topic Re: Can you request CLI after Amex FR? in Credit Cards

Can you request CLI after Amex FR?

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 05:09:09 GMT

I went through an Amex FR in 2019. 3 small business and 2 personal cards (including Amex plat) were frozen during the review. They asked me for bank statements to verify ability to pay, as the cards had high balances (company was struggling). I was able to payoff all balances about a year ago, my credit score went back up to 780ish. However after the FR my Amex plat (that had a zero balance as I always pay in full) shower a limit of $5k.
I'd like to request a CLI, however I'm afraid it would trigger another FR. Has anyone been in this situation before?

Re: Can you request CLI after Amex FR?

FinStar — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 05:51:05 GMT

Hi @Anonymous, welcome to the forums.

Just to be clear, your AmEx Platinum was imposed with a hard limit during the FR, correct?

Re: Can you request CLI after Amex FR?

K-in-Boston — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 12:24:32 GMT

Asking for a credit line increase in and of itself will not trigger a FR. They kept your cards open so you "passed," although with some concerns as evidenced by the hard limit. The limit placed on your charge card can only be lifted by Amex when they do a review at a later date, unfortunately.

Re: Can you request CLI after Amex FR?

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 13:24:52 GMT

by "review at a later date" are you implying that my accounts will go under another FR at some point? (like a follow up on the first FR?)

Re: Can you request CLI after Amex FR?

K-in-Boston — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 13:32:56 GMT

No. When a cardholder has had a limit placed instead of NPSL, Amex periodically reviews the account for reinstatement to NPSL. That is not a FR where Amex needs to determine that the cardholder has financial resources to repay the account(s). Sometimes it can take years, if ever.

Re: Can you request CLI after Amex FR?

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 14:05:54 GMT

I see.... is there any spending pattern that can help them make the decision? All my AMEX (personal and business) are paid off in full every month.

In this PLAT I don't spend over $1k per month as I don't want my utilization to go too high.

Re: Can you request CLI after Amex FR?

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 14:06:11 GMT

yes that is correct

Re: Can you request CLI after Amex FR?

K-in-Boston — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 19:47:01 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I see.... is there any spending pattern that can help them make the decision? All my AMEX (personal and business) are paid off in full every month.
In this PLAT I don't spend over $1k per month as I don't want my utilization to go too high.

Definitely using the card can help. Keep in mind that with charge cards from Amex, utilization isn't factored in at all on any modern credit scoring models. The hard limit on your card is only known between you and Amex; that information is never reported to the credit bureaus. If the card makes sense for you to put other transactions on, that would certainly send a message to Amex that the hard limit may need to be reconsidered.