I know you get tired of answering these questions for me..........but Does anyone know what standards Target guest card and/or Mervyn's requires? Do they go by score alone or actually look at report? The same questions for AMEX (any product) Citibank (any product) and Dillards? If I can get these that is all I will want and need.
I have Mervyn's (actually I think I forgot to tell the board about that one -- it was the last card I got before jumping back on the inquiry wagon) Amex Green and two Citibank cards. Mervyns (and Target Visa) and Amex pulled Experian for me. At the time I had four negatives including a repo, an MBNA and Macy's charge off and an open tax lien. Target gave me $6,000 on my Visa with a 667 (or 666 - I forget) but only $200 on my Mervyn's card. I buy a lot of clothing at Mervyn's and really wanted a higher limit because of their rewards program. When I called about it I asked if I could move some of my credit line from the Visa to the Mervyn's card. They said it wasn't possible and that no one gets more than $200 credit when their Mervyn's card is first issued. Amex denied me in 2000 for even the secured Optima because of my tax lien. They approved me at 666 (ce score) for the Green card this November even with the four negatives I mentioned above. I tried for the Delta Skymiles card twice at a CE score of 677 and 683 but was declined both times. I'd like to try again now that my score is above 700 but I can't because of my mortgage application. Citibank approved me instantly online for a Platinum Select with $5,000. I had a TU score of 639 with a repo, Macy'c charge-off and a dozen late payments with Discover from 2000 showing on my report. I was later approved in the mail for the AA Gold with a $9,000 limit. With the type of derogitory information on my reports when I was approved for these cards I'd have to think they were score driven. They could also be sensitive to the age of the negative information. I had 1 negative on TU a year old and all negatives on Experian were more than three years old.
Thanks for the info. I know these all pull Equifax in Texas for me and it's not quite ready to apply for anything yet. But hopefully by Friday it will be. I'm guessing closer to 700 score. I'm just worried because I will have the 2 Cap 1 charge-offs even though they are 5 yrs old and paid in full for R-5 rating. What AMEX would be easier for me to try to get? ANYONE Target would probably be a go and Mervyn's, I'm just unsure if Citi or AMEX would touch me.
I got denied optima platinum and blue with a 689 equifax, only derog is a two year old thirty day late mort. payment. Got approved for a 15k delta sky miles 30 days later. Amex seems easier to work with if you don't get an immediate approval. I got the old "we'll let you know" then followed up with a phone call a week later. The csr did the app right there and approved me on the phone.
They offered it for a short time starting a couple of years ago. They have terminated the program. I'd received a "pre-approved" mailing for the card when it existed. I sent in a check for $500 and I was really excited that I was going to have an American Express card again (I had problems in the past with them but I had paid them in full before the account was charged-off) but I got a check for $500 and a denial letter back in the mail a couple of months later.
Target should be the easiest to get. I got target visa a couple weeks ago. They pulled "equisux". I only got 2k (my lowest limit card!) and i have a 705 eq score. maybe because that ch13 hasn't dropped off yet.
If you really want an Amex and a Citi, I would recommend applying for the Amex first, then the Citi. Amex is tougher than Citi. Then Target. they seem the easiest.
