topic Re: Apple CLI denied again…… in Credit Card Applications

Apple CLI denied again……

RT209 — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 15:01:20 GMT

Last increase was on 8-27-23. Went from $8500-$10,000

Asked last month on 2-7-24. Denied "haven't used or paid enough" message

Asked today 3-8-24. Denied "haven't used or paid enough" once again.

Im spending around $1,500 or more each month on the card. Averaging 70 or more transactions monthly. I pay the balance off each statement. Never paid GS interest. Maybe they want me to max the card out? Haha. I guess I'll keep plugging away. Or GS is tightening ship.

Transunion score they pulled was 824 (FICO score 9)

My FICO 8 scores currently are Equifax 832, Transunion 837, Experian 829.

Re: Apple CLI denied again……

md_rebuild — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 16:26:42 GMT

The same thing happened to me.

The first 2 times I tried for a CLI with GS, it was "usage too low", even thought my CL was $7.5K and I was putting about $1K on it each month.

So, I simply moved my spend from every other card to it, and was putting about $6K a month, PIF. Did that for about 3 months...the next time I asked, I got it incrased to $11K. Moved my spend off, sock-drawered it for about a year ($100 a month)...and then started again, putting about $5K-6K a month, and put some large purchases on it. Did that for about 3 months, and just hit them up a month ago...got a $5K increase to $16K.

So, for me and my profile, I've learned they like lots of transactions and heavy usage. For others it might be different.

Re: Apple CLI denied again……

NoMoreE46 — Sat, 09 Mar 2024 03:34:25 GMT

DPs have suggested that 25% or more spend of your CL to be CLI worthy for GS. Also, probably need to be less than 4/12 Inq with TU as well.

Re: Apple CLI denied again……

elboullee — Sat, 09 Mar 2024 19:32:37 GMT

@NoMoreE46 wrote:
DPs have suggested that 25% or more spend of your CL to be CLI worthy for GS.

Just curious, is this supposition about spending 25% of CL in total over a period of three or four months before the request, or 25% of CL every month for three or four months before the request?

Re: Apple CLI denied again……

NoMoreE46 — Sat, 09 Mar 2024 18:46:06 GMT

Thanks for this good clarification question @elboullee.

The 25% figure would be monthly but hoping @Aim_High would correct me / elaborate further.

Re: Apple CLI denied again……

CorpCrMgr1 — Sat, 09 Mar 2024 20:49:32 GMT

Sorry about your denial.

Re: Apple CLI denied again……

Aim_High — Sun, 10 Mar 2024 21:02:04 GMT

@NoMoreE46 wrote:
Thanks for this good clarification question @elboullee.

The 25% figure would be monthly but hoping @Aim_High would correct me / elaborate further.

Thanks for the tag, @NoMoreE46.

The "Percentage of Credit Limit" used figure about Apple card is often misunderstood. Sure, a higher monthly spend is always good. But the reference in community data points about card utilization versus credit limit was not monthly; it was the total spent in-between CLI requests. So, for example, if CL is $10K and you're striving for 25% total utilization minimum over a six month period between CLI request, you'd take 10,000 x 0.25 = $2,500 / 6 = about $417 minimum or average over that period. So no, you don't have to spend 25% month-over-month. It probably helps for that spend to be recent. So if you spent heavily for months, sock drawer the card, and then ask for CLI nine months later, I would expect it to be less effective than heavy usage immediately prior to the request.

Re: Apple CLI denied again……

NoMoreE46 — Sun, 10 Mar 2024 23:28:19 GMT

So ~25% of the CL since the last CLI. Appreciate the clarification @Aim_High !

Re: Apple CLI denied again……

gorgon — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 14:08:07 GMT

Sorry to hear about your CLI denial. Better luck next time.

Re: Apple CLI denied again……

triplej0718 — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 16:05:26 GMT

Yes this is 100 percent true. I spend around 5 to 6k every month on my Apple card and for the last 3 CLI which were 6 months apart, I've gotten 10k increases every single time.

Feb2023:27K

August2023:37K

Feb2024:47K

Yes my current limit is 47k and 99 percent of all my transactions are with apple pay which is 2 percent cash back.

Re: Apple CLI denied again……

triplej0718 — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 16:07:38 GMT

If you are at 10K limit and average around 2k a month for the next six months then your next CLI should be at 20k since you exceeded your current limit total for the six months.

Re: Apple CLI denied again……

RealityDesigner — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 13:31:17 GMT

I also got the "haven't used enough" denial for a CLI on apple card, used 30% of limit in total over last 3 months (15% in one month is most), I'd thought the guidelines were that was enough. If I put a large charge on it now and pay it off, how long before I should try again? (I know after an increase it is 6 months, but unsure after denial).

I was trying to get that increase in before applying for more cards (down to 0/24 for inquiries and new cards).That was presumably the only factor since it was the only one mentioned, balance was paid to $0 at time, it said Transunion fico 9 score of 779, with only $5 on one other card usage and high income, etc., credit limit $10k on that. That is the highest limit I have, building credit from scratch starting 4 years ago after not using any for decade.

Re: Apple CLI denied again……

cashorcharge — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 16:35:08 GMT

Apple CLI's are not what they once were and BIG SPEND = BIG CLI's

Re: Apple CLI denied again……

RealityDesigner — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 12:48:34 GMT

Thanks, any clue on how large a spend? Also the question remains then after using it for a large purchase if there is any data on whether there is a need to wait, perhaps after next statement date? Also any clues whether Apple is sensitive now to new inquiries or cards? (none yet, but debating about getting rather than waiting for Apple CLI first).

Re: Apple CLI denied again……

dfwxjer — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:46:01 GMT

Are y'all purchasing enough Apple product to make this card worthwhile?

I don't understand putting daily spend on this card since the reward structure isn't great for every day spending. It doesn't make sense to put a bunch of spend on this just to get a higher credit limit that won't be useful.

Just trying to understand the use case here because I'm probably missing something.

Re: Apple CLI denied again……

Aim_High — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 20:30:18 GMT

@RealityDesigner wrote:
Thanks, any clue on how large a spend? Also the question remains then after using it for a large purchase if there is any data on whether there is a need to wait, perhaps after next statement date? Also any clues whether Apple is sensitive now to new inquiries or cards? (none yet, but debating about getting rather than waiting for Apple CLI first).

Prior to Goldman Sachs making plans to shed the Apple card, that 30% to 35% spending of the total credit limit was identified as the likely threshold for a CLI @RealityDesigner. Now, it seems Apple wants to see it higher. I just got one with over 40% spending but to get the larger increases probably requires somewhere around 50% to 100%. No, after you're turned down, there isn't an additional waiting period. You can ask anytime.

Re: Apple CLI denied again……

Aim_High — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 20:37:26 GMT

@dfwxjer wrote:
Are y'all purchasing enough Apple product to make this card worthwhile?

I don't understand putting daily spend on this card since the reward structure isn't great for every day spending. It doesn't make sense to put a bunch of spend on this just to get a higher credit limit that won't be useful.

Just trying to understand the use case here because I'm probably missing something.

I see post like this regularly, @dfwxjer. I know what you're saying but it seems that people who do not have the Apple card may not understand what the appeal is all about. No, it's not the highest earning rewards card and if that is your focus, you'll probably by-pass the card. However, the rewards earnings are fairly mainstream, in all honesty. It earns 3%, not only at Apple but at other selected merchants like Panera Bread, Exxon, and Walgreen's for a few examples. And it earns 2% back when using Apple Pay, anytime and anywhere and uncapped rewards. True, the physical card only earns 1%, but I've found that Apple Pay is widely accepted for the 2% and there are many cards earning higher rewards that have a baseline of 1%.

Beyond the rewards, there are many good features of the card. See <THIS LINK> for one of my summaries of why it stands out.

Re: Apple CLI denied again……

quickstep_knoll — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 21:04:23 GMT

Bummer. My most recent Apple CLI decline was for too many new accounts or inquiries. For new personal accounts I'm something like 4/6 so fair enough I suppose.

Re: Apple CLI denied again……

dfwxjer — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 21:19:33 GMT

@Aim_High wrote:
@dfwxjer wrote:
Are y'all purchasing enough Apple product to make this card worthwhile?

I don't understand putting daily spend on this card since the reward structure isn't great for every day spending. It doesn't make sense to put a bunch of spend on this just to get a higher credit limit that won't be useful.

Just trying to understand the use case here because I'm probably missing something.
I see post like this regularly, @dfwxjer. I know what you're saying but it seems that people who do not have the Apple card may not understand what the appeal is all about. No, it's not the highest earning rewards card and if that is your focus, you'll probably by-pass the card. However, the rewards earnings are fairly mainstream, in all honesty. It earns 3%, not only at Apple but at other selected merchants like Panera Bread, Exxon, and Walgreen's for a few examples. And it earns 2% back when using Apple Pay, anytime and anywhere and uncapped rewards. True, the physical card only earns 1%, but I've found that Apple Pay is widely accepted for the 2% and there are many cards earning higher rewards that have a baseline of 1%.

Beyond the rewards, there are many good features of the card. See <THIS LINK> for one of my summaries of why it stands out.

I appreciate the thoughtful response and I'll check your link for the additional features I might be missing. My wife has the Apple Card and we just keep our monthly iCloud storage charge on it since it doesn't seem to make sense for us for anything else. She got the card years ago before we were married because she was rebuilding her credit due to a BK in 2016.

I'd be happy to leverage it further if it fits in our spending habits. I'd previously written it off since I plugged her in to my card portfolio/strategy.

**edit** after reading that post I can confirm her Apple Card will not be used beyond the monthly $10 icloud storage. I actually find the AppleCard interface to be way too dumbed down for my use, and we don't go to any of the retailers that have the elevated CB offers. Just for fun I requested a CLI and got the "You have not used and paid enough of your Apple Card credit limit since your last credit limit increase" message. So it'll sit at the $8500 limit until my wife decides to cancel it. I tossed the physical card in my office desk drawer years ago and can't even find it these days.

Re: Apple CLI denied again……

Aim_High — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 19:23:36 GMT

@dfwxjer wrote:
I appreciate the thoughtful response and I'll check your link for the additional features I might be missing. My wife has the Apple Card and we just keep our monthly iCloud storage charge on it since it doesn't seem to make sense for us for anything else. She got the card years ago before we were married because she was rebuilding her credit due to a BK in 2016.

I'd be happy to leverage it further if it fits in our spending habits. I'd previously written it off since I plugged her in to my card portfolio/strategy.

**edit** after reading that post I can confirm her Apple Card will not be used beyond the monthly $10 icloud storage. I actually find the AppleCard interface to be way too dumbed down for my use, and we don't go to any of the retailers that have the elevated CB offers. Just for fun I requested a CLI and got the "You have not used and paid enough of your Apple Card credit limit since your last credit limit increase" message. So it'll sit at the $8500 limit until my wife decides to cancel it. I tossed the physical card in my office desk drawer years ago and can't even find it these days.

Thanks for taking a look at it and updating your post, @dfwxjer. It's all good, as no card is perfect or a good fit for everyone.

I'm curious after looking at your lineup about your credit card strategy. I'm assuming you have elevated elite status with Bank of America so you earn 2.625% uncapped and uncategorized on general spending with your Unlimited Cash Rewards Visa? (Otherwise, I don't see any other 2% or higher cards in your lineup.) I have Platinum Honors status with BofA as well, but just prefer to diversify with multiple lenders and 2% "fall-back" cards in the event BofA nerfs their program. I also just enjoy having the high TCL and comparing my experience with various cards. Same reason I keep the AOD FCU Visa at 3% even though it's now capped at $1500 per month. I'm also assuming you opt for more of a streamlined card lineup with more simplicity than some of us choose. I'm showing you report (7) active cards and most likely carry no more than six, maybe less.

Current active cards:
* Amex - Platinum, BCE
* BofA - Unlimited Cash Rewards Sig
* Chase - CSR, Amazon Prime
* Citi - Custom Cash, Costco Visa