Card Designs

**kdb030609** · February 17th, 2011, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by ColoNative

That is important too, but I think you'd agree the Slate card is ugly.

I agree with you the vertical design is ugly on the slate card. I was wondering does your freedom card have blueprint feature as well. I know that is the primary feature on the slate card. I've got the freedom with blueprint as well.

**Wanderer** · February 17th, 2011, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by ColoNative

Yeah, it didn't do it for me. I was also reading on different blogs etc where merchants, mostly smaller ones, wont accept the veritcal cards. Just a preference thing I guess. Different strokes sort of thing.

Bizarre idea... why not consider consolidating your Chase Slate Bank Credit Card and credit line into your Chase Freedom Card?! Now I know you pay attention to "average account history" as wells as "oldest account history", and yes, they all affect your FICO scores. Note however (speaking with experience), if you closed the Chase Slate account, it would show "closed consumer request" and since it is a positive, it will continue to report as closed and paid for at least ten years. By then, you will have that many more years on all your other credit accounts. The average high scoring FICO achiever shows at least one account over sixteen years old and average account histories over six years. Since you are a high scorer the affect would be nil. Now I realize every generalization is affected some by the individual credit report, I have done exactly what I just placed in writing. Also, FICO high achievers are those in the 760's+. Today, according to Experian's methods of score reporting I have moved up to 767. Yes, I closed Capital One accounts with eight plus years (mad at them) and the affect was nil as they still report as a positive and in my case it actually helped to lower my outstanding available credit. Food for thought!

**ColoNative** · February 17th, 2011, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by Wanderer

Bizarre idea... why not consider consolidating your Chase Slate Bank Credit Card and credit line into your Chase Freedom Card?! Now I know you pay attention to "average account history" as wells as "oldest account history", and yes, they all affect your FICO scores. Note however (speaking with experience), if you closed the Chase Slate account, it would show "closed consumer request" and since it is a positive, it will continue to report as closed and paid for at least ten years. By then, you will have that many more years on all your other credit accounts. The average high scoring FICO achiever shows at least one account over sixteen years old and average account histories over six years. Since you are a high scorer the affect would be nil. Now I realize every generalization is affected some by the individual credit report, I have done exactly what I just placed in writing. Also, FICO high achievers are those in the 760's+. Today, according to Experian's methods of score reporting I have moved up to 767. Yes, I closed Capital One accounts with eight plus years (mad at them) and the affect was nil as they still report as a positive and in my case it actually helped to lower my outstanding available credit. Food for thought!

Yes, I thought about converting the Slate to Freedom this once the 0% APR expires on the new account, that way I can close the newer account and keep my 10 year old account. I just worry about an upgrade to World MasterCard for credit line reporting purposes. Most reward cards these days are World/Signature because the issuer gets a larger merchant fee for the higher level cards-this offsets the cost of the reward. And you are absolutely right about average account age, I had a 786 FICO when I applied and now it is down to 775 due to the new account. I currently have 5 accounts that are between 11-13 years old; next month Kohl's turns 10 and in May BofA turns 10 and in September the aforementioned Chase Slate turns 10 so my credit is aging pretty well; not bad for 32 years old. But yes, opening new accounts will only hurt. It is good to know that closing your Cap 1 cards did not have a profound effect on your score.

**ColoNative** · February 17th, 2011, 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by kdb030609

I agree with you the vertical design is ugly on the slate card. I was wondering does your freedom card have blueprint feature as well. I know that is the primary feature on the slate card. I've got the freedom with blueprint as well.

Yes, my Freedom also has Blueprint. I've never used it on either account, but it looks like it could help savvy consumers pay down debt.

**Wanderer** · February 18th, 2011, 02:45 AM

Originally Posted by ColoNative

Yes, I thought about converting the Slate to Freedom this once the 0% APR expires on the new account, that way I can close the newer account and keep my 10 year old account. I just worry about an upgrade to World MasterCard for credit line reporting purposes. Most reward cards these days are World/Signature because the issuer gets a larger merchant fee for the higher level cards-this offsets the cost of the reward. And you are absolutely right about average account age, I had a 786 FICO when I applied and now it is down to 775 due to the new account. I currently have 5 accounts that are between 11-13 years old; next month Kohl's turns 10 and in May BofA turns 10 and in September the aforementioned Chase Slate turns 10 so my credit is aging pretty well; not bad for 32 years old. But yes, opening new accounts will only hurt. It is good to know that closing your Cap 1 cards did not have a profound effect on your score.

For the FG site readers, ColoNative has displayed credit savy methods to achieve great credit. Such activities allow him to benefit from the best rates and products. Whether were starting out, rebuilding, or in a re-start mode... being credit smart will help us with lot's of patience and time to move up the credit scoring ladder. The real FICO Scoring model places a heavy emphasis (weight) on the "average credit length" and "oldest account life". That said, you cannot rush those two components of your credit score. ONLY time will work this part of the scoring model. ColoNative has been working the scoring model. As for myself, I had near perfect credit from 1972 to 2001 and ended up with a lost business and had to re-build with nine years on my scoring model. Today, I am finally seeing myself move back towards the level of the high achievers but, I need a longer average account life and too loose the too many inquiries off my record (they are starting to fall off) ... oops!

**Wanderer** · February 19th, 2011, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by ColoNative

I didn't even know they had a Freedom for Business. I am suprised that it isn't an Ink card. That is pretty cool though. I think we have Ultimate Rewards or something with our Freedom cards which sounds similar (points instead of cash). I prefer cash back, but on the website to redeem you can choose between cash and other items. I guess technically, we earn points regardless and they can be used for anything, inlcuding cash.

Cross marketing and confusion when it comes to Chase. They call my card a Chase Business Visa Ink Card and then call it a "Freedom Card". I have no clue. Called them and they said customers were confused so they added the Freedom back to the Ink. Confused ... yeah! The business card does have Chase's "Blue Print" option too.

**ColoNative** · February 20th, 2011, 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by Wanderer

Cross marketing and confusion when it comes to Chase. They call my card a Chase Business Visa Ink Card and then call it a "Freedom Card". I have no clue. Called them and they said customers were confused so they added the Freedom back to the Ink. Confused ... yeah! The business card does have Chase's "Blue Print" option too.

That is confusing, but great that the business card earns rewards!