topic Re: $1000 Amex cards never getting CLI? in Credit Card Applications

$1000 Amex cards never getting CLI?

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 15:49:42 GMT

I have a SPG and Gold delta card that I got at the same time 15 months ago. At the time my EX score was about 650. Over the course of the last year I tried a CLI on each when my score was over 680 and zero balance on the cards and have never been approved for any CLI nor have I received an auto CLI. I’ve made sure to use between $100-300 monthly and pay it off monthly. I also have a delta plat card that started at $1400 but I did receive a 2x cli 4 months ago on that one. Aré Amex SL of $1000 stuck forever?
I have a ritz card with $15k and CSP with $10k

Re: $1000 Amex cards never getting CLI?

AverageJoesCredit — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 15:58:34 GMT

If you received an increase on your Delta 4 months ago, you are not elible for another increase for at least 2 more months. One increase per 6 months per total accounts.

Re: $1000 Amex cards never getting CLI?

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 15:59:27 GMT

Very curious about this myself. I have read a lot that the 500 to 1,000 starting likes on the Amex are harder to grow but that they do. Eventually.

Re: $1000 Amex cards never getting CLI?

jetsfan2013 — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 17:57:05 GMT

I hope this isn't the case as I just received a 1k Gold Delta offer.

Re: $1000 Amex cards never getting CLI?

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 18:11:30 GMT

My DH got a BCE and a SPG on 3/8/17 and 3/30/17 respectively. Both were issued at $1000 SL. He has tried ever since to get a CLI with no luck. I am an authorized user on his SPG and have my own BCP issued 5/3/17. My BCP was also issued at $1000 SL. I too have been unable to get a CLI (3x or otherwise) on my card. In fact, I just chatted with AMEX online to ensure I was eligible for CLI (answer from chat rep = yes). I tried for CLI again - no dice.

I am wondering if I were to remove my authorized user status from my DH SPG - if I might have better luck? Are all the 3X CLI's for persons who's scores are above 700 - or whom have less than 10% utilization - or who pay the full balance each month instead of the statement balance???

We did do quite a bit of work to our scores over the past year - which included getting rid of old predatory cards and replacing them with good ones - a mortgage with a realistic rate, and a car loan update. Maybe that all has them spooked? Maybe it's that my EX score is only 7 points higher than when I got the card.... I don't know.

Either way, I guess in the grand scheme of things it doesn't really matter... we know we need to age and grow our current accounts, so we will both just keep trying every 90 days - I just wondered if anyone had any insight.

Re: $1000 Amex cards never getting CLI?

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 18:14:56 GMT

What's your reported aggregate utilization? Any individual cards reporting more than 48% utilization?

I didn't try for an Amex card until my EX FICO8 was 701 or so, so I don't have any experience with their cards in the 600s, but if you're carrying high utilization, it doesn't surprise me if they're afraid to give more credit, especially with chargeoffs being higher than past years.

Re: $1000 Amex cards never getting CLI?

HeavenOhio — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 19:06:30 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Very curious about this myself. I have read a lot that the 500 to 1,000 starting likes on the Amex are harder to grow but that they do. Eventually.

Yes, this is common.

I think there might be a difference between getting a $1,000 limit on a file with baddies vs. getting a $1,000 limit simply because your history is short and thin. We have a member here who started in the $1,000 range, but it was because his history was less than a year old. He's had no issue getting a couple of 3X CLIs, though.

Re: $1000 Amex cards never getting CLI?

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 20:13:40 GMT

I starter with an Ed card 3/2017. My starting limit was 1K. I have tried two times for CLI, both times denied. Both times they stated because I had a BK (12/10) on file. After the first denial, I did not use the card for about eight months. When I finally used the card, I got an immediate 1K increase. I requested the second increase in Nov, that was also denied. I will not use the card for another eight months and see if I will get another increase.

I am pre appoved for other cards, but at this time cannot justify another card.

Re: $1000 Amex cards never getting CLI?

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 20:29:28 GMT

Does anyone have an experience with closing a $1k Amex and applying for a new card?

Re: $1000 Amex cards never getting CLI?

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 20:35:06 GMT

I would only try that if my scores have increased alot. I've seen on here where some people have 2 or 3 cards, with 1K limits.

Re: $1000 Amex cards never getting CLI?

601flyguy — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 04:27:05 GMT

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.

Re: $1000 Amex cards never getting CLI?

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 04:40:47 GMT

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. 🤔

Re: $1000 Amex cards never getting CLI?

Ardecko — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 05:46:28 GMT

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

Re: $1000 Amex cards never getting CLI?

601flyguy — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 13:40:39 GMT

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

Re: $1000 Amex cards never getting CLI?

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 13:50:27 GMT

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.

Re: $1000 Amex cards never getting CLI?

601flyguy — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 14:03:54 GMT

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.

Re: $1000 Amex cards never getting CLI?

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 14:08:24 GMT

@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.

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.

Re: $1000 Amex cards never getting CLI?

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 14:24:15 GMT

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

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.

Re: $1000 Amex cards never getting CLI?

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 15:00:18 GMT

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.

Re: $1000 Amex cards never getting CLI?

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 16:45:31 GMT

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.