This is only a guess, but two of the cards you listed are at approx. 50% util, maybe that coupled with the short limited history is what's making GE a little skittish?
@kjm79 wrote:This is only a guess, but two of the cards you listed are at approx. 50% util, maybe that coupled with the short limited history is what's making GE a little skittish?
I agree, GE is very skiddish about high util. and I had to find that out every time I tried for CLI's for 6 months, when i got my overall util. down to 6%, BAM! Increases on all of my GE accounts!
@mbj81380 wrote:I guess I'll just wait it out and get all of my cards down. These forums are great, but can be frustrating when you hear about people with profiles and scores way worse than my own getting approved for things. I guess I'll just keep plodding along with my tiny limits. Hopefully someone will be nice and give me a little boost!
Patience is key with a thin file, I experienced it first hand. Good things will come if you treat your cards right and give them time to age!! GE will come around to you soon, work on your util. and they'll help you out!
That's really all you can do. Wait it out. My GE experience was with my JCP card. I included them in a BK in 04, luckily they approved me in 09 for a new account. It took nearly 2 years for me to get from $600 to $900 then nothing. Then one dayup to $1700. Last month I called in for a CLI and asked for a $2500 and they gave me $3900. I had tried charging and PIF, let a small balance report, and even larger balances. Sometimes with GE, you just have to be patient.
@mbj81380 wrote:I guess I'll just wait it out and get all of my cards down. These forums are great, but can be frustrating when you hear about people with profiles and scores way worse than my own getting approved for things. I guess I'll just keep plodding along with my tiny limits. Hopefully someone will be nice and give me a little boost!
You'll get there. We say it all the time, but it bears repeating, score isn't everything. Someone else in the high or mid 600s could have a very different credit profile, and the vast majority of people posting about their limits don't say anything about their income. It's difficult to compare to another's profile without all of the information. Moreover, most people don't know what their EX score is. When I was approved for Amex PR Gold, I knew my EQ was 645 or something like that. I was surprised I was approved. Found out much later that my EX FICO sits about 50 points above my EQ FICO. So not such a shocking approval.
With a thin file, and small limits, you want to do everything you can to put your best foot forward if applying for more credit. So don't apply unless you have $0 balances across all your accounts except 1. And let a very small balance report on that one card. Less than 9% of that card's limit. You'll have to play the utilization game by paying your CC bills before the statement closes so you report $0 balances. The good thing is that your balances are small, so it should be easy to pay them off quickly.