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New Citi Diamond Preferred - Recon CLI Upon Opening?

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Artzdelux
New Contributor

New Citi Diamond Preferred - Recon CLI Upon Opening?

Hi all,
  just got approved for a Citi Diamond Preferred card. 0% APR on Purchases and BT through 8/31/09.  I am planning on using this card for a BT of $1800, but only got approved for a CL of $2100.  I am concerned that this would negatively affect my FICO score (around 718) because of the high utilization that card would have (over 80%).  my overall utilization would be around 23%.
 
My question, should I call the backdoor number and request a CLI/ higher CLI?  If so, how long should I wait to call, and what should I say?  I have not done this before.
 
Thanks for all your help.
Message 1 of 10
9 REPLIES 9
Creditaddict
Legendary Contributor

Re: New Citi Diamond Preferred - Recon CLI Upon Opening?

I have not heard of people getting cli on activation, think they want 6 months.
I think you would probably be okay util wise if you plan on paying the card down in the next 6 months.
Message 2 of 10
aftermath
Established Contributor

Re: New Citi Diamond Preferred - Recon CLI Upon Opening?



Artzdelux wrote:
Hi all,
  just got approved for a Citi Diamond Preferred card. 0% APR on Purchases and BT through 8/31/09.  I am planning on using this card for a BT of $1800, but only got approved for a CL of $2100.  I am concerned that this would negatively affect my FICO score (around 718) because of the high utilization that card would have (over 80%).  my overall utilization would be around 23%.
 
My question, should I call the backdoor number and request a CLI/ higher CLI?  If so, how long should I wait to call, and what should I say?  I have not done this before.
 
Thanks for all your help.


No need to wait for 6 months as mentioned in the above post.  I received the exact same card as you last month ($2500).  I phoned in my activation and asked the rep if I could request a CLI.  Rep asked me how much was I looking for.  I asked double my initial CL ($5000 total).  Rep said no problem.  I'm a happy camper.
 
I'm not sure about other people's experience, but maybe they just spoke with someone that wasn't willing to try/help.  If the 1st rep isn't willing, just keep calling back until you reach someone who is.  I know for a fact they can do CLI upon activation because I have experienced it first hand.  Don't let them tell you that they can't.
 
If they do tell you they can't do this, tell them that my co-worker "me" was granted a CLI upon activation and that due to his high recommendation of this card, you applied as well.

 


Message Edited by aftermath on 07-28-2008 11:30 AM
American Express Blue Cash Everyday $6600
Barclays US Airways Premier World Mastercard $14500
Chase Sapphire Preferred $5000
Chase Freedom Visa $1000
Chase United Explorer $8500
Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Visa Signature $7500
Citi ThankYou Premier World Mastercard $7500
Message 3 of 10
Chazman
Contributor

Re: New Citi Diamond Preferred - Recon CLI Upon Opening?

If you're active on the card and make respectable payments, you'll probably get an auto CLI after 3 or 4 months.  In my experience Citi's pretty good about that. I got the auto at 3 months, and then asked for more at 6 mos. (opened at $1400, then to $2400, now $4000.) Opened in February, '08...
Message 4 of 10
smallfry
Senior Contributor

Re: New Citi Diamond Preferred - Recon CLI Upon Opening?

That's very good Aftermath. I've received 4 cards from Citi in the past year and some and was only able to get a small (18%) CLI on the last card I received from them. I would definitely ask upon activation and no need to be shy. Good luck OP.
Message 5 of 10
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: New Citi Diamond Preferred - Recon CLI Upon Opening?

wow thts nice!!cli
Message 6 of 10
ocheosa
Valued Contributor

Re: New Citi Diamond Preferred - Recon CLI Upon Opening?



aftermath wrote:


Artzdelux wrote:
Hi all,
  just got approved for a Citi Diamond Preferred card. 0% APR on Purchases and BT through 8/31/09.  I am planning on using this card for a BT of $1800, but only got approved for a CL of $2100.  I am concerned that this would negatively affect my FICO score (around 718) because of the high utilization that card would have (over 80%).  my overall utilization would be around 23%.
 
My question, should I call the backdoor number and request a CLI/ higher CLI?  If so, how long should I wait to call, and what should I say?  I have not done this before.
 
Thanks for all your help.


No need to wait for 6 months as mentioned in the above post.  I received the exact same card as you last month ($2500).  I phoned in my activation and asked the rep if I could request a CLI.  Rep asked me how much was I looking for.  I asked double my initial CL ($5000 total).  Rep said no problem.  I'm a happy camper.
 
I'm not sure about other people's experience, but maybe they just spoke with someone that wasn't willing to try/help.  If the 1st rep isn't willing, just keep calling back until you reach someone who is.  I know for a fact they can do CLI upon activation because I have experienced it first hand.  Don't let them tell you that they can't.
 
If they do tell you they can't do this, tell them that my co-worker "me" was granted a CLI upon activation and that due to his high recommendation of this card, you applied as well.

 


Message Edited by aftermath on 07-28-2008 11:30 AM

I second aftermath's comment, you can request CLI at activation, I did as well and it was given. Please note that in my case it cost another hard inquiry, but my CL went up 10k so it was worth it. Got an instant additional $750 (soft inq on the website) 1 month after.
[4/23] Scores 8/9: 700-800s. Util: 1%. Inq/12: EQ 0, EX 5, TU 1. AoOA=14.8y, AoYA=9m.
TCL $618K: Personal $512K, Business $106K.
Message 7 of 10
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: New Citi Diamond Preferred - Recon CLI Upon Opening?

YMMV but I got my card in April and already I got a credit increase online 2 months in a row. Increased $1,200 more in June and $1,000 more in July with no hard pull. I'm really impressed with how they treat their customers.
Message 8 of 10
Artzdelux
New Contributor

Re: New Citi Diamond Preferred - Recon CLI Upon Opening?

Success!!
  Called the first night when I activated the card - the front line rep said that she pulled the CR (went through the normal questions like HHI, etc). and said that I did not qualify for an increase.
 
I called the next day and asked to speak to an account specialist.  The woman I spoke with said that she did not even see a record of a previous request, filed another one, and got an increase of $900 to make my limit $3k.    Now the utilization will be 56% instead of 80%.
 
When you got all of your increases month after month, how did you do it?  Did you call in every month and get a hard inquiry?
Message 9 of 10
CodeMonkey
Contributor

Re: New Citi Diamond Preferred - Recon CLI Upon Opening?

Congrats. Smiley Happy

I just recently picked up this card myself a couple weeks ago; two or three days after receiving it in the mail I called the backdoor number and asked for a CLI.

Bumped me from $2k to $5k right over the phone, and said that based on my credit report I would probably be receiving an auto-CLI within the next few months.

Very nice credit analyst for sure. Smiley Happy
Message 10 of 10
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