Which store cards are the best to become an AU on? I already am an AU on First USA Platinum Visa, but I'd like to get something else to give me a better "credit mix".
I'm no expert, but based upon info from Marie last year, the credit scoring is done in tiers. Finance companies are low tiers. So, I think you want stores that have their own bank or financing? I have read on cn that some of the stores - I think Best Buy and Gateway - are not a good idea because the accounts are through finance cos. I don't have time to find it for you right now, but if you run a search for "Marie" and "credit scoring", maybe you can pull up the thread from last year. It was very helpful information.
Tier1s are deposit banks. Good accts like First USA MNBA BofA Chase Citi good start with FUSA. Since the orig post I talked with a FI rep again... finance company installments are the worst. you can actually get neg points ;( I'd still stay away from the fc store cards too (Best Buy, Dell, etc) regardless of where you are... building or rebuilding... I'd stay with nonfinance companies a good visa mc amex or 2 a dept store card (macys, richs, target, kohls... you get the idea) or a gas card you don't need a lot of trade lines... 2-4 are plenty... You also don't want too many b/c you can actually have too many au cards and thus, not qualify on your income for any more credit... b/c the Au credit is showing up as available credit to you... if you can get cards that have been open for a while and piggyback on those you'll get the best bang for the buck... ask first if the AUs get the whole card history or just the history since you join on the card... I know Amex will give you the entire cardholder history.. so you can literally add 10 years to your file in one card As in most things in life... quality.... not quantity
