Saks store card CLI of $3,750

Anonymous — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 23:08:05 GMT

Well, in August of this year, I decided to open two retail cards along with an automobile installment loan since my FICO profile showed "0" retail cards/auto loan. Since I have a five-year history with Capital One, I went on an app spree with them and decided to apply for their retail cards (Saks store card and Neiman Marcus) and was subsequently pre-approved for their autonavigator loan ((thank goodness I didn't can them after the major security breach a few months ago -- phew!!))

Anyway, in reading member testimonies citing insane CLI monthly increases via Neiman Marcus and Saks store cards ((allowing a monthly (soft pull) CLI increase via phone)), I decided that these two cards might help build my portfolio along with aiding in decreasing my overall utilization. To make a long story short, I was approved for both store cards. They both pulled Equifax which was my highest FICO at the time (779). The struggle: Saks did not auto-approve me for a line of credit, but made me call in for verification which lasted about 2 minutes by sending a text to my phone linked in my CR profile which I had in hand. Saks starting CL was $2,250 and I was happy with that. Then, I thought I'd have a good chance with NM on the same day and was given the same verification notice, but I had to go in-store to show my driver's license at the customer service counter. Then, the sweet lady handed me the phone to speak to a man in their underwriting department who honestly sounded like a FBI interrogator. The entire time, I kept a poker face and spoke in an indifferent, firm and direct tone. The result: NM gave me a starting CL of $6,000 (was extremely happy).

Today's Saks CLI -- how it went down

Strategy: So, two months have passed and I decided to see if Saks could give me a CLI to put me at the same CL as my beginning NM CL. I thought my best chances for a Saks CLI were to put 2-3 small purchases of between $50.00 - $200.00 and make a few payments higher than the minimum.

So moments ago, I called in with a balance of around $500.00 out of $2,250 and politely asked the Saks CSR if I could have a CLI. She was very polite, but also persistent on the amount I wanted -- I then told her to give me whatever I was eligible for. She said, "please give me a number that you'd like to request"...I said, "well, NM gave me a start CL of $6,000, so that's what I'd like to request..." She said, "okay, I do need to pull your credit file...do I have your authorization?" To be safe, I asked her, "Soft pull or hard pull?" She reassured me it was a soft pull. So, she asked to put me on hold for 4-5 minutes...maybe a minute passed while I was on hold...then, she congratulated me on the new CLI to $6,000 which now matches my NM credit limit. YAY!!!

So....in less than 5 minutes, I went from a card utilization of 22% to 8.3%! BAM!!! Excited to see how this now brings down the overall utilization once the CRAs report. I might call in again in December and ask both NM and Saks to increase to 10k! I want to keep my monthly spend around $200-$300 and not go crazy on handbags - just a perfume or two and pay it off each month.

P.S. one thing to note about Saks cards is that they offer both a store card (which I have) and also their Saks WEMC. I read somewhere here that you first need the store card to be eligible for their WEMC and a 5k CL was the minimum for consideration for WEMC -- usually, it is another HP (womp-womp). I am going to let things cool down and request CLIs and see if maybe an invitation for their WEMC knocks on my door in a year or two. I don't want another inquiry!!

Re: Saks store card CLI of $3,750

M_Smart007 — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 22:21:09 GMT

Congratulations!

Re: Saks store card CLI of $3,750

PutThatMoneyOnTheTable — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 22:46:20 GMT

Congrats on your Credit Line Increase

Re: Saks store card CLI of $3,750

Anonymous — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 23:02:14 GMT

Thank you ALL! I couldn't have achieved these goals without the assistance, mentorship, and community-sharing of this board. I was a long-time lurker before I posted. I know what it's like to go from good credit (pre-Recession), to bad credit (rebuild), and back to good/excellent after several lessons in humility and gratitude. It's a journey...probably more of a roller-coaster...LOL!

We're all in this together, so I thank all of you!! (Muah!!)

Re: Saks store card CLI of $3,750

Marz2002 — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 00:24:30 GMT

YOU...

CONGRATS @Axe_Capital on your AWESOME Saks store card CLI and the HUGE Reduction in your Utilization - That's how it's DONE!!!

Re: Saks store card CLI of $3,750

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 00:40:32 GMT

Congrats on your increase!!

Re: Saks store card CLI of $3,750

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 01:22:25 GMT

@Marz2002 wrote:
YOU...
CONGRATS @Axe_Capital on your AWESOME Saks store card CLI and the HUGE Reduction in your Utilization - That's how it's DONE!!!

Thank you, Marz! Yes, nailed it, indeed!!

Re: Saks store card CLI of $3,750

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 01:22:59 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Congrats on your increase!!

Thanks, AnimalHouse121! It feels good to be back!

Re: Saks store card CLI of $3,750

SEAlifer — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 02:53:42 GMT

Re: Saks store card CLI of $3,750

MartyWrite75 — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 03:41:08 GMT

Congratulations!! Nice job!

Re: Saks store card CLI of $3,750

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 16:55:07 GMT

Impressive! Good job, OP!

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Saks store card CLI of $3,750

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Re: Saks store card CLI of $3,750

Re: Saks store card CLI of $3,750

Re: Saks store card CLI of $3,750

Re: Saks store card CLI of $3,750

Re: Saks store card CLI of $3,750

Re: Saks store card CLI of $3,750

Re: Saks store card CLI of $3,750

Re: Saks store card CLI of $3,750

Re: Saks store card CLI of $3,750