topic Re: Synchrony CLI in Credit Cards

Synchrony CLI

Anonymous — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 13:17:37 GMT

I have one Synchrony card -- JcPenney. I've never had any luck hitting the luv button. I've tried 2 times a year for the last two years. I've had this card for over 3 years, and I'm at a $392 limit. At that limit, as soon as I buy a pair of shoes and maybe some socks, I'm at least 50% utilized, which makes me not even want to use the card. I've heard that using chat may be more successful than hitting the button. Here's my problem.....I've never ever asked for a CLI via the phone or chat for any of my credit cards. I've always just waited for an auto CLI or tried hitting the luv button. I'm not sure how to start the conversation, what i should inititally ask for? And I don't know what they may ask me.

Just wondering if someone could share their experience. I plan to use the chat. I'm just looking for an idea of how a request for a CLI from Synchrony will go. Any help will be much appreciated. Thanks.

Re: Synchrony CLI

core — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 13:45:51 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I'm just looking for an idea of how a request for a CLI from Synchrony will go.

Here's how it always goes for me:

CSR: Hello, my name is Ramesh. How can I assist you today?

You: Hi, can I get a credit limit increase?

CSR: No.

You: Ok thanks.

At least the luv button would give me $50 once in a while, and I don't have to picture Ramesh snickering at me in front of his monitor.

Re: Synchrony CLI

StartingOver10 — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 14:02:28 GMT

I have the same problem with JCP. I didn't use the card for 3 years and finally in Nov I bought something small online (because the CL was only $300). It was for Christmas and I had the item shipped to my daughter and SIL. I paid it off and then used it the following month for a small purchase. In Jan I received an increase to $550. Still tiny. I don't know what to do to get them to a decent line. Maybe just cancel the card and use my other cards? I will be watching your thread to see what others say.

Re: Synchrony CLI

2b2rich — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 14:33:43 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I have one Synchrony card -- JcPenney.

Just wondering if someone could share their experience. I plan to use the chat. I'm just looking for an idea of how a request for a CLI from Synchrony will go. Any help will be much appreciated. Thanks.

You could try 'Crazy but honest Customer' approach (it's worked for me a few times with other stores)

JCPenny CS: ThanksForBeingAJCPennyCustomerMyNameIsLaVerneHowMayIAssistYouToday?

Me: Hey LaVerne, I have a question and a really big favor to ask of you?! I have been a JCPenny charge customer forever and always in good standing but it's becoming really hard to do anything with my card. I mean, I LOVE shopping a JCPenny, but usually I just have to pay with cash because my CL is so low that I'm usually punished with a ding to my credit score if I use it at all because let's face it, $400 can be maxed out in one outfit. This morning I'm unusually frustrated by it because you have these ADOABLE shoes on sale in 4 different colors and guess what? I can only get 2 pair unless I use my VISA charge, but if I have to use my VISA card, then Macy's has 6 colors and I can get ALL of them with my VISA. PLEASE can you help me out here with a CLI? I don't ask for much, just to be able to get them from you guys because your prices are still $1.99 a pair cheaper than Macy's!

JCPenny CS: How can I say no to that?! Give me just a minute here...

Me: Thank you.. I'll just be browsing the website.. I'm redoing my livingroom ya know.. ya'll have the most beatiful drapes of anybody.. The only reason I haven't been able to do it yet is because the ones I want are like $600 a panel...~coughs~ .. I'm going to be so embarrassed this Christmas when it's my turn to have the family Christmas get together.. do JCPenny CS people get discounts?..

Re: Synchrony CLI

MissMoni223 — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 14:34:07 GMT

Request at least $5,000 via chat. Let the representative know (very nicely) that you have attempted a CLI via the website to no avail. They will be able to submit it for you and should offer a counter offer if not approved for the entire amount.

Re: Synchrony CLI

Anonymous — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 14:35:54 GMT

Doesn't seem like they are too willing to do CLI -- makes me think that maybe I should just close it. It's useless at the limit it is at. I've just recent learned how utilization can be really destructive on scores, so now I'm super sensitive to charging anything on a card that has a low limit, and after 3 years of no increases, I'm thinking it's not likely to get approved for a CLI. So frustrating.

I guess I'll try for a CLI via chat -- it will be the first time i've ever asked for a CLI. If they don't do it, I'll maybe close.

Re: Synchrony CLI

Anonymous — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 14:46:34 GMT

@2b2rich wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I have one Synchrony card -- JcPenney.

Just wondering if someone could share their experience. I plan to use the chat. I'm just looking for an idea of how a request for a CLI from Synchrony will go. Any help will be much appreciated. Thanks.
You could try 'Crazy but honest Customer' approach (it's worked for me a few times with other stores)

JCPenny CS: ThanksForBeingAJCPennyCustomerMyNameIsLaVerneHowMayIAssistYouToday?
Me: Hey LaVerne, I have a question and a really big favor to ask of you?! I have been a JCPenny charge customer forever and always in good standing but it's becoming really hard to do anything with my card. I mean, I LOVE shopping a JCPenny, but usually I just have to pay with cash because my CL is so low that I'm usually punished with a ding to my credit score if I use it at all because let's face it, $400 can be maxed out in one outfit. This morning I'm unusually frustrated by it because you have these ADOABLE shoes on sale in 4 different colors and guess what? I can only get 2 pair unless I use my VISA charge, but if I have to use my VISA card, then Macy's has 6 colors and I can get ALL of them with my VISA. PLEASE can you help me out here with a CLI? I don't ask for much, just to be able to get them from you guys because your prices are still $1.99 a pair cheaper than Macy's!
JCPenny CS: How can I say no to that?! Give me just a minute here...
Me: Thank you.. I'll just be browsing the website.. I'm redoing my livingroom ya know.. ya'll have the most beatiful drapes of anybody.. The only reason I haven't been able to do it yet is because the ones I want are like $600 a panel...~coughs~ .. I'm going to be so embarrassed this Christmas when it's my turn to have the family Christmas get together.. do JCPenny CS people get discounts?..

That's an awesome approach!! I'll try that -- thank you so much. I'll post an update afterwards

Re: Synchrony CLI

securingourfuture — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 14:54:58 GMT

I called the backdoor number after approval and got an increase from $400 to $3k. I waited a month and called the same number and got an increase to $5k. I say try the backdoor.

Re: Synchrony CLI

2b2rich — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 15:16:44 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Doesn't seem like they are too willing to do CLI -- makes me think that maybe I should just close it. It's useless at the limit it is at. I've just recent learned how utilization can be really destructive on scores, so now I'm super sensitive to charging anything on a card that has a low limit, and after 3 years of no increases, I'm thinking it's not likely to get approved for a CLI. So frustrating.

I guess I'll try for a CLI via chat -- it will be the first time i've ever asked for a CLI. If they don't do it, I'll maybe close.

Have you ever asked them why they won't increase it? I mean, seriously, let them know you're beginning to get a complex here and you would like to know if there is some reason why your relationship with them hasn't been able to grow beyond initial approval. Hypothetical example: You were a college student working part time when you were first approved for the card and have since finished school and started a new job making 10x more money and they aren't aware of that and are still treating you like a your only income is part time pay..

there could be a similar reason that could be corrected easily..

Re: Synchrony CLI

Anonymous — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 18:33:44 GMT

Well here is the update -- that went horrible. I chatted her up then asked for a CLI -- here is what I got.

Me: I’ve had a Charge account with you for many years. The account has always been in good standing. I would like a Credit Line Increase, can you help me out with this request

Nina: You may go to the Top of Tool Bar Select> Account Services> Credit Line Increase to request for it. Be reminded that it will be subject for approval upon credit check.

Me: Are you saying that requests for CL increases are an actual Hard Inquiry on my credit?

Nina: Your request for a credit line increase may result in an inquiry on your credit bureau; however, some requests are determined using only internal factors on your account and may not result in an inquiry on your credit bureau.

Nina: Would you like me to manually request it for you?

Me: What is a "manual" request? Is that a soft pull of my credit?

Nina: It will be the same as the request done online. You may contact your credit bureau to inquire further if it will be a soft or hard pull on your credit.

Me: If it's a hard inquiry, there is nothing the credit bureau can do after the fact. If you don't know whether I will receive a hard inquiry for a CLI, then it's not worth the request. Is there a number I can call so I can verify this process?

It's not worth taking a HP -- I thought CLI were soft pulls for Synchrony. That was disappointing.

Re: Synchrony CLI

buggie — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 18:48:43 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Well here is the update -- that went horrible. I chatted her up then asked for a CLI -- here is what I got.

Me: I’ve had a Charge account with you for many years. The account has always been in good standing. I would like a Credit Line Increase, can you help me out with this request

Nina: You may go to the Top of Tool Bar Select> Account Services> Credit Line Increase to request for it. Be reminded that it will be subject for approval upon credit check.

Me: Are you saying that requests for CL increases are an actual Hard Inquiry on my credit?

Nina: Your request for a credit line increase may result in an inquiry on your credit bureau; however, some requests are determined using only internal factors on your account and may not result in an inquiry on your credit bureau.

Nina: Would you like me to manually request it for you?

Me: What is a "manual" request? Is that a soft pull of my credit?

Nina: It will be the same as the request done online. You may contact your credit bureau to inquire further if it will be a soft or hard pull on your credit.

Me: If it's a hard inquiry, there is nothing the credit bureau can do after the fact. If you don't know whether I will receive a hard inquiry for a CLI, then it's not worth the request. Is there a number I can call so I can verify this process?

It's not worth taking a HP -- I thought CLI were soft pulls for Synchrony. That was disappointing.

Yep, that is exactly what happened to me in trying to get an increase with JCP. They said exactly the same thing to me, and I decided to just close the card out, until a few weeks after that chat, I hit the luv button again and got an increase from $500 to $2200. My card was about a year old at the time.

Re: Synchrony CLI

Anonymous — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 12:10:08 GMT

I think I'll call the backdoor number and at the very least try to verify if hitting the luv button is a hard inquiry. The CSR via chat said that hitting the button is a HP. If that is indeed the case, there is a lot of people gettting HPs that probably think they are just getting a SP.

Re: Synchrony CLI

core — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 12:30:03 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I think I'll call the backdoor number and at the very least try to verify if hitting the luv button is a hard inquiry. The CSR via chat said that hitting the button is a HP. If that is indeed the case, there is a lot of people gettting HPs that probably think they are just getting a SP.

I can assure you there are not too many folks on this forum that would get a hard pull and not know about it within 24 hours. Never believe anything a CSR says about hard vs soft pulls. Half the time they don't know the difference. The other half of the time they intentionally lie. Of course usually it goes the other way around, but it still applies here.

There was a big fuss less than a year ago about I think it was Comenity changing the language on the luv button. Saying it may result in a hard pull or something to that effect. It did not result in a hard pull for anyone at the time nor since.

This could be a C.Y.A. type of situation for this CSR. But my vote is simple incompetence.

Either way, if you absolutely cannot afford a HP, don't click the button. That goes for always.