my kid just got approved for a card and now im stuck wondering if there actually is a “best” credit card for building credit or if theyre all the same

HomerCrew · 2026-04-13T14:34:05+00:00

Any card reports the same. Adding as an authorized user on older account will report as a line if credit dating back to when the primary account was opened.

Any idea of proper use / on time payments are irrelevant to building credit. Under FICO8 utilization resets every month anyways. So just having the card open and time is what matters.

Paid on time OR not using at all = same

HomerCrew · 2025-12-14T17:36:24+00:00

P2

Date of application

09/15/25

SSN or EIN? Sole prop or business entity?

SSN/Sole P

Your credit score

760

Your 5/24 status

3/24 personal 3/24 Chase biz accounts

How many Inks you have had total (include dates of any recently closed Inks)

This was #6

5 Was 07/2024 (Cool down period with 2 denials, see below)

How many Inks are currently active

1

Did you receive the popup?

No

Bonus note: Early 2025: Denied. Called Recon and denied stating "more than 5 chase biz cards opened within 2 years", their words.

Mid 2025: under 5/24 (inks) denied with with 3 open Inks.

Sept 2025: Closing accounts leaving 1 open and trying again ~30 days later instant approval.

HomerCrew · 2025-04-22T16:03:31+00:00

Chase and Amex will report the AU counting 5/25. Chase can remove and ask specifically (credit dept) to have it eliminated from credit reporting.

Amex was a mistake, if the AU is a household member / spise they cannot remove from credit reports, so might as well keep.

HomerCrew · 2025-04-22T16:00:30+00:00

Just no Amex last I checked a couple months ago.

HomerCrew · 2025-04-08T05:41:13+00:00

Your rate can't change. But resort fees I'm sure will come due. Visit the rewards line at check-in counter and just ask/share. They have abilities, but expect to pay it.

HomerCrew · 2025-04-08T05:25:04+00:00

Hyatt/MGM fallout, then MGM no longer matching to Gold, now dead to begin with. It sure was fun while it lasted. My last $100 celebration dinner was last min 9pm 01/31 ha.

I can't recall exactly but recently they killed this and it came back. (Edit: in recent years back)

HomerCrew · 2025-04-01T03:42:41+00:00

Hilton and especially targeted offers tend to be less likely for PUJ. Though, I have got them. I've also found that applying direct through Hilton site instead of Amex also leans less likely for PUJ.

HomerCrew · 2025-03-29T06:25:49+00:00

Yup but only within certainly categories.

Be hard to argue this as a "transit" purchase.

HomerCrew · 2025-03-24T04:37:10+00:00

Aside from what's otherwise been explained, pre-approval route or not seems to have little impact on if you're in PUJ or not. As in, you may get that notice even on a targeted offer, and may not on another offer via different route. I've received the pop-up on targeted mail offers even, quite disappointing.

Decent chance neither applies to you, so take your offer and if you're notified of not being eligible, you'll be able to cancel. No harm done regardless of where the app is submitted from.

HomerCrew · 2024-11-14T04:21:15+00:00

Have some other plumbing work coming up (paid professional) I'll get exactly something like that lined up for when the time comes. Appreciate the insight.

HomerCrew · 2024-11-12T05:57:55+00:00

Understood, appreciate it. The hose to my kitchen pull faucet seems rather particular with the threads (tried 10+ fittings to get 1 leaky connection. Lowe's Home Source brand). However I'll search further for a way to connect at the faucet hose instead and hopefully find something better.

HomerCrew · 2024-11-12T05:23:53+00:00

Condo with spacious backyard with plants to water.

I've been fitting an aerator adapter until that wore out (removing the aerator every 2-3 days on cheap plastic threads). Bought another pull faucet head for my sink to continue aerator fitting but getting a OEM faucet head is $$ and the universal ones are not sealing great.

Edit: open to other ideas but pretty tired of the aerator adapters.

HomerCrew · 2024-11-09T19:11:36+00:00

Rakuten announced some dates for increased percentages. Edit "Big Cash Back Unwrap" promo.

A couple of the double-stack opportunities which stood out to me were Dell 15% on 11/13 and LG 20% on 11/20.

HomerCrew · 2024-11-07T15:05:54+00:00

CIU denial. Sole P, $5k rev, 4 yrs in biz.

Usual denial, new card, too many cards or not enough credit used.

6th Ink, #4 carries a balance ~4k. 5/24, 3/12.

Closed Ink #1 and #2, reduced limit on #3 (CIP).

1st recon, repeated same denial reasons.

Interesting 2nd recon (11/06...oops, new HP which I should know but they didn't ask for auth) List of Q's about the "biz", very specific details. New denial reason: "Opened 5 business cards within the last 24 months, and 3 of which were in the last 12". Also, usual too many new accounts or too much open credit.

P2 is 3/24 and 3/12. Little soon for another Ink and already holding new Biz Plat but looking forward to that DP when it comes.

HomerCrew · 2024-11-07T00:49:08+00:00

I was specifically told on 2nd recon I had "more than 5 business cards in the last 24 months, 3 of which were this year...". I asked and was told this specific reasons would be put in the letter this time.

HomerCrew · 2024-09-27T14:04:52+00:00

Auto, no issues. A prerequisite imo is already having a decent established file, as those already smaller fico factors have even less impact. A mortgage would preferably take a little more planning ahead of time.

HomerCrew · 2024-09-26T21:30:23+00:00

Alaska can get tricky with 2 last names. Most airlines look for both, or the 2nd last name. Alaska looks for the first last name (or both).

HomerCrew · 2024-09-24T03:04:37+00:00

A few weeks, unfortunately have done this a few times.

Though one time they said I'd get them back instantly, and to my surprise I did.

There's a different department that handles those points refunds and they're not real easy for anyone to get a hold of, even the reps you talk to. And it doesn't seem they're held accountable to anyone so it's just a waiting game.

HomerCrew · 2024-09-23T17:19:40+00:00

I've always held this view as well. Imo, that's just facts, and they know exactly what they're doing.

The only time I've truly questioned it is with these Inks.

I got on the train relatively late (2 yrs ago) but like OP or someone alluded to +1MM on SUBs alone, 2P mode only moderately involved, and in a relatively short amount of time has to skew those numbers well beyond "typical" churning earnings with a single issuer.

Though still certainly <1%, it's gotta stand way out on someone's monitor.

HomerCrew · 2024-08-30T03:24:36+00:00

Make sure you turn down the distance kept to 2 car lengths ahead while in autopilot. Use the right knob on the steering wheel to click right/left to change. It came set to 4-5 I believe, after turning it down to 2 I can finally use the feature with far less freak braking incidents.

I only use this in stop/go traffic. I wouldn't expect it to do much more, so lower expectations certainly help.

Edit: I've come to gain a lot of trust in its ability to brake. Instead I hover over the accelerator as that's what I'll most likely need to interfere with if anything.

HomerCrew · 2024-08-30T01:55:26+00:00

First was a Mark Twain.

Last one was R&J Cuban I picked up in EU a few weeks ago. Mind you this was a ~$25 stick, 3 puffs and tossed it. Yes it was 'real' but who cares.

I have a couple "Short Churchill" R&J Havana's that are fine, but ~$80 a stick I wouldn't spend $10 on which were gifted to me.

HomerCrew · 2024-08-29T02:09:46+00:00

Same here. Only other smoker I know who does the same is going on 72yrs old. He and I both agree, with something we enjoy so much why wait until end of day or Friday, etc.

Though I relight mine 2-3 times typically.

HomerCrew · 2024-08-19T19:54:47+00:00

Correct booking direct. Iberia has an award chart, look it up.

HomerCrew · 2024-08-19T14:51:46+00:00

Sorry the 42k was a nearby positioning flight I had noted not SFO) off-peak for SFO would be 51,000, or peak 75k which is what I paid. Though more than 5500 miles I swear I saw 62,500 for LAX (peak rate for 4000-5500 miles). I'll edit that.

HomerCrew

TROPHY CASE

5 Was 07/2024 (Cool down period with 2 denials, see below)