hendricksfan01 Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 I just applied for a Orchard bank card and was approved for $200 secured. I was discharged from ch7 14 months ago. I included everything. Now I'm completly debt free, and rebuilding. My question is, How is Orchard to deal with? Anything I need to worry about? Thank you. Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shan2themax Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 I just applied for a Orchard bank card and was approved for $200 secured. I was discharged from ch7 14 months ago. I included everything. Now I'm completly debt free, and rebuilding. My question is, How is Orchard to deal with? Anything I need to worry about? Thank you. EricI had a card with them and never had any problems at all... I did a really dumb thing though (this was pre-cic) I closed the account because I had read that low limits hurt you credit.... lost 2 years of ontime all the time payment history... Low limits are what you have to start out with post-bk it seems.... but again.. I didnt have any problems with them in that 2 year time period Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SecretAgentWoman Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 I like 'em. And you can get around the low-limit issue by making more deposits to increase your limit.I understand they are VERY slow to switch you to unsecured, however, so don't count on your money coming back anytime soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iomega71 Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 Orchard is fine, just look out for the huge increase in interest rate once they do a hard pull on CR months after you have the card. I completed BK7 and got a $300 CL secured. Just don't go over the CL, which I never have, or they will stick it to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winter97 Posted March 19, 2007 Report Share Posted March 19, 2007 I think Orchard is OK. They where the ONLY place that would let me get the foot in the door at first. I have been with them a year. But no CLI They must have pulled my credit again after about 6 months I was never late or anything but I had an old Collection from 2002 show up out of now where and it took a couple of months to get it off. They upped my APR to 23%. So its a PIF and only to keep it active card now. But at least they got me on the yellow brick road! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elyse449 Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 I love my Orchard. My personal advice to you is, NEVER charge over your utilization. In other words, NEVER get too close to your credit limit--because it'll just so happen that they'll need to charge their "yearly" fee...and than what? You'll be over your limit, that's what. They got me once with that, but thankfully I check the acct regularly and paid it up.So, just be careful. Try to NOT charge more than 35% of your CL, although I've heard some say 50%.Good luck!Elyse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hajimon Posted March 20, 2007 Report Share Posted March 20, 2007 I have a 300 dollar unsecure card. Its been a 2 months and I have no problems yet. However, I use their on-line payment center and I check my account frequently, as well as keep my utilization between 23-29%. My high balance right now is 79 bucks. Which came from the yearly fee. With their on-line center u can manipulate your balance by making a small payment frequently as you want to.In a few months im gonna try an experiement and send them an additional payment of 200 bucks and see what they do.My theory behind this is that they wont want the payment and at that time I will ask for cli to match my overpayment.maybe it will work maybe it wont.And remeber any card is as good as the other when you pay your bill on-time.mhoh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendricksfan01 Posted March 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 well I'm not about to play games, but thanks for the advise on not spending to your cl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tourniquet416 Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 I had no problems with them. Very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jq26 Posted March 27, 2007 Report Share Posted March 27, 2007 They are not bad for a first or second card in the rebuilding phase. Reasonable fees (considering alternatives) and nice online payment system. I suggest using them as long as you need until you get into some better/free cards. Then dump them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fizzle1979 Posted March 27, 2007 Report Share Posted March 27, 2007 I got a 300 Unsercured card with 2% cash back...awarded every quarter in 12/06. One thing I did find out...and I do not like and I called them to confirm this. My billing cycle ends on the 23rd of every month...if I have my balance paid to zero at that time...but then charge $50 on it before the last day of the month and don't pay it off before the that last day...they report the $50 to the CRAs as your balance. So no matter what your balance is at the end of your billing cycle they will report what your card balance is on the last day of the month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jq26 Posted March 27, 2007 Report Share Posted March 27, 2007 I got a 300 Unsercured card with 2% cash back...awarded every quarter in 12/06.Wow. First time I have heard of a cash back Orchard Bank card. If you use it enough for everyday purchases, it can pay its own annual fee. Better than nothing I guess if better cards are still out of the question at that point in the credit rebuilding process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fizzle1979 Posted March 27, 2007 Report Share Posted March 27, 2007 I just looked at the card itself. It's got Orchard Bank Platinum on the front. There's a $59 annual fee and 14.90% APR. I had about $25 in cash back that will get credited to the account in April...so yah I think it will pay for the $59 fee. I basically use it during the week, and pay it off on Friday each week. Wow. First time I have heard of a cash back Orchard Bank card. If you use it enough for everyday purchases, it can pay its own annual fee. Better than nothing I guess if better cards are still out of the question at that point in the credit rebuilding process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjfan Posted March 27, 2007 Report Share Posted March 27, 2007 We were also ch7 dischaged 14 months ago. We opened one up an orchard secured account on Feb 22. It is still not reporting But, it is a great rebuilding card because it has a low annual fee and free online account access. I LOVE the fact that I can pay my bill online.We also have the Wells Fargo secured card. It only has an $18 annual fee and has free online account access as well. It reported right away I just applied for a Orchard bank card and was approved for $200 secured. I was discharged from ch7 14 months ago. I included everything. Now I'm completly debt free, and rebuilding. My question is, How is Orchard to deal with? Anything I need to worry about? Thank you. Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyygirl Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 I hate Orchard, but they are a necessary evil right now. You have to really be on top of things with them; they love to charge a late fee and then charge an overlimit fee because the late put you over. I've argued about this a few times; I was successful twice and had to bite it once, so I guess that's not too bad. They like to hold onto your payment--I once made a telephone payment that did not reflect on my account for over a week. They also like to make your due dates land on holidays and weekends, so that you have to plan ahead because, even if you make an online payment on Thursday morning, chances are it won't credit until Tuesday. I think someone said something about making a weekly payment...I like that idea--how exactly does that work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I hate EXP Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 They're pretty good. The only issue is the annual fee and then they will attempt to sell you stuff. Other than that no issues. make your payments online and they post the next day and the usage of the credit is avalible. When you make a transaction it will show immediatly so you dont have to wait to know what you have avalible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k99w Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 I just got one from them this past month! It was my first approval in my rebuilding process so I am pretty excited, I got $300 unsecured. They seem to be one of the better options out there for "sub prime" cards. My parents had them for awhile while doing some rebuilding of their own awhile back. They haven't had any problems with them. I just plan on paying bills with it and paying it off every month and hope something better comes along soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fizzle1979 Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 SkyGirl - I use my banks online bill payment plan to pay weekly...not their web site. It sounds like most people do like Orchards online bill pay web site, but for me, I like all of my bill payments to be found in one spot...my banks online bill payment web site. It is much easier for me to keep track of than logging into several different accounts on a weekly basis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fizzle1979 Posted May 9, 2007 Report Share Posted May 9, 2007 So much for me talking good about the 2% cash back program Orchard Card offers. I have had this card since 12/06. I had been using it as often as I could to get the money back from the 2% cash back program. So I called them and asked when I would get my rewards...aka the cash back...about six weeks ago and was told it get's awarded every quarter. So I call them today asking why I did not get it on my April statement. They claim that you have to get $150 in rewards before they will "award" you the cash back. SO basically, I have to spend $7500 on the card before I get the $150. THAT'S INSANE!!!!I asked them to mail the card agreement where I signed showing that they told me this before I signed up for the card because I do not remember it stating that. They said they will mail it to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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