topic Re: Store cards, high CLs, unusual conversations in Credit Cards

Store cards, high CLs, unusual conversations

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 18:55:51 GMT

I see a lot of threads where people get store cards and then try to get CLs around $20k or $30k.

I know some of those requests go through an automated system, but I expect a human is involved occasionally.

How often will a CSR ask, "I see you spent $150 on the card last year. Why isn't $10k an adequate limit?"

And where does the conversation go from there?

Re: Store cards, high CLs, unusual conversations

SpiceIslander — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 19:27:20 GMT

I don't have an answer to your question but want to share my experience with store cards.

I used to have two store cards, Sam's Club @ 3000.00 & Sears @ 900.00 CLs. Sam's started at 3000.00 about 25 years ago. Sears was initially at 800.00. I've never asked for an increase on Sam's but a few years ago, I needed a new appliances and wanted to get them from Sears, just to use the card and because they had 6 months SAC. I requested a CLI and they increased it by 100.00, bringing the CL to 900.00!!!. I went to Lowes and applied, got my appliances, along with a very nice CL. I paid off the balance before the 18 months promo ran out.

It annoys me that I took the HP for 100.00 increase but in the end it worked out. Sears lost & I won. I will never request another CLI on that card but I do use it fairly regularly. The CL is quite adequate for the small charges I put through it. When I have big spending, I'll go to Lowes.

Re: Store cards, high CLs, unusual conversations

jim44 — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 19:36:19 GMT

@SpiceIslander wrote:
I don't have an answer to your question but want to share my experience with store cards.

@I used to have two store cards, Sam's Club @ 3000.00 & Sears @ 900.00 CLs. Sam's started at 3000.00 about 25 years ago. Sears was initially at 800.00. I've never asked for an increase on Sam's but a few years ago, I needed a new appliances and wanted to get them from Sears, just to use the card and because they had 6 months SAC. I requested a CLI and they increased it by 100.00, bringing the CL to 900.00!!!. I went to Lowes and applied, got my appliances, along with a very nice CL. I paid off the balance before the 18 months promo ran out.

It annoys me that I took the HP for 100.00 increase but in the end it worked out. Sears lost & I won. I will never request another CLI on that card but I do use it fairly regularly. The CL is quite adequate for the small charges I put through it. When I have big spending, I'll go to Lowes.

YMMV with every card. Maybe in your case because Sears is backed by Citi and Lowes Synchrony? I had a JC Penneys card from 1994 and they never granted an auto CLI. It seemed like every othe card was. When I did ask, my CL was increased by $200 to a whopping $700.

Re: Store cards, high CLs, unusual conversations

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 19:45:43 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I see a lot of threads where people get store cards and then try to get CLs around $20k or $30k.

I know some of those requests go through an automated system, but I expect a human is involved occasionally.

How often will a CSR ask, "I see you spent $150 on the card last year. Why isn't $10k an adequate limit?"

And where does the conversation go from there?

Different people have different wants/needs. The forum just brings us all together under "one roof." Although I received my highest credit line when I apped, it will work well for me when I make some large purchases while doing home renovation. I don't have to worry about going over 30% utilization, which is my sort of "standard," I guess.

For others, some just like the high limits. Whatever works for them, I say. I have no idea what they say when asked, though. Perhaps someone else can answer that.

Re: Store cards, high CLs, unusual conversations

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 19:53:37 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I see a lot of threads where people get store cards and then try to get CLs around $20k or $30k.

I know some of those requests go through an automated system, but I expect a human is involved occasionally.

How often will a CSR ask, "I see you spent $150 on the card last year. Why isn't $10k an adequate limit?"

And where does the conversation go from there?
Different people have different wants/needs. The forum just brings us all together under "one roof." Although I received my highest credit line when I apped, it will work well for me when I make some large purchases while doing home renovation. I don't have to worry about going over 30% utilization, which is my sort of "standard," I guess.

For others, some just like the high limits. Whatever works for them, I say. I have no idea what they say when asked, though. Perhaps someone else can answer that.

I've given up asking why. You'll notice I'm just asking how in this thread.

Renovations are one thing. I can comprehend $30k on something like a Lowes card, and a CSR being understanding about that request. It's the $30k CLs at stores that sell moderately-priced clothing and tchotchkes. How do you tell a CSR you really merit a $20k-$30k CL for that stuff?

Re: Store cards, high CLs, unusual conversations

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 19:57:55 GMT

I understand.

Re: Store cards, high CLs, unusual conversations

taxi818 — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 20:24:17 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I see a lot of threads where people get store cards and then try to get CLs around $20k or $30k.

I know some of those requests go through an automated system, but I expect a human is involved occasionally.

How often will a CSR ask, "I see you spent $150 on the card last year. Why isn't $10k an adequate limit?"

And where does the conversation go from there?

They don't ask anything. they just simply process your request.

Re: Store cards, high CLs, unusual conversations

Thomas_Thumb — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 21:24:58 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

I've given up asking why. You'll notice I'm just asking how in this thread.
Renovations are one thing. I can comprehend $30k on something like a Lowes card, and a CSR being understanding about that request. It's the $30k CLs at stores that sell moderately-priced clothing and tchotchkes. How do you tell a CSR you really merit a $20k-$30k CL for that stuff?

You don't.

Last year I called to ask for a CLI on my BB store card. Limit at the time was $4k. The CSR asked why I wanted the CL and I mentioned a need to keep expenses under 50% of the CL for credit scoring purposes and the current CL was forcing me to use other bank cards for purchases I wanted to put on the store card.

She asked what limit I wanted. I said $7.5k and that apparently seemed reasonable. The request triggered a HP but the CLI was authorized while I was on the phone. She said "enjoy your shopping at Best Buy" and that was it. Having posted charges of $2.1K and then $3.2k [both PIF] a few months prior probably helped the CLI go through.

Requesting a $15k or $20k CL in that situation would have been awkward and likely unsuccessful. Can't imagine spending $500 max and then asking for a $25k CL on the store card. In addition to getting declined, I would be concerned that my name might be added to some nationwide "watch list".

Stick with major credit cards for high limits - or co-branded store cards [like a Target Visa] that can be used with a variety of merchants.

Re: Store cards, high CLs, unusual conversations

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 21:09:35 GMT

I think a lot of these requests have been processed through an automated system (VRU), so there is no one to ask questions. I think the recent AA may be occurring because the accounts are now being manually reviewed.

Re: Store cards, high CLs, unusual conversations

ddemari — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 23:29:34 GMT

I used to think the same. Why do u need 10k at gap lol. But they never question your need for it. They either approve it or decline it.

Re: Store cards, high CLs, unusual conversations

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 06:47:24 GMT

Maybe the credit software was just written to not unnecessarily exclude any creditworthy customer who genuinely wanted to make a very large transaction.

It would make sense if the recent AA is from humans combing through the system for the clowns who want credit for the sake of credit, rather than actual major customers.

Re: Store cards, high CLs, unusual conversations

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 07:42:38 GMT

I've never understood $25K CL on a Walmart card, when for me, between $3-5K would be more than sufficient. A limit like that would be good for a low interest bank card, and used for emergency purposes (plane trip, car problems, medical emergency, etc). Even $10k on a Walmart card would be pushing it.

Re: Store cards, high CLs, unusual conversations

Anonymous — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 08:11:59 GMT

They helped me get to the quarter million dollar club. I'll be honest, and since I'm not a politician......I have such padding to help my utilization. You can take that to the bank!

Re: Store cards, high CLs, unusual conversations

takeshi74 — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 15:03:17 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I've never understood $25K CL on a Walmart card, when for me, between $3-5K would be more than sufficient.

"For me" != "for everyone". I can't even see having a Walmart card to begin with.

Re: Store cards, high CLs, unusual conversations

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 16:55:46 GMT

@jim44 wrote:
@SpiceIslander wrote:
I don't have an answer to your question but want to share my experience with store cards.

@I used to have two store cards, Sam's Club @ 3000.00 & Sears @ 900.00 CLs. Sam's started at 3000.00 about 25 years ago. Sears was initially at 800.00. I've never asked for an increase on Sam's but a few years ago, I needed a new appliances and wanted to get them from Sears, just to use the card and because they had 6 months SAC. I requested a CLI and they increased it by 100.00, bringing the CL to 900.00!!!. I went to Lowes and applied, got my appliances, along with a very nice CL. I paid off the balance before the 18 months promo ran out.

It annoys me that I took the HP for 100.00 increase but in the end it worked out. Sears lost & I won. I will never request another CLI on that card but I do use it fairly regularly. The CL is quite adequate for the small charges I put through it. When I have big spending, I'll go to Lowes.
YMMV with every card. Maybe in your case because Sears is backed by Citi and Lowes Synchrony? I had a JC Penneys card from 1994 and they never granted an auto CLI. It seemed like every othe card was. When I did ask, my CL was increased by $200 to a whopping $700.

Now just don't go crazy in the sock section!

Re: Store cards, high CLs, unusual conversations

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 17:24:19 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@jim44 wrote:
@SpiceIslander wrote:
I don't have an answer to your question but want to share my experience with store cards.

@I used to have two store cards, Sam's Club @ 3000.00 & Sears @ 900.00 CLs. Sam's started at 3000.00 about 25 years ago. Sears was initially at 800.00. I've never asked for an increase on Sam's but a few years ago, I needed a new appliances and wanted to get them from Sears, just to use the card and because they had 6 months SAC. I requested a CLI and they increased it by 100.00, bringing the CL to 900.00!!!. I went to Lowes and applied, got my appliances, along with a very nice CL. I paid off the balance before the 18 months promo ran out.

It annoys me that I took the HP for 100.00 increase but in the end it worked out. Sears lost & I won. I will never request another CLI on that card but I do use it fairly regularly. The CL is quite adequate for the small charges I put through it. When I have big spending, I'll go to Lowes.
YMMV with every card. Maybe in your case because Sears is backed by Citi and Lowes Synchrony? I had a JC Penneys card from 1994 and they never granted an auto CLI. It seemed like every othe card was. When I did ask, my CL was increased by $200 to a whopping $700.
Now just don't go crazy in the sock section!

I took my Brooks Brothers card out my "sock drawer" (a bedside organizer)...to buy socks (and save $20 on them).

So even when I use it, it's a sock drawer card!