$1000 Amex cards never getting CLI?

[601flyguy]

I got with amex around 3/11/17 with a very thin file, no baddies and ficos in the low 700s. I was approved for BCE with 500sl and PRG. I received a credit steps email for bce but didnt realize until months later. I was approved for my first 3x cli a few days early, the day after my 2nd statement cut. I was approved for my 2nd 3x cli right on time. I put alot of spend on my bce, sometimes going close to my cl but always pif before a statement cuts.
Im not sure if my charge card usage helps but i use my prg like crazy. Sometimes it sees 10-20k monthly. I usually pif before a statement cuts but have pif after the statement cuts lately. At first they would only allow me to have a 3k balance, now they allow about 25 (haven't tried more).

So my amex relationship has definitely grown in 10 months. They have grown more than my others. My ficos have went up about 80 points in that time as well.

[Anonymous]

My DW got the BCE with the same credit steps program with a $500 SL. A year later she is sitting $4500 but my $1000 SL won’t move. 🤔

[Ardecko]

Is there any harm in trying for the 3X CLI on one of these low limit cards at the sixty-whatever day?

[601flyguy]

I say no, there is never any harm asking amex for cli

[Anonymous]

OP, you admitting you did a 2X CLI already.  Amex lets you do one CLI per cardmember (not per card) every 181 days.

Not sure what you're complaining about -- look back to what exact date you did the 2X CLI and count 181 days forward.  Then on that future date, go for a 3X CLI on any single Amex card you want a higher limit on.  Then set 181 days after THAT date and do a 3X CLI on another card.

If you app for Amex cards when your credit is poor, of course they're going to give you low limits.  This is why we frown on rebuilders who get in with one Amex card and then go on a spree over 6 months to get 3 more, and they're all low limit cards because they haven't given Amex time to show responsible usage.

If you get a $1000 Amex limit, do not app for more Amex cards until 3X CLI on that first card, even if it takes a year.

[601flyguy]

What about in my case abcd?? Ive not applied for anything else, trying to let my relationship grow. Would you suggest that i apply for another soon or wait a full year?? It will be a year for me in March.

[Anonymous]

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@601flyguy wrote:
What about in my case abcd?? Ive not applied for anything else, trying to let my relationship grow. Would you suggest that i apply for another soon or wait a full year?? It will be a year for me in March.

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If your current credit limit is BELOW $2000, then hold off on applying until your first card is at $2000 or higher.  That $2000 mark seems to be a strong line in terms of Amex underwriting standards.  From my data points pulled from here, other credit forums and Facebook, most people at $2000 seem to get 3X CLI, very few get denied.  Most people below $2000 seem to get denied for 3X CLI but may get 2X auto CLI or manual CLI.  So getting over $2000 is a line in the sand, I think.

Of course, YMMV -- if your FICO EX has improved massively, then it might be worth it to app for a new card, but I honestly would say why risk getting another toy limit?  Now, if you have an Amex card in mind that might pay out MASSIVE rewards if you get it today versus 6 months from now, do the math and see.  A toy limit with heavy rewards on your expected spend is more useful and profitable than a $15,000 Amex card that earns you $20 a year, lol.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Aré Amex SL of $1000 stuck forever?

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Absolutely not.  If you read through the Amex 3X CLI thread, there are plenty of people with $1k SL Amex cards that 3X CLI it to $3k after 2+ months, then 3X CLI it to $9k after another 6 months.

[Anonymous]

I will be coming up on my 61 days on Feb. 1 on my Delta Gold. I received a $1000 SL my EX was at 697 at the time of approval. I will let you know what my result is when I ask for a 3X CLI. I talked to a rep and said I should be ok once I hit my 61 day Mark.

I've been using with card a lot as I've been flying Delta 6 times since I've gotten it for work. I PIF after I get my expense check two days after my trip.

[Anonymous]

Has your EX score changed since approval?  Up or down?  I always think it's a best practice to maximize your score prior to a CLI request (if possible) with things like AZEO if you haven't already.