topic Amex CLI denial in Credit Card Applications

Amex CLI denial

SoCalGardener — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 21:53:28 GMT

The other day I asked for a CLI on my Everyday card--the one I never use. Last year, I transferred all but $1,000 of its CL to my BCP, since it's the card I use all the time. (I had to leave $1,000 on the Everyday, else I would've left even less.) Anyway, I recently decided to use the Everyday just for the hell of it. Made a couple of $200-ish purchases, paid in full each time, then had the bright idea to request a CLI.

DENIED!!

The letter came today, and its reason says: "The average of your payments in relation to the balance of your American Express account(s) is too low." Huh?!

Until the last billing cycle, I'd always paid my BCP in full, as I do the Everyday. So how can the above reason even be possible?!

I know, I know, so-called 'reasons' don't have to make any sense, or have any relevance to actual fact, but come on! This is just silly.

Re: Amex CLI denial

FinStar — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 22:27:52 GMT

Maybe American Express received your survey 😂

The reason(s) are obviously algorithmic driven. So you may think it's silly, but their AI doesn't think so. You can always try in another 90 days 🤷🏼‍♂️

Re: Amex CLI denial

PNWRambler — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 22:28:58 GMT

I'm not sure, but if I had to guess I'd say they're looking at your history of 'payments to balance' ratio over the last 12 months, not just the last few. How long has it been since you paid off the AmEx Everyday?

Re: Amex CLI denial

dragontears — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 23:22:52 GMT

@SoCalGardener wrote:
The other day I asked for a CLI on my Everyday card--the one I never use. Last year, I transferred all but $1,000 of its CL to my BCP, since it's the card I use all the time. (I had to leave $1,000 on the Everyday, else I would've left even less.) Anyway, I recently decided to use the Everyday just for the hell of it. Made a couple of $200-ish purchases, paid in full each time, then had the bright idea to request a CLI.

DENIED!!

The letter came today, and its reason says: "The average of your payments in relation to the balance of your American Express account(s) is too low." Huh?!

Until the last billing cycle, I'd always paid my BCP in full, as I do the Everyday. So how can the above reason even be possible?!

I know, I know, so-called 'reasons' don't have to make any sense, or have any relevance to actual fact, but come on! This is just silly.

Maybe in Amex speak balance = CL? I.e. not enough usage

Re: Amex CLI denial

Credit-hoarder — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 23:28:26 GMT

Depending on how much exposure you have with AMEX--if they approved it they probably would have just taken some of the CL from your BCP. AMEX (and B of A) are known to do that--it's happened to me before. You should have asked for the increase on the BCP if you really wanted it--then transferred all or some of it over to the ED.

Re: Amex CLI denial

SoCalGardener — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 00:28:23 GMT

@FinStar wrote:
Maybe American Express received your survey 😂

The reason(s) are obviously algorithmic driven. So you may think it's silly, but their AI doesn't think so. You can always try in another 90 days 🤷🏼‍♂️

LOL!! Good one!!

Bearing in mind that the 'reason' referred to "account(s)"--plural--so they're not just looking at the card I requested the CLI on--what kind of algorithm would analyze facts this way?:

- hasn't used this card in months

- always PIF before that

- uses BCP all the time

- always pays BCP in full, except for the most recent bill

- *grind* *crank* *process*

-- result: DENY IT! and say it's because their payments are too low!!

I'm admittedly rusty in all sorts of things, including programming and math, but I don't think I could ever be rusty enough to see how PAYING IN FULL can yield a logical outcome of payments being TOO LOW. Maybe it's that 'new math' I kept hearing about as a kid...

Re: Amex CLI denial

SoCalGardener — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 00:31:03 GMT

@PNWRambler wrote:
I'm not sure, but if I had to guess I'd say they're looking at your history of 'payments to balance' ratio over the last 12 months, not just the last few. How long has it been since you paid off the AmEx Everyday?

Oh...about....almost a year? Or thereabouts. I'd have to check my records to be sure, but definitely some time last year. Regardless, though, since I always paid it in full when I did use it, its 'payments to balance' ratio just shouldn't be an issue--in terms of this denial 'reason' (and I use the term loosely!).

Re: Amex CLI denial

SoCalGardener — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 00:32:38 GMT

@dragontears wrote:
@SoCalGardener wrote:
The other day I asked for a CLI on my Everyday card--the one I never use. Last year, I transferred all but $1,000 of its CL to my BCP, since it's the card I use all the time. (I had to leave $1,000 on the Everyday, else I would've left even less.) Anyway, I recently decided to use the Everyday just for the hell of it. Made a couple of $200-ish purchases, paid in full each time, then had the bright idea to request a CLI.

DENIED!!

The letter came today, and its reason says: "The average of your payments in relation to the balance of your American Express account(s) is too low." Huh?!

Until the last billing cycle, I'd always paid my BCP in full, as I do the Everyday. So how can the above reason even be possible?!

I know, I know, so-called 'reasons' don't have to make any sense, or have any relevance to actual fact, but come on! This is just silly.
Maybe in Amex speak balance = CL? I.e. not enough usage

That's a thought. Definitely. A good one.

I just wonder why they can't WORD it that way!

Re: Amex CLI denial

SoCalGardener — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 00:38:39 GMT

@Credit-hoarder wrote:
Depending on how much exposure you have with AMEX--if they approved it they probably would have just taken some of the CL from your BCP. AMEX (and B of A) are known to do that--it's happened to me before. You should have asked for the increase on the BCP if you really wanted it--then transferred all or some of it over to the ED.

That's a very good point, thanks. The reason that didn't occur to me is because I'm happy with my BCP's limit (well, as happy as any of us can be with a CL!), but not the Everyday's. Even though *I'm* the one who moved the majority of its CL to the BCP! I know, this all sounds totally ludicrous, but the way it went was: I never use the Everyday because the BCP's rewards are [much] better, hence I'll move the Everyday's CL over to the BCP, sock drawer the Everyday, and never think about it except for an occasional 'use so it doesn't get closed for inactivity' charge. THEN I got to looking at its pathetic $1,000 CL (which, yes, *I* initiated) and thought, gee, how about asking for a CLI?!

You had to be there.

Re: Amex CLI denial

SDMarik — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 15:58:06 GMT

Their algos can be super finicky and hard to predict. I asked for a CLI on the BCP card one time and I didn't get it, they said something similar to what you heard. I then used it for 3 months pretty agressivly (moved most of my spending to it) and PIF in each month (usually 2-3x per month as soon as the balance posted). I then applied for a 3x CLI and got approved instantly.

Spend some more on it, pay it off as quickly as possible and try again in a few months. Good luck!

Re: Amex CLI denial

TRC_WA — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 17:31:16 GMT

Amex has always been a strange breed in my experiences. I never got a CLI on the card that I had with them prior to my Ch 13 ($2500 Delta Amex)... but I did make sure it was paid off and closed prior to filing so I didn't burn that bridge. I used the card on all my flights and randomly for other purchases. Not heavy usage... but definitely average.

I have a friend who is 700+ and she's had a $1000 Delta for the last 3-4 years and has never gotten a CLI. I asked her how often she uses it and she's like "a couple times a year."

That would be why. LOL