topic BECU Denial Worth it for Datapoint and Consolation Prize in Credit Card Applications

BECU Denial Worth it for Datapoint and Consolation Prize

K-in-Boston — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 14:25:08 GMT

Typically, a person having a question as to a lender's policies might actually call up the lender and ask if the answer isn't known here. I'm not exactly typical, so when I decided to have a little spree after nearly 2 years without opening any personal credit card accounts naturally I decided to appease my curiosity by just blindly applying for the BECU Cash Back Visa to find out what their maximum revolving credit amount was. You know, for science and all. Cutting to the chase, it's the same $40,000 max they clearly list under both cards on their website, whether it's on one card or across both, but with an asterisk.

For background, I opened a share account in the middle of 2019 and then applied for their regular Visa card late that year and was approved for a starting line with the maximum $40,000 credit line. (A week later, my accounts were frozen by Financial Crimes (yes, that is the actual name of their fraud/verification department and not a myFICO euphemism) after I activated the card, but it was quickly resolved by supplying identity and income documentation.) In November 2021, many of us discovered that we had been given automatic credit line increases and that $40k turned into $50k.

So I apped and checked back in on the Check Loan Status tab. It eventually turned into an "unable to approve your loan" message, and I have been waiting for the denial letter to confirm that maximum exposure was the reason for that. I haven't received the letter yet, but I did get a call from a loan officer to explain why they were unable to open the account and to discuss alternative ways they may be able to assist me. That's a first for me - a lender called me to recon! BECU staff is consistently very friendly and helpful in my experience, even to those well outside of their service area. They confirmed that their policy for the maximum revolving credit they will issue is $40,000 across all Visa products, but there are some exceptions such as the recent CU-issued increases on some existing accounts. I ended up getting talked into another lending product with the maximum credit line and the minimum APR, so at least there was a consolation prize, the TU pull (good for 30 days) didn't go to waste, and we have the answer now about BECU's "max credit card exposure" (with an asterisk, of course).

Hopefully this data point will save someone else a HP on an app or CLI request some day.

Re: BECU Denial Worth it for Datapoint and Consolation Prize

Remedios — Sat, 26 Feb 2022 19:56:04 GMT

I'm $600 over, I've shown your screenshots.

I also have three cards because I flexed a little.

I do believe $50K is ceiling under normal circumstances, but mine are far from the normal.

I think I got a 3rd card first, followed by CLI that pushed it over by $600.

In any case, if screenshots would help, more than happy to redact and post (though I already did it a few months ago).

Re: BECU Denial Worth it for Datapoint and Consolation Prize

K-in-Boston — Sat, 26 Feb 2022 20:05:49 GMT

I think it's very apt to say you are in the "some exceptions" category. Now I just need to figure out how to trigger a $601 auto CLI. 🤭

It was stated that their policy is $40k with some noted exceptions, so even though a few of us on the forums are at the $50k (or $50.6k) mark, probably not a good move for the average person who has a $40k card to apply for another card expecting a $10k limit.

Re: BECU Denial Worth it for Datapoint and Consolation Prize

Jnbmom — Sat, 26 Feb 2022 20:11:14 GMT

I have 50K over 2 cards. I got the auto increase last month I believe so I am at max which is fine . I really do love BECU after my "fraud department " fiasco in the beginning 😊

Re: BECU Denial Worth it for Datapoint and Consolation Prize

K-in-Boston — Sat, 26 Feb 2022 20:14:22 GMT

I think you meant Financial Crimes, you financial criminal. Allegedly. 😝

I will never get over that naming convention.

Re: BECU Denial Worth it for Datapoint and Consolation Prize

Jnbmom — Sat, 26 Feb 2022 20:14:55 GMT

@K-in-Boston wrote:
I think you meant Financial Crimes, you financial criminal. Allegedly. 😝

@K-in-Boston Oh yes how could I forget that term 😂😂😂😂