kingcake64

Decline! Dive! Dive! Dive! UNLESS...

If you have no credit car or a limited/damaged history you're trying to rebuild, you might consider taking it. If you never, ever pay late, you probably will get a credit line increase in a year or two.

Otherwise, you are a lamb being led to the slaughter. If it's too high for you, turn it down, spend a few months paying down existing debt that may be hurting your score, then try again.

I've done the monthly PIF for a few years (most months, but not all). I didn't time it right, so it doesn't show up that way.

I'd like the option to test smaller payments. If we could see how much good paying off $100, $200, $500, etc. would do, it'd be far more useful. Going from $0 to $1000 in one click assumes a higher income and total debt that doesn't apply to lots of us living frugally on next to nothing.

Who cares if the first checked bag is free? Would you pay $95 for your first bag? I always travel with one carry-on only. Sounds like a colossal rip-off. I agree with those who say pay cash for airfare. It's just not worth the hassle, from what DragonBoss reports.

(Sorry...that was aimed mainly at the beginning of the thread.)

Meanwhile, how about this: Whether you were approved or denied, why not post your current utilization levels along with your score? Seeing how the two compare across the board may be more helpful for all of us.

It really depends on the company, who you get on the phone, how persistent you are, and whether you can convince them that you're trying to make a fresh start and have learned your lesson. The last bit sounds like a bit of a whiny appeal, but some say it's worked for them. You'd have to offer some pretty convincing evidence, IMHO.

If you're buying a house and have a low score, you may already know that the first order of business is to pay off any past-due amounts and collections. Your loan officer will tell you what to deal with first, then do a "rapid rescore." If you can get to 680 or 700, you should be OK. Avoid asking for a co-signer and look for an REO (bank-owned) property. Be prepared for one or more sales to fall through at the last minute, though. This is how I bought my house. Just don't go crazy opening a bunch of new accounts to fix up the place, or you'll be digging yourself out all over again! Budget one doable (affordable) project per month: paint this room, put in that fence. And pay your cards down ASAP or pay cash!

Hey, nbirnbaum, I suspect that you can make your point without the racist remarks.

Bimonthly = every 2 months.
Semi-monthly (or biweekly) = twice a month (or every 2 weeks).

BIG difference! If you sked bimonthly payments, you'll be paying late every time!

Yeah, it's a rip. I got a deal like this and it makes me cringe to pay over $150/mo, even if it is for three utilities under one plan. We never use the landline for anything but the daily faxed-in invoice and TV sucks enormously. When the cable companies are forced to let us pay a REASONABLE price per month for the a la carte stations of our choice, THEN I'll be happy. Why should I pay for crapfests and commercials and "reality" trash when I only want to see Turner Classic Movies, Discovery, and the news?

This chart/article is meaningless without posting the corresponding credit scores.

Horrible, horrible fee structure. No way.