topic Re: How often is too often to request CLI? in Credit Cards

How often is too often to request CLI?

Anonymous — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 22:14:02 GMT

Hi everyone, long time lurker, first post!

I currently have 4 cards that I am trying to grow with SPs, the cards are: Citi DC, Discover IT, Synch Amazon, and AmEx BCE. I have really liked how Citi and AmEx force you to wait 6 months between CLI asks, because I am impatient and I think I'm hitting the button too often for my other two cards and wanted to get some insight.

Discover: I have been hitting the luv button on Discover every 31 days, after my statement cuts and the CLIs have been so random, I got one in 9/2019, 1/2020 and one in 2/2020 and then now nothing since (stating "not enough experience with your current credit limit" each time I hit it). Is pushing it every month making me look desperate for credit? My rationale for pushing every month is I don't want to leave money on the table and I know its possible to get increseses more often than every 6 months. However, I'm not sure if that frequent of pushing looks risky and if I am more likely to get the CLI if I wait.

Amazon: I mistakenly thought Synchrony was also on a 6 month timer, so I got CLI in 8/2019 (countered), asked in 1/2020 (also countered), and then hit the button a few weeks ago and was instantly approved for the exact amount I asked for ($3k, increase from $6k to $9k). From this forum I have learned that there isn't a strict limit on when you can ask again, and I thought I had left money on the table from getting exactly what I requested so I went on today and hit the button asking for $15k and was immediately denied and given the 7-10 day letter.

Long story short, how often should I request CLIs from Discover and Synch to maximize the CLIs? 4 months? 6 months?

Data points for reference:

Scores in the 740s-750s

UTL: 13% (will be below 10% next month)

AAoA: 4.5 years

Inquiries: 1 (1.5 years old)

Amazon card is 5 years old, CL is 9k, Discover is 4 years old, CL is 5k, I am trying to get both cards to 10k, I hadn't asked for CLIs until 2019 when I found this forum (credit ignorance before that).

Thanks everyone!

Re: How often is too often to request CLI?

KLEXH25 — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 22:27:04 GMT

Not sure if this applies for ALL Synchrony cards, but any requests above $10k, must be done on the phone. I hit my max on my first CLI with the PPMC, and haven't touched it since. I was also under the impression that you have to wait between approved CLI through Synchrony, but I could be wrong (hard to keep track of all the rules lol).

Re: How often is too often to request CLI?

mrcraft — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 22:43:28 GMT

This is just my observation but Discover may have gone to a 6-month CLI calendar. I used to get one more often, but then started getting the "not enough experience" denials. Right at 6 months, I started getting a different reason "low usage with current limit." Yeah, because I shifted my spending to other cards. So, I spent more than usual on my Discover this month, so I plan to ask for CLI after my statement cuts.

Again, just my observation, but my Amazon card seems to on a 3-month interval. I plan to ask for my first CLI on my Verizon Visa (another Synchrony card) after my 3rd statement cuts and see if I can get a CLI. That card had a low SL.

Re: How often is too often to request CLI?

gdale6 — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 23:21:50 GMT

For me personally every 6 months is the minimum time I will wait and some I waited a full year.

Re: How often is too often to request CLI?

blindambition — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 23:28:18 GMT

I usually wait 6 months. Even if card is eligible before. More so now, I don't want to look desperate to lenders. Lord knows what factors they're watching in this economic climate.

Re: How often is too often to request CLI?

Anonymous — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 01:41:55 GMT

Thanks for the advice everyone! I'm going to plan on requesting only every 6 months!!

Re: How often is too often to request CLI?

HeavenOhio — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 02:05:44 GMT

Welcome, @Anonymous.

Six months seems to be a reasonable wait time after a CLI approval. But I woudn't necessarily wait that long after a denial. After being denied, I'd make that judgment on a case by case basis. 30 days is probably fine in a lot of situations, particularly if you feel an offer is likely to be close at hand. If you've been denied a couple of times in a row, you might want to wait longer.