCs, and 4 of them are with Chase.  That's very Chase heavy, which I'm sure they noticed. 

If you add to that a bunch of closed cards open a few months each, it doesn't improve your report.
I forgot to mention that I'm also AU on all of my spouse's Chase cards... So my file isn't that thin, but definitely Chase heavy!

Offline newdealseeker

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Aug 2014
  • Posts: 391
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: United States
Re: credit score
« Reply #2448 on: March 02, 2016, 12:05:26 PM »
FR'd by Chase or AMEX?
Amex he did say a couple of charge cards that he was forced to close
Yes, Amex.

Offline Mendelssohn

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2015
  • Posts: 672
  • Total likes: 11
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: North Texas
Re: credit score
« Reply #2449 on: March 02, 2016, 12:06:36 PM »
I forgot to mention that I'm also AU on all of my spouse's Chase cards... So my file isn't that thin, but definitely Chase heavy!

AUs may help pad your AAOA, but they don't carry much weight with any approval that is not computer generated.  If an UW has to take a look at it, you can almost guarantee that they will be ignored.

Offline Mendelssohn

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2015
  • Posts: 672
  • Total likes: 11
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: North Texas
Re: credit score
« Reply #2450 on: March 02, 2016, 12:09:04 PM »
Yes, Amex.

But again, Chase is not going to know that you had a bunch of Amex business cards closed unless you apply for a business card OR become delinquent and it reports to your personal credit.

Offline newdealseeker

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Aug 2014
  • Posts: 391
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: United States
Re: credit score
« Reply #2451 on: March 02, 2016, 12:14:01 PM »
But again, Chase is not going to know that you had a bunch of Amex business cards closed unless you apply for a business card OR become delinquent and it reports to your personal credit.
So then I'm confused. On my credit report that are many accounts with what seems to be generic account numbers they all share but which I don't recognize.
I assumed they were the biz cards because the dates and account balances coincide with the biz cards. If not that, then what are they?

Offline Mendelssohn

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2015
  • Posts: 672
  • Total likes: 11
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: North Texas
Re: credit score
« Reply #2452 on: March 02, 2016, 12:17:03 PM »
So then I'm confused. On my credit report that are many accounts with what seems to be generic account numbers they all share but which I don't recognize.
I assumed they were the biz cards because the dates and account balances coincide with the biz cards. If not that, then what are they?

Most business cards do not report to your personal credit unless they are delinquent.  Amex and Chase do not report.

Offline newdealseeker

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Aug 2014
  • Posts: 391
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: United States
Re: credit score
« Reply #2453 on: March 02, 2016, 12:23:05 PM »
Most business cards do not report to your personal credit unless they are delinquent.  Amex and Chase do not report.
I checked my report again. Many Amex cards with $0 balance stating closed by consumer.
Do I stand a chance by trying to remove them from my report?

Offline Mendelssohn

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2015
  • Posts: 672
  • Total likes: 11
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: North Texas
Re: credit score
« Reply #2454 on: March 02, 2016, 12:24:25 PM »
I checked my report again. Many Amex cards with $0 balance stating closed by consumer.
Do I stand a chance by trying to remove them from my report?

Business cards?  No delinquencies?

That's very odd.

Offline newdealseeker

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Aug 2014
  • Posts: 391
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: United States
Re: credit score
« Reply #2455 on: March 02, 2016, 12:25:48 PM »
Business cards?  No delinquencies?

That's very odd.
Odd indeed, but I don't understand it either.
I never had any delinquencies. The worst I ever went was missing my Chase payment due date by a single day and having them waive the fee as a courtesy.

Offline newdealseeker

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Aug 2014
  • Posts: 391
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: United States
Re: credit score
« Reply #2456 on: March 02, 2016, 02:47:37 PM »
I said no usage after hitting the bonus spend.  When usage goes to $0 after the bonus spend, many issuers take note of that.  Even a small purchase every couple months keeps it active and shows usage.
If the cards are all paid down to $0 is there a difference on the report between that and non-usage?
I would assume that within the same bank they would know the difference, but what about a different bank?

Offline newdealseeker

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Aug 2014
  • Posts: 391
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: United States
Re: credit score
« Reply #2457 on: March 02, 2016, 02:49:05 PM »
AUs may help pad your AAOA, but they don't carry much weight with any approval that is not computer generated.  If an UW has to take a look at it, you can almost guarantee that they will be ignored.
Though the recon agent did list my spouse's cards where I'm AU as part of the "too many" cards.

Offline yochiek93

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Apr 2015
  • Posts: 4456
  • Total likes: 92
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 3
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: credit score
« Reply #2458 on: March 02, 2016, 02:54:31 PM »
If the cards are all paid down to $0 is there a difference on the report between that and non-usage?
I would assume that within the same bank they would know the difference, but what about a different bank?
No difference

Offline Mendelssohn

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2015
  • Posts: 672
  • Total likes: 11
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: North Texas
Re: credit score
« Reply #2459 on: March 02, 2016, 03:21:12 PM »
Though the recon agent did list my spouse's cards where I'm AU as part of the "too many" cards.

Yes, they count for 5/24.

I'm saying that they rarely help with approvals that are not computer generated.