Situation: My credit scores are all between 725-750.
Oldest account: 4yrs
AAOA: 1 1/2yr
Income: 165K
Total credit: 110K
Inquiries: I have a few because closed on my house this year and we bought a couple of new cars.
Personal AMEX cards: Hilton 9K, BCE 3K, Old Blue Cash 15k. I also have a Corporate Green charge card.
Util: ~6 (all of it on a balance transfer card with 0% interest)
I've put a little over 35K in spend on those 3 three cards so far this year and have always paid in full. I have only recieved the 3X Amex CLI once (BCE 1K---> 3K). I've tried with my Blue Cash (15k--->25K) and Hilton (9K---->18K) and even my BCE (3k---9k) but each time I get a wait 7-10 days message and then they send me forms asking for my tax records. I don't feel comfortable releasing that information. I see people getting 3x CLI with worse scores and lower income than me. Are they requesting the tax documents because of the new debt (House +Cars)? Has anyone ever called in and had them waive this requirement? Anyway they'll give me a CLI without the tax documents? I don't need the CLI but I figure it's a SP and my income can support it so why not.
@EW800 wrote:
@taxi818 wrote:
@EW800 wrote:May I jump in on htis thread as well?
I will be at the 6 month mark since my last CLI with Amex in about three weeks. I am wondering what amount it would be best for me to request. I have nothing to hide, however do not want to go through the financial review stuff.
My scores (below) are generally in the 725 range on the 08 models.
Income is about $105,000.
Current Amex CL is $9,500. I have PIF *before* the statement cuts every cycle for the last six months, so statement balances have been $0.
My total CL of all cards is about $59,000. Util is almost nothing, usually just $50 or so reports on one card each month. All others I have report $0.
I have no Inq's at all on Eqx and Exp. I have two inq's on TU that are both about six months old or so.
Currently, Amex is my second lighest CL. My Discover card is higher at $11,700.
If I were to go for the whole 3X (which would be $28,500), could that cause a financial review or other adverse action?
Any advantage to maybe keeping the request under $20,000?
Thanks so much!
To be safe. Just ask for 24.500 and you will be fine. Or you can go even 25.000 and they will not dig.
Thank you so much! Is it generally over $25K that they tend to dig further?
Yes. Need to make sure income can meet obligation. Just go 24.500. And no questions asked 
@taxi818 wrote:
@EW800 wrote:
@taxi818 wrote:
@EW800 wrote:May I jump in on htis thread as well?
I will be at the 6 month mark since my last CLI with Amex in about three weeks. I am wondering what amount it would be best for me to request. I have nothing to hide, however do not want to go through the financial review stuff.
My scores (below) are generally in the 725 range on the 08 models.
Income is about $105,000.
Current Amex CL is $9,500. I have PIF *before* the statement cuts every cycle for the last six months, so statement balances have been $0.
My total CL of all cards is about $59,000. Util is almost nothing, usually just $50 or so reports on one card each month. All others I have report $0.
I have no Inq's at all on Eqx and Exp. I have two inq's on TU that are both about six months old or so.
Currently, Amex is my second lighest CL. My Discover card is higher at $11,700.
If I were to go for the whole 3X (which would be $28,500), could that cause a financial review or other adverse action?
Any advantage to maybe keeping the request under $20,000?
Thanks so much!
To be safe. Just ask for 24.500 and you will be fine. Or you can go even 25.000 and they will not dig.
Thank you so much! Is it generally over $25K that they tend to dig further?
Yes. Need to make sure income can meet obligation. Just go 24.500. And no questions asked
Will do. Thanks so much!
Terminology is important.
A true AMEX Financial Review is where they lock down your cards and insist that you provide verification of income, and a review of the types of charges you have been making. The IRS form 4506-T gives them access to a transcript summary of your accounts. There is a time limit for this and the potential to stop extending credit.
I don't think asking for an increased credit line, leading to request of the 4506-T IRS Transcripts is anything like the "Financial Review". In the case of a credit line increase, they are getting toward the limits of simple trust, and mostly would want to verify the income you typed into the little box when you requested the CLI is in fact your income and not merely magical. In that case, they may approve or deny the CLI, or counter with a lower CLI. Your accounts remain active during this process.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that is the outline of the two possibilities.
