topic Re: American Express CLI Question in Credit Card Applications

American Express CLI Question

Chickenman71 — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 06:07:08 GMT

First time poster, longtime follower of the board.

I have the American Express BCP. I have had the card now for 72 days now, I tried to get an cli Saturday, I got the message that I was eligble for a limit increase becuase the account is to new. So I called customer service, and the representative preceded to tell me that I have to wait 180 before I can request a CLI. I know it says 60 days on the website. Has this policy chnaged? Thanks.

Re: American Express CLI Question

K-in-Boston — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 06:22:45 GMT

Welcome to the forums! Is this your only revolving credit card product with Amex? Their policy has been that 181 days must pass between credit line increases across all accounts, so if you have another card that has received a CLI in the past 6 months that would be the reason for denial.

Re: American Express CLI Question

Chickenman71 — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 06:29:05 GMT

Yes this is my only card with them. I have a realitivley small limit with them ($2,500). But I have spent over 4k in the 72 days, so I figured I would be in good standing. I also pay it in full every week. I was just confused when I was told that, if i have to wait I can, but I would like to be able to increase my limit.

Re: American Express CLI Question

K-in-Boston — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 06:37:33 GMT

It's possible that they gave you the canned response about the length of time required between CLI requests. Amex mails out letters almost immediately with explanations when a CLI is turned down or partial, so I would suggest waiting for that to arrive in the mail. (I believe those come from the El Paso address.) If there is a reason listed other than "too soon," that's going to be the reason it was denied. If it does state that it's too soon, that would be an unfortunate surprise.

Re: American Express CLI Question

OmarGB9 — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 07:22:18 GMT

I can actually corroborate this. I too tried for a CLI after 61 days, and it said "account too new." I hopped on chat and got the same answer, and they also mentioned 6 months. However, the CSR did add that I could try after my 3rd statement, so I'll try again in a month. And yes this is my one and only Amex card. @K-in-Boston

Re: American Express CLI Question

K-in-Boston — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 07:30:12 GMT

@OmarGB9 did you receive your denial letter in the mail yet? Hopefully it hasn't really changed to 6 months before the first request.

Re: American Express CLI Question

Chickenman71 — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 07:35:15 GMT

I was never denied, I was just told I had to wait. But why would they say 60 days on their website, and not honor that?

Re: American Express CLI Question

OmarGB9 — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 14:34:28 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
@OmarGB9 did you receive your denial letter in the mail yet? Hopefully it hasn't really changed to 6 months before the first request.

Well see that's the thing, it doesn't let me request at all. I don't know if I'll get a letter, since the page denied me because I only "recently opened an account" with them. It's basically saying it's too soon to ask. So it's not denying me for credit-related reasons, but timing reasons it seems. But I agree, hopefully things haven't changed. 😮‍💨

Re: American Express CLI Question

bigseegar — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 17:45:50 GMT

I know first hand from going through it that it seems to be (is actually) after 91 days now not 61 (and yes 181 days after any other card gets a CLI). For best results on a new card with them though you're better to wait 6 months for better odd's and a good CLI.

Re: American Express CLI Question

OmarGB9 — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 20:06:46 GMT

@bigseegar wrote:
I know first hand from going through it that it seems to be (is actually) after 91 days now not 61 (and yes 181 days after any other card gets a CLI). For best results on a new card with them though you're better to wait 6 months for better odd's and a good CLI.

Oh jeez well that's not encouraging.

To be honest, if I have to wait at least 91 days now, I'm willing to try and see what happens. If I'm denied, I mean, it's only another 91 days until I can try again, so at that point I would have been forced to wait 181 days regardless, but at least I have one try in there where I could potentially get a CLI rather than wait a full 181 days, get a denial, and then have to wait an additional 91 days.

Re: American Express CLI Question

Jordan23ww — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 20:33:46 GMT

I'll share my experience with you since so far it seems similar to yours. I got my Blue Cash Preferred back in 2020. It was my first Amex card. I waited about 85 days and tried to get a limit increase but was denied. I had heard if you're denied you have to wait 90 days with Amex before asking again or it'll be automatically denied.

I waited another 90+ days after my denial, it was actually when my card turned 6 months old, and I asked for a limit increase again and I was instantly approved. Since I had been denied before I went with 2x my starting limit instead of 3x. I went from $10k to $20k. Best wishes to you whenever you ask again! Hopefully you get approved for your increase next time you ask.

Re: American Express CLI Question

OmarGB9 — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 20:47:39 GMT

@Jordan23ww wrote:
I'll share my experience with you since so far it seems similar to yours. I got my Blue Cash Preferred back in 2020. It was my first Amex card. I waited about 85 days and tried to get a limit increase but was denied. I had heard if you're denied you have to wait 90 days with Amex before asking again or it'll be automatically denied.

I waited another 90+ days after my denial, it was actually when my card turned 6 months old, and I asked for a limit increase again and I was instantly approved. Since I had been denied before I went with 2x my starting limit instead of 3x. I went from $10k to $20k. Best wishes to you whenever you ask again! Hopefully you get approved for your increase next time you ask.

Yes it's 91 days from a denial, but only if you were denied for a credit-related reason. If you were denied for asking too soon, that doesn't reset the CLI clock. I'm willing to bet if you had tried again a week later, you would have been eligible (not saying you would've been approved, but you would have been eligible to at least ask) to apply for the CLI as early as 91 days.

Re: American Express CLI Question

bigseegar — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 17:37:23 GMT

@OmarGB9 wrote:
@Jordan23ww wrote:
I'll share my experience with you since so far it seems similar to yours. I got my Blue Cash Preferred back in 2020. It was my first Amex card. I waited about 85 days and tried to get a limit increase but was denied. I had heard if you're denied you have to wait 90 days with Amex before asking again or it'll be automatically denied.

I waited another 90+ days after my denial, it was actually when my card turned 6 months old, and I asked for a limit increase again and I was instantly approved. Since I had been denied before I went with 2x my starting limit instead of 3x. I went from $10k to $20k. Best wishes to you whenever you ask again! Hopefully you get approved for your increase next time you ask.
Yes it's 91 days from a denial, but only if you were denied for a credit-related reason. If you were denied for asking too soon, that doesn't reset the CLI clock. I'm willing to bet if you had tried again a week later, you would have been eligible (not saying you would've been approved, but you would have been eligible to at least ask) to apply for the CLI as early as 91 days.

Yes, This ^^^^^^

Re: American Express CLI Question

Trini88 — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 09:09:40 GMT

@Chickenman71 wrote:
First time poster, longtime follower of the board.

I have the American Express BCP. I have had the card now for 72 days now, I tried to get an cli Saturday, I got the message that I was eligble for a limit increase becuase the account is to new. So I called customer service, and the representative preceded to tell me that I have to wait 180 before I can request a CLI. I know it says 60 days on the website. Has this policy chnaged? Thanks.

I got a CLI on my BCP after 91 days. Waited a week after 3rd statement cut.

Re: American Express CLI Question

Jordan23ww — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 21:03:52 GMT

@OmarGB9 wrote:
@Jordan23ww wrote:
I'll share my experience with you since so far it seems similar to yours. I got my Blue Cash Preferred back in 2020. It was my first Amex card. I waited about 85 days and tried to get a limit increase but was denied. I had heard if you're denied you have to wait 90 days with Amex before asking again or it'll be automatically denied.

I waited another 90+ days after my denial, it was actually when my card turned 6 months old, and I asked for a limit increase again and I was instantly approved. Since I had been denied before I went with 2x my starting limit instead of 3x. I went from $10k to $20k. Best wishes to you whenever you ask again! Hopefully you get approved for your increase next time you ask.
Yes it's 91 days from a denial, but only if you were denied for a credit-related reason. If you were denied for asking too soon, that doesn't reset the CLI clock. I'm willing to bet if you had tried again a week later, you would have been eligible (not saying you would've been approved, but you would have been eligible to at least ask) to apply for the CLI as early as 91 days.

@OmarGB9 Sorry for the late reply just seeing this! This is great info to know! Thank you for sharing!

In my case it was a credit related denial. My Fico score had seen a huge boost so I asked for the increase. The denial reason was literally "Your Fico score is too low". The credit score they showed was 707, which is what it had been the previous month. By the time the 91 days went by my higher Fico score, 739, was now being displayed in Amex's check your Fico score section. I asked again and they said yes.

Re: American Express CLI Question

KLEXH25 — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 02:42:02 GMT

When I got my BCP, I got approved for $5k. It was an ok approval for me, but I had hoped for higher. So I had planned to ask for a CLI at 61 days, but I actually lost track of time and didn't request until around my 3rd statement. I asked for 3x and got my $15k! I would definitely try again in another month. Wait until after your 3rd statement for good measure. Good luck!

Re: American Express CLI Question

AyaMai — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 21:07:38 GMT

My advice is to wait for 6 months to apply for CLI from the day you were approved & make sure that you use your card frequently to get a higher limit increase. Stick with 6 months rule whenever you ask for CLI with any credit issuer.

Re: American Express CLI Question

h2oeng — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 16:15:24 GMT

I was denied at 61 days and again at 91 days with my BCE card. Each time I was told the card was to new. I was told to wait until 6 months and try again. I only have 2 others cards, 1 at 6 months old and the other 5 months when I tried for the CLI so my file is thin. I typically exceed my limit each month (make multiple payments to keep from going over the limit) and pay it off in full each month so I was little surprised at the denial. No big deal, I'll wait for the 6 month mark and try again.