If the apps are approved they show up as new accounts on all reports.

I've heard that several recent inquiries worry companies because they assume there's new accounts they're not seeing yet. The indication then is that new accounts show on all reports within a certain time.

I can understand why companies would be concerned about the amounts of lines of credit they are not yet seeing on reports.

It seems like they all rotate between Experian and Equifax most places. And sometimes business cards inquiries don't show.

But averaging 1 per month plays it safe. (Maybe too safe).

But that's what I meant. There seems to be a mythology out there that there's consistency within a state, but in examing my own credit reports, I've found (at least with Citi) that there's not even consistency at the very same street address!

One theory I saw proposed in some thread or other is that Citi buys the license to do these pulls in bulk from the various reporting agencies, and that sometimes they run out of funds in one but have plenty left in one of the others, so temporarily may shift people to another.

So it may be dependent on the phase of the moon!

Having said all that, since "the jig is up" change about a year ago, I have stopped applying for Citi cards on a nearly one/month basis, so no longer have current data on this. My data is from a year or two ago. Still, it's enough to counter the theory that it's always consistent within a state.

FWIW- Just checked my free Experian report from AmEx and all my pulls were on it (I'm in DC). There was no SPG biz card pull but I assume they did one for personal & biz. Citi was on for two personals but biz was missing. Again either one pull for both or biz accounts don't show on personal credit accounts. Chase was also on it.

I like CreditKarma (TransUnion) but in DC almost every pull seems to be on Experian. Very limiting and why the free AmEx report is good.

There really doesn't seem be any rhyme or reason when it comes to credit related issues...

really????i think 30 applications would be a bit too much....

I found a pretty good post about how
many CC's and how often and figured I'd list it here for reference in case anyone else comes here with the same question.

Frugal Travel Guy has a good description of his churning method on his posts on 12/14/09 and 12/15/09. He tries to do 6 a quarter, of those, 2 from each credit agency (experian, equifax, transunion) so as to not bump inquiries too high. Credit agency is checked by state on credit
pull db over at creditboards.

Great find...with this strategy, it seems like 30 wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility.

Great advice, good thread. I find the information very helpful, I too am interested in racking up the free trips.

Some on FT have done it and gotten away with it.

Does it hurt a good score? Yes

Does it ruin your credit? If done wisely, no.

$5K - $15K of rewards can be well worth it!

That information might have been posted before Citi cracked down on churning.

i don't doubt the fact that some on ft must have done this....but i still feel 30 a year would be a bit on the higher side....