topic Re: Denied CLI for Delta Skymiles Platinum Card (Started with Gold) in Credit Card Applications

Denied CLI for Delta Skymiles Platinum Card (Started with Gold)

jamerican-girl — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 13:11:39 GMT

I've had a Delta Skymiles card for 13 months. I started out with the Gold card with a SL of $1,000. I was offered an upgrade to platinum and that was approved. I keep the balance very low and pay twice before the closing date. I've tried a couple times for a CLI and was denied. Is there anything I should be doing when I request a CLI for the Skymiles card? Thank you in advance for your input.

Re: Denied CLI for Delta Skymiles Platinum Card (Started with Gold)

SDMarik — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 14:04:25 GMT

@jamerican-girl wrote:
I've had a Delta Skymiles card for 13 months. I started out with the Gold card with a SL of $1,000. I was offered an upgrade to platinum and that was approved. I keep the balance very low and pay twice before the closing date. I've tried a couple times for a CLI and was denied. Is there anything I should be doing when I request a CLI for the Skymiles card? Thank you in advance for your input.

Is the limit on the platinum still $1,000? $1,000 means you just barely got the approval with Amex, so they are probbaly keeping you on a short leash.

What does the rest of your file look like? What are your scores, utlilzation, any derogs, etc?

Re: Denied CLI for Delta Skymiles Platinum Card (Started with Gold)

jamerican-girl — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 14:09:13 GMT

Hi @SDMarik,

My utilization is about 10%. I mainly use four of my credit cards. The rest are at 0 balance. I do have some lates but those are more than 30 months ago. No collections, no chargeoffs and no judgments. I have two car loans that have never been late. I got a Blue Cash Preferred card from them three months ago with a SL of $2,000.

FICO Scores: EQ: 751, TU: 755 and EXP: 711

Thank you for the feedback.

Re: Denied CLI for Delta Skymiles Platinum Card (Started with Gold)

Remedios — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 14:14:06 GMT

Amex always spells out the reason for denial, and unlike many other lenders, it's a "honest" reason.

What does your letter state?

Re: Denied CLI for Delta Skymiles Platinum Card (Started with Gold)

SDMarik — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 14:20:59 GMT

@jamerican-girl wrote:
Hi @SDMarik,

My utilization is about 10%. I mainly use four of my credit cards. The rest are at 0 balance. I do have some lates but those are more than 30 months ago. No collections, no chargeoffs and no judgments. I have two car loans that have never been late. I got a Blue Cash Preferred card from them three months ago with a SL of $2,000.

FICO Scores: EQ: 751, TU: 755 and EXP: 711

Thank you for the feedback.

What are the lates, 30/60/90/120? those are probably casuing some red flags (especially if theyre 90+), being almost 3 years old they shouldn't be as impactful but they are still going to weigh you down a little bit from issuer to issuer. Amex also pulls EXP mostly, which happens to be your weakest score, a 711 with lates on there isn't the greatest thing, when it might be the only one theyre pulling. The $1,000 limit with no limit increases, and the $2,000 starting limit, definately looks like there is something in your file that is spooking them. Might just have to let those lates age a little, if they are the only negative on there.

Edit: as @Remedios said, you should also have a pretty good reason in the letter they sent.

Re: Denied CLI for Delta Skymiles Platinum Card (Started with Gold)

jamerican-girl — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 14:22:43 GMT

It said I would get a letter in 7-10 days. Usually I get one right away.

Re: Denied CLI for Delta Skymiles Platinum Card (Started with Gold)

SDMarik — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 14:32:42 GMT

@jamerican-girl wrote:
It said I would get a letter in 7-10 days. Usually I get one right away.

Keep us posted, always good to get the data point. It could also be an income or inquiries/new accounts issue as well. For whatever reason, a lot of the issuers in your wallet seem to be hesitant to offer big trade lines, with most of them (18) being under $4,000.

Re: Denied CLI for Delta Skymiles Platinum Card (Started with Gold)

jamerican-girl — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 14:39:25 GMT

I have no 90 day lates. I have a few 60 day lates from 36 months ago on a Merrick Bank card and four mortgage lates from 30 months ago. Other than those two, everything else has no lates.

Re: Denied CLI for Delta Skymiles Platinum Card (Started with Gold)

jamerican-girl — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 14:42:39 GMT

Yes, I did just get some new credit card accounts, so that could factor into the reason. Good to have data points. Thanks for the feedback. I'll just let the lates age some more.

Re: Denied CLI for Delta Skymiles Platinum Card (Started with Gold)

SDMarik — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 15:31:57 GMT

@jamerican-girl wrote:
I have no 90 day lates. I have a few 60 day lates from 36 months ago on a Merrick Bank card and four mortgage lates from 30 months ago. Other than those two, everything else has no lates.

I would be shocked if this wasn't the reason. Good luck with it, let those baddies age and the limits should get better over time!

Re: Denied CLI for Delta Skymiles Platinum Card (Started with Gold)

jamerican-girl — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 15:59:48 GMT

@SDMarik, I called AMEX because I wanted to see if they would tell me over the phone. The rep said it was because of income. I didn't go with the full household income. Should I have done that? My salary is $85K. The total household income is around $160K.

Re: Denied CLI for Delta Skymiles Platinum Card (Started with Gold)

Priory_Man — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 16:22:45 GMT

If you have access to the full income then why not. Just be prepared to prove that you do which is easily done if you file your taxes jointly.

Re: Denied CLI for Delta Skymiles Platinum Card (Started with Gold)

jamerican-girl — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 16:25:10 GMT

OK. I changed the income on my profile. I'll try applying for a CLI in a few months.

Re: Denied CLI for Delta Skymiles Platinum Card (Started with Gold)

SDMarik — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 19:03:10 GMT

@jamerican-girl wrote:
@SDMarik, I called AMEX because I wanted to see if they would tell me over the phone. The rep said it was because of income. I didn't go with the full household income. Should I have done that? My salary is $85K. The total household income is around $160K.

Only use household income if you have access to all of it, but if you do then sure. With the income updated, it's definately worth a shot again in a few months. Keep us posted!

Re: Denied CLI for Delta Skymiles Platinum Card (Started with Gold)

OmarGB9 — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 21:19:09 GMT

I don't think the denial would be due to income, IMO. I think the CSR was mistaken. If you don't mind reporting back when you get the letter in the mail, please do.

I'm thinking it's those negatives in your file. Though they're old, they're still showing up. Amex seems to like to approve people who are borderline with a $1k SL, and then keep you on a short leash and deny CLIs for a while due to derogs still present.

Re: Denied CLI for Delta Skymiles Platinum Card (Started with Gold)

RDO — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 02:56:03 GMT

@jamerican-girl wrote:
I've had a Delta Skymiles card for 13 months. I started out with the Gold card with a SL of $1,000. I was offered an upgrade to platinum and that was approved. I keep the balance very low and pay twice before the closing date. I've tried a couple times for a CLI and was denied. Is there anything I should be doing when I request a CLI for the Skymiles card? Thank you in advance for your input.

Don't worry, it will be soon for you CLI. I started with a 1k SL on my delta gold as well, and it took 15 months to get my first increase. My card is now at 19k at 30 months later from obtaining my card.