Orchard Bank Again

[Anonymous]

Where this CLI given on secured cards and how long ahve you had them./?

[GST2008]

Neither of my cards were secured. Got pre-approved applications in the mail for both. The Gold card app. came first and then one year after I had the card, the Plat. Elite invitation came since I was "such a good customer". That card was nice b/c it came with 18 months 0% APR lol I'm still on 0% apr with it till November then 12.9% after that.

[Anonymous]

Did those of you who just responded receive your increase with or without a fee?

[GST2008]

Both. On the one year anniversary of the card, I received an increase without a fee and then the invitation for the 2nd card. I also called once to request an increase on both cards and was charged a one time fee for the ability to request them, I think it was $20.00. Both of the cards are up for their anniversaries again in May, so I'm hoping for an additional birthday increase again.

[Anonymous]

Do you think it will work if you have a balance on the card?  I have had that thing at zero for two months reparing to close it in a few since they have given me no luv.  Now, I have about $130.00.  I guess they will not care if I close a card with a balance on it.

[GST2008]

I don't think so, but I would call and ask before applying. I had a HHB card that I closed with a balance and still was able to get both OB cards, but I don't know for a fact.

[Anonymous]

Oh well... I called anyway... and the truth is, I just cut the darn card up last night.  I was absolutely fed up with Orchard and told the accounts manager that I did not even know the number.  She looked at my account with my soc. and said there was $100.00 CLI available to me and emphasized that it was a FREE increas. 

I asked her what can I do to get more in the future since I am getting such better CLs and CLis from otehr cards.  She said, "Let me explain how we operates so that you do not get too frustrated."  She went on, very plesantly so, to explain that they deliberately keep CL low on rebuilder cards as a way to help people stay out of credit trouble.  She just kept encouraging me to keep up the good work and not to give up on the card and use it to rebuild.  

I have very mixed feelings about this! 

[nathan]

That is crap. How do they expect you to use a 300 card when you have may be 10k or more on other cc. I told them i will never use their card because it is useless to me now and i will close once it hits one year. I explained to them i am not sub prime no more because others are offering me great cls.

[Anonymous]

Yeah,

I just got a 500 CLI on a Cap 1 that I have had for half as long and am due to get an auto increase from them within a month.  I have tried keeping a mid level balance on the Orchard, paying in full, making multiple payments a month, leaving it at zero...... When I first requested a CLI, they told me to call back in Feb. I did  and nothing....

I had decided not to ask them for anything again and to just cancel this summer.  CLI aside, the real deal breaker here, of course, will be the annual fee.  If they waive that.. which is 59 or 79, I cannot remember now, then I can tolerate having them a bit more and just continue to use it to pay $9.99 credit keeper and maybe my $33.00 digital phone bill.  I cannot justify  keeping a credit card that is already at 20% or so utilization because of the annual fee!

It has its purpose and I should use it for what it is for and move on when it is time to do so.