topic Re: No CLIs on low limit AMEX cards? in Credit Cards

No CLIs on low limit AMEX cards?

Anonymous — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 21:14:31 GMT

For those of you with experience with AMEX, is it safe to assume that their low limit cards are rarely if ever granted CLIs? I ask this because I have a Delta Gold AMEX with a $1000 limit that is really not very useful to me when I want to purchase airline tickets. I've requested increases a couple of times but they were not approved. My credit score is now 35 points higher than when I was approved for it and I want to try again but I don't want to bother if it will be another automatic no. Thinking of just sock drawering or cancelling this card before the annual fee hits if I can't get any increases. Delta miles don't seem to be worth as much these days anyway.

Re: No CLIs on low limit AMEX cards?

Ghoshida — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 21:18:28 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
For those of you with experience with AMEX, is it safe to assume that their low limit cards are rarely if ever granted CLIs? I ask this because I have a Delta Gold AMEX with a $1000 limit that is really not very useful to me when I want to purchase airline tickets. I've requested increases a couple of times but they were not approved. My credit score is now 35 points higher than when I was approved for it and I want to try again but I don't want to bother if it will be another automatic no. Thinking of just sock drawering or cancelling this card before the annual fee hits if I can't get any increases. Delta miles don't seem to be worth as much these days anyway.

I started with a $1k BCE in Nov 2013.

I mostly abused the 0% APR for most of the first year, running balances etc. I paid off the card to zero balance in Sep 2014, and a couple of days before my Oct 2014 statement, I was Auto CLI'd to $2k. After the statement was released, I went for 3X and got $6k. Since then, I've pressed the button twice, always asking for less than 3X (because nervous about 4506T and all that). So it went to $15k and now it's at $25k since Oct 2015.

My EX score is also approx 100 points higher than when I applied.

Re: No CLIs on low limit AMEX cards?

Anonymous — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 21:22:16 GMT

@Ghoshida wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
For those of you with experience with AMEX, is it safe to assume that their low limit cards are rarely if ever granted CLIs? I ask this because I have a Delta Gold AMEX with a $1000 limit that is really not very useful to me when I want to purchase airline tickets. I've requested increases a couple of times but they were not approved. My credit score is now 35 points higher than when I was approved for it and I want to try again but I don't want to bother if it will be another automatic no. Thinking of just sock drawering or cancelling this card before the annual fee hits if I can't get any increases. Delta miles don't seem to be worth as much these days anyway.
I started with a $1k BCE in Nov 2013.

I mostly abused the 0% APR for most of the first year, running balances etc. I paid off the card to zero balance in Sep 2014, and a couple of days before my Oct 2014 statement, I was Auto CLI'd to $2k. After the statement was released, I went for 3X and got $6k. Since then, I've pressed the button twice, always asking for less than 3X (because nervous about 4506T and all that). So it went to $15k and now it's at $25k since Oct 2015.

My EX score is also approx 100 points higher than when I applied.

Thanks for offering your experience. Maybe next month after my last collection falls off my accounts I will get another boost in score and can try again.

Re: No CLIs on low limit AMEX cards?

icyhot — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 21:28:52 GMT

I have a $1K Delta as well that I haven't been able to get an increase on. I'm going to try the LUV button again once it hits 1 year (4/17 I think) and if none, no biggie. I use it for the checked bags and priority boarding anyway, and if I charge a flight I pay it right off. I hate having a $1K line when I have several $10K and $5K lines, but I just consider Amex to be a hard on

Re: No CLIs on low limit AMEX cards?

Anonymous — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 21:30:12 GMT

I can understand your frustration but if I had to venture a guess I would say the reason for the denial is the same reason for the low limit. What was the reason given? Loosing that collection certainly can't hurt...don't give up yet take the time to build a relationship with Amex...they will be good to you in time. For now you can always ask to have the annual fee waived.

Re: No CLIs on low limit AMEX cards?

Appleman — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 21:37:21 GMT

Does anyone know if AMEX is agreeable to re-allocating credit lines between AMEX credit cards?

Re: No CLIs on low limit AMEX cards?

Anonymous — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 21:39:39 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I can understand your frustration but if I had to venture a guess I would say the reason for the denial is the same reason for the low limit. What was the reason given? Loosing that collection certainly can't hurt...don't give up yet take the time to build a relationship with Amex...they will be good to you in time. For now you can always ask to have the annual fee waived.

Are they usually amenable to waiving annual fee?

Re: No CLIs on low limit AMEX cards?

UncleB — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 21:50:29 GMT

I have a $1k BCP, and I've tried for a CLI four times and each time I'm summarily turned down due to "...previous negative experience with an American Express account."

They are referring to an account IIBK 16 years ago.

Granted, I'm fortunate they gave me another chance at all, but after nearly a year of running my card to 40%-50% monthly and PIF each time without hesitation, one would hope that eventually they would at least throw me a bone... but so far no love. Since there's no way I can 'cure' the condition causing the CLIs to be declined, all I can do is work on the overall relationship.

Since I'm able to use the card satisfactorily as-is, I'm not too worked up over it, but I would like to have the freedom of not having to worry about how the card is reporting each month (i.e. utilization). I consider it my 'grocery store' card, since the credit line isn't large enough for anything else, and I have better rewards cards for other categories, anyway.

My personal plan is to app for a ED card later in the year, and assuming I'm approved I will move the credit line over to the BCP after 13 months since they seem to generally be OK with that. There are folks here who report having a card that seemed to be 'stuck' at $1k then they got approved for other cards with Amex with 'normal' credit lines, so hopefully that will apply in my case as well.

Re: No CLIs on low limit AMEX cards?

Anonymous — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 22:12:23 GMT

"Are they usually amenable to waiving annual fee?"

I can't say from personal experience, but it seems others on here have had some success. No harm in asking, the worst that could happen is they say no.

Re: No CLIs on low limit AMEX cards?

Ghoshida — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 22:52:08 GMT

@Appleman while I haven't done it, I believe it is possible.

Re: No CLIs on low limit AMEX cards?

Discover2016 — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 03:52:15 GMT

My BCE is at 1k, not because I have negatives on my CR or because I burned Amex in the past, but because I only had a month or two of payment history with my Amex Green when I applied. My last CLI denial was 95 days ago so I can try again but I am going to wait until the card is a year old in August. I know that my BCE will grow with patience and good payment history.

Re: No CLIs on low limit AMEX cards?

Anonymous — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 11:27:56 GMT

My AmEx is stuck at $500 credit limit. I cannot get a CLI to save my life. But I'll try in April once it hits one year. I have hope that I'll be able to eventually get it off the ground. Shoot, I'll take a 1k CL with no complaints

Re: No CLIs on low limit AMEX cards?

Anonymous — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 14:46:30 GMT

My BCE started at 2k in May 2015. Got denied CLI on activation. 90 days later I got the 3x to 6k. 180 days later I got 3x to 18k. Small limits do grow. I'm note sure if it makes a difference or not, but I have always paid in full and never carried a balance on this card. Very few times have I even let a balance report. I think I am done growing this card, though. In 6 months I may ask for 2k more, just to get my first 20k card, but that's the only reason.

Re: No CLIs on low limit AMEX cards?

Anonymous — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 15:20:45 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
My AmEx is stuck at $500 credit limit. I cannot get a CLI to save my life. But I'll try in April once it hits one year. I have hope that I'll be able to eventually get it off the ground. Shoot, I'll take a 1k CL with no complaints

Interesting. I never would've thought that Amex handed $500 SLs. Hopefully they can at least triple that limit come your 1st year with the card...

Re: No CLIs on low limit AMEX cards?

jbsea — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 15:28:31 GMT

When I first got back in with them I got the PRG and the Delta ($1000 sl) I asked for a cli and was denied. I read on hear that happend a lot. about four months later I got the ED card with a $5000 sl and 3 months later I was able to get that to $15,000. I've given up on the Delta card but very happy with my ED card.

Re: No CLIs on low limit AMEX cards?

AzaleaB — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 15:32:58 GMT

I got 1K limit on my JetBlue Amex and it was definitely borderline - they triple pulled me. But I used the card heavily - not too hard to max out. Scores improved and I got a 3x CLI four months later. Closed the card though. Better profile, careful management of credit worked out.

Re: No CLIs on low limit AMEX cards?

elim — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 15:37:40 GMT

You say the card is "not very useful". Do you run plenty of spend through the card? If not then CLI is probably not high on AMEX's to-do list (waiving the fee either).

I have read a lot of posts about AMEX usually being pretty good about CLI's in the right 1/90/180 day timeframe.

Re: No CLIs on low limit AMEX cards?

Anonymous — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 16:23:55 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
For those of you with experience with AMEX, is it safe to assume that their low limit cards are rarely if ever granted CLIs? I ask this because I have a Delta Gold AMEX with a $1000 limit that is really not very useful to me when I want to purchase airline tickets. I've requested increases a couple of times but they were not approved. My credit score is now 35 points higher than when I was approved for it and I want to try again but I don't want to bother if it will be another automatic no. Thinking of just sock drawering or cancelling this card before the annual fee hits if I can't get any increases. Delta miles don't seem to be worth as much these days anyway.

I'm sorry you are having trouble getting a CLI. It may help if you shared your FICO (if you feel comfortable doing so). A 35 point increase is great, but it depends on what your score is now. For example, a 35 point increase if your startiing score was 650 may not be enough to impress Amex, whereas a 35 point increase if your starting score were higher may make a difference.

Also, if you have any negatives on your file, Amex is probably keeping an eye on those and may respond differently when your score is higher and the negatives drop off. Inquiries or recent new accounts may also give them pause when considering you for an increase, especially if your profile is marginal.

How long have you had the card? Amex values relationship and if they started you out at 1k, not enough may have changed in your file and not enough time may have gone by for them to be comfortable with an increase. Increases are not solely based on score alone. Hope this helps.

Re: No CLIs on low limit AMEX cards?

Anonymous — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 16:24:38 GMT

@elim wrote:
You say the card is "not very useful". Do you run plenty of spend through the card? If not then CLI is probably not high on AMEX's to-do list (waiving the fee either).

I have read a lot of posts about AMEX usually being pretty good about CLI's in the right 1/90/180 day timeframe.

Re: No CLIs on low limit AMEX cards?

NRB525 — Sun, 28 Feb 2016 16:39:07 GMT

@Discover2016 wrote:
My BCE is at 1k, not because I have negatives on my CR or because I burned Amex in the past, but because I only had a month or two of payment history with my Amex Green when I applied. My last CLI denial was 95 days ago so I can try again but I am going to wait until the card is a year old in August. I know that my BCE will grow with patience and good payment history.

If you already have a Green card, then you can use that for the airline tickets and the point per dollar, through MR points, can be transferred to Delta if you choose. This isn't ideal, since it is one MR point, not two Delta SkyMiles, but as an option in a pinch it is there.

If the 90+ days has passed since your last CLI request/denial, I would suggest making the request now. The 90 (sounds like a lot more than 90) days means you now have some payment history with AMEX. Your chances of getting to $3k are much better.

Even if this CLI is not approved, don't be afraid to charge the Delta Gold card up to $900 and then pay. I have a Delta Gold, was a $2k limit in mid-2013, used it for $500-$600 per month for a year, ran it up to $1,950 one time, PIF, started running it up again and they gave me an auto CLI to $3k before I got to the $2k limit again.

Heavy usage is rewarded.

Do not be distracted by "high utilization affects your FICO score" concerns since:

1) These high utilization numbers will be In the service of increasing your CL for the long run.

2) FICO Utilization has a very poor memory, and the effect of that utilization fades quickly.