american express just called about my credit card application. they wanted to confirm my name and address. hmm… does that mean i am getting a card? they said i would get a response via mail in 7-10 days. dan said it could be that i got one, or they might just be checking that the “fuck you” letter goes to the right place…
CC
Did you apply over the computer?
They usually call when there are over the computer applications and you have applied for a number of other cards all in a short amount of time.
Re: CC
ah that makes sense…
Re: CC
Of course it amases me at the lack of ID checks when people use cards. It makes me ever more nervous to lose my wallet.
My mom built credit by buying a side of beef on credit back in the 70’s when I was little and paid it off. She had perfect credit when it came time for my parents to buy their house.
It’s so weird how you can’t get anything unless you already owe tons of people money.
*shrug* *kicks money*
American Express
Hi Stephanie,
American Express Cards are harder to get than other cards because they like customers with established good credit records. If lack of established credit is causing you problems, AmEx will probably politely decline.
If they will accept you, their Optima card has no monthly fee, compared to their regular card that costs something like $50 a year, last time I checked.
Why not buy a cheaper house, perhaps a used one?? You could always upgrade later on. My house cost less than $100K. (I live between BWI Airport and Ft. Meade.) It is no palace, but is perfectly OK, and I’m not $250,000 in debt. Just a thought.
-Pete
Re: American Express
When we started looking at houses, we were looking for something cheaper, and used. All of the houses in the area we were looking at were either hella expensive or the house was just plain crap, and still over priced. We have no desire to live in Md. at all. If we did, we probably would have bought a place in Columbia. The decision was made that we would move further out in Va, and get a new house, since the price was the same as we would be spending for a 30 year old house closer to the city. Most importantly, we already have a great apt. there is no chance that we’d move into a house that has less to offer than the apt. which i’m about 99% sure that any house under 100k anywhere in the dc area would.
D.
american express is bad
Stephanie,
Just wanted to tell you, if you get the American express be extremely careful how you use it. Unlike other credit cards where you pay a percentage of you balance each month plus finance charge, American Express makes you pay the entire balance every month.
So say you went out shopping for odds and ends for your new house to build a little credit. You spent $200. When you get your bill instead of like with most credit cards that would have you pay $50 a month until it’s paid off, you would have to pay the entire $200 all at once.
I made the mistake of using my American Express for christmas shopping and nearly died when I got the bill and saw that I had to pay the entire bill at once.
American Express is good for small things, but please oh please don’t buy too much on it.
Good luck with your credit and I hope you still get the new house…so sorry.
Re: american express is bad
i have never not paid my credit card in full every month and i have had it for 7 years! i am too nervous to spend money i don’t have.
Re: american express is bad
The lack of a credit limit is a good thing. I keep my AE card for exactly that reason. When I want to buy something by phone or web (like a new computer) I use the AE card becasue it has no limits. Like Stephanie, I pay my cards off immediately (I wonder where she got that habit?) so the lack of revolving credit is not a problem.
Bill (Stephanie’s Dad)
Re: american express is bad
alright…that’s good that you pay off your credit immediately. I just thought I’d tell you. Wish I would have had someone tell me that before…I’m still paying off from last christmas….lol!
Re: american express is bad
But… not if you get one of the Optima cards! I have one and I’ve kept a balance on that thing for over two years. It even has the “Minimum payment due” printed on there, so I’m not just deluding myself š
Their regular cards are the “pay off every month” type.
I just am visiting you because you have pugs in your interest list too š
apartment tour!
**dry heaves from motion sickness**
I just took the short pictorial tour of your apartment!
**dry heaves**
Nice place. Quick tour. š
The best rates I’ve gotten (and I have hella credit cards) are on my Discover Card for College Students. Kind of an oxymoron, I know.
Oh and just to make you feel like, mm, crap, I pay $125/a month in rent for my apartment.
There are good things about living in Kansas.
munkee
wow! that would get you a hotel room for a night here… we pay about a thousand a month for a nice 3 bedroom apt outside of the city. a friend was paying over 2000 for a crappy one bedroom in dc…
I have two roommates, a couple. We split the rent threeways for our nice 2 bedroom. My parents pay $856 a month for the mortgage on their 4 bedroom house.
I don’t want to rattle you.
Steph, don’t think I’m trying to scare you but I’m becoming concerned about the number of credit applications you’re making. When I spoke with the nice lady at Bank Of American who’s helping me establish credit, she warned against making more than eight credit applications within a year. She informed me that companies look not only at your credit rating but at how much credit activity you’ve had. They tend to look down on people applying like mad. I know that your back is up against the wall (you and Danny) but it might be something to keep track of or ask about the next time you’re talking to a credit lender.
Re: I don’t want to rattle you.
i applied to a set number then stopped. i am just waiting to here from them all now. hopefully i will end up witht he 4 people are recommending. i have 2 so far, but there isn’t much room for rejection as i didn’t apply to that many.
when i first looked at my credit report at the start of all this there were a bunch of credit inquiries from companies that are sending me credit card apps all the time. i didn’t ask for them! i don’t know how to stop them from clogging up my credit report. they should have to ask first. but at least with the one i am waiting on, i will benefit from them in the end.
danny was applying for a mortgage today and the lady said i had really good creidt numbers (points?). and once i have a few references in there i will be kicking ass. that is the only thing i don’t have at this point.
There’s a way…
If I’m correct, there’s an address with one or two of the credit reporting agencies where you can write and have banks stop sending you preapproved cards and shit. Check on the web or with the bank.
Stephanie’s credit woes
When my husband and I applied for the mortgage for our house, they said I had really great credit, but didn’t have enough work experience. Hubby had work experience but no credit… hmmph. It took forever to get our loan because we were both college students and they looked downl on that. At least you and Danny do have the work experience and you have paid well on credit cards… I finally paid all of mine off and cancelled them, now I get those stupid apps in the mail all the time… I wish they’d leave me alone….