I was thinking it would, quite frankly, as F.I.A. Services regularly monitored my credit, and my credit utilization ratio is below 20%. But no, I had to reapply for my credit card to be reinstated. It was my only credit card, I had it for twelve years but did not use it for eight, on account that the bank who bought out the original card-issuer did nothing to make the card competitive with the credit union credit card -- the foreign transaction fee was not low, the grace period was briefer, the terms and conditions changed more rapidly than a telecommunications provider. I even asked twice to be transferred to someone in Credit Review, but apparently that is "going off script."

I wonder what effect the denial of reinstatement would have on my car insurance. I also wonder where I should apply for credit, if anywhere, considering I do not have a job at present. If only there were a general use credit card that was preferable to using cash, like the Target RedCard, with a decent grace period, and that I could use pretty much exclusively while I was in Canada (i.e. no 3% foreign transaction fee). The limit does not have to be high: the cancelled card had a limit of $15200. It would be disappointing and anomalous if, considering we get decent rates and rapid approval for all the credit lines and mortgages we have opened for the past nine years, Bank of America denied me the reinstatement of the credit card.

What credit utilization ratio is preferable? With the Signature Visa our credit utilization percentage is 13.6%, without, it is 16.7%. Should I be paying down the HELOC? Should I ask for the HELOC limit to be upped past $50K so it is not seen as a revolving account? Or should I be saving up $$ for the higher insurance premiums I would pay despite my pristine and lengthy payment history on my other credit accounts and driving record?