topic Re: Elan Max Cash $500 Limit: Can I Over Pay and Charge Over My Limit? in Credit Cards

Elan Max Cash $500 Limit: Can I Over Pay and Charge Over My Limit?

Varsity_Lu — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 23:13:47 GMT

It's been a really cold winter and our electric rate just increased about 25% in mid-January. Our electric bill may be over $500 next month and I am trying to figure out how to cover it on our $500 CL Elan Max Cash card. If I pay like $100 over and get a credit, would Elan let a $550 bill go through? Anyone have experience with Elan on this?

Re: Elan Max Cash $500 Limit: Can I Over Pay and Charge Over My Limit?

ocheosa — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 23:41:18 GMT

@Varsity_Lu wrote:
It's been a really cold winter and our electric rate just increased about 25% in mid-January. Our electric bill may be over $500 next month and I am trying to figure out how to cover it on our $500 CL Elan Max Cash card. If I pay like $100 over and get a credit, would Elan let a $550 bill go through? Anyone have experience with Elan on this?

@Varsity_Lu If you can afford a HP, I would call and request a CLI. When they ask why be honest, you need a larger line for upcoming utility bills. IME, and by DP's I've read, they can be quite generous with CLI's if you're willing to take the hit. Of course, with all things credit related, YMMV.

Re: Elan Max Cash $500 Limit: Can I Over Pay and Charge Over My Limit?

Vinjints — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 23:59:02 GMT

Not on a single bill, but I had to pay electric off before charging my water bill each month when I had the 500 CL. They never said anything about it.

Re: Elan Max Cash $500 Limit: Can I Over Pay and Charge Over My Limit?

FicoMike0 — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 00:03:33 GMT

Ouch! $500 is painful. We certainly have had a cold jan, I don't think it's gotten above freezing once. I'm glad I'm cooking with gas, but that's still high too.

The first thing is so is call elan and ask about a cli. tell them you like their card, blah, blah, but it has to cover your needs. Since they're part of usb that may be a problem. I finally got a cli on both my usb cards, they quit that turd 1.0 nonsense, but wanted a hp. They did come across with +$3000 on each.

As far as paying over, I think the trick is getting them to take it. I've read a thread where someone mentioned using a different banks bill pay to overpay. Once you have a positive balance, I don't see how they wouldn't let you use it. Otherwise, they'd have to send you a refund.

I have a friend with electric heat pump, smeat pumps, two furnaces, big house. I'll have to ask him how bad it is. He may be better off, his are backed up with propane. I imagine it's mostly propane in this weather, not many therms for old reddy kilowatt to grab out of the frigid air.

Re: Elan Max Cash $500 Limit: Can I Over Pay and Charge Over My Limit?

Kforce — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 00:27:31 GMT

Agree with all others, 1st choice would be to try for a CL increase.

You could pay you electric company 2/3 of the bill, then pay off the card, wait for the card payment to hit and your CL go back up, pay part two of the bill. Most utility companies let you pay multiple payments.

For all my USBank cards any over payment adds to the available credit line.

Push from checking billpay to card.

Don't know if other Elan cards work the same.

Re: Elan Max Cash $500 Limit: Can I Over Pay and Charge Over My Limit?

Varsity_Lu — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 01:24:07 GMT

Thanks for the replies, everyone. A few things to consider:

First, it's my wife's card and she just requested a CLI, but was denied. They said the account is too new and her turd score (hee hee...turd) was too low. I don't think they are going to give her an increase.

Second, we have been cycling on this card anyway. (Thanks for the $500 limit, Elan.) Last month our electric was $465, cell phone $34, and our 3 month trash bill hit at $69. I have been paying it off mid-month to get all these in.

Third, we are all electric with geo-thermal, which is great in the summer, but sucks during a really cold winter. Plus, our electric rate is going from like 6.5 cents per KWH to like 8.9 cents. I hate Ohio Edison so much, but they have us over a barrel. The rate hike plus the coldest January in like 40 years is the problem. This is definitely an odd winter temp wise.

Fourth, Ohio Edison charges like 5% if you make a manual payment, but auto payments with credit cards are free free. I'd like to not have to make a manual payment (aka split the bill up) if possible.

Last month, I scheduled a payment from Fidelity and I noticed I could immediately schedule another payment. I think I'll try to pay the full amount as usual and then add like another hundo payment from a different bank. I'm pretty sure the bill will be under $600. I just hope the actual charge will go through.

Re: Elan Max Cash $500 Limit: Can I Over Pay and Charge Over My Limit?

FicoMike0 — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 04:33:12 GMT

I think we're paying aep about $.09 too. I suppose that's lower than a lot of places. About five years ago, one of my children lived in connecticut for a year. Even back then, they were paying over $.20/kWh. No gas there either, mostly propane heat.

I'm surprised the geo doesn't work in winter. Do you have buried pipes? When I lived in fla. they put in geo with shallow wells. Where we lived, if you dug a hole for a fence post, it would fill with water. You could hand dig a water well, the soil was all sand. The water wasn't good to drink, but it worked fine for lawn sprinklers and cooling. Heating wasn't an issue, lol.

Re: Elan Max Cash $500 Limit: Can I Over Pay and Charge Over My Limit?

Patient957 — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 04:53:52 GMT

@FicoMike0 wrote:
I finally got a cli on both my usb cards, they quit that turd 1.0 nonsense, but wanted a hp. They did come across with +$3000 on each.

@Varsity_Lu wrote:
First, it's my wife's card and she just requested a CLI, but was denied. They said the account is too new and her turd score (hee hee...turd) was too low. I don't think they are going to give her an increase.

Not to go too far off topic here, but this makes me wonder how much of this turd thing is tied to how long the account has been open. Perhaps newness of the account factors in to the turd score?

@FicoMike0, how old was your account when they finally gave you that CLI?

@Varsity_Lu, how old was your wife's account when they denied the CLI?

Maybe this turd thing associated with specific accounts rather than tied more generally to the borrower? Like "this particular account has a high risk of default" rather than "This particular borrower has a high risk of default." Just spitballing here, but both of your comments seemed to indicate account age as a turd factor.

Re: Elan Max Cash $500 Limit: Can I Over Pay and Charge Over My Limit?

ocheosa — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 08:13:37 GMT

@Varsity_Lu wrote:

First, it's my wife's card and she just requested a CLI, but was denied. They said the account is too new and her turd score (hee hee...turd) was too low. I don't think they are going to give her an increase.

@Varsity_Lu This is surprising. Wonder if it's just the $500 special that's blocked for a probationary period. Did they try the CLI on a SP? I tried for s SP CLI on my first card, twice I think, and it was declined. Was finally told a HP was requred. I let it be because the CL was sufficient at 5K.

On my last card (#4), the SL was 7K and I needed more so I called in 2 days after approval, took the HP and they doubled the line to 15K. I don't even think the card was in the mail yet.

Given the limit, I can't imagine them having a problem with cycling the limit as needed.

Re: Elan Max Cash $500 Limit: Can I Over Pay and Charge Over My Limit?

Follower — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 13:38:18 GMT

If you're doubtful of getting a CLI, then I'd go with the idea of paying each bill in two payments, one at $500 (or maybe a little less to avoid 100% utilization)and put the rest on your Fidelity or another card.

You could also app for a second card in your name. I think I recall data points that actual USBank Cash+ cards usually get higher CLs than their Elan-branded counterparts...?

Finally, my last two months of $780 natural gas bills from National Grid (Boston) say, "Hold my beer."

Re: Elan Max Cash $500 Limit: Can I Over Pay and Charge Over My Limit?

TrapLine — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 14:05:41 GMT

@Varsity_Lu

You know ... check one of your Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Card bills and look on the right side where it says "Active Summary" and read down to the bottom where it says "Minimum Payment Due," under that you will see the verbage "Revolving Line of Credit" ... this is like a Flexible (NPLS) Credit Limit and will allow you to go over your "Revolving Line of Credit" limit by 25%. US Bank and Elan both have had this account feature for many years but, do NOT tell you or advertise it. This may allow you a little extra breathing room.

Note, I have heard and read that US Bank likes to see 6 to 12 months before CLIs but I have read where people get them anyway. For myself, I have had soft inquiry CLIs and hard CLIs ... never know? A customer of sixteen years and USB (and Elan) has been there for me on many products and services.

Off subject but, US Bank told me I needed 12 months as a customer (wanted to see performance) before I could apply for a US Bank PLOC and the local brick and motar Branch Banker told me it would not be approved. Even with said knowledge, I had the branch banker submit my application. It took two days for approval as a customer with eight months performance (never know).

Going on, US Bank (and Elan) used to maintain backroom "customer relations scores" on every customer. The scores could help bridge oops and length of time. Do not know if they still do the scores? My score helped me bridge the eight months and the banker was surprised.

All of what I am writng I have lived with US Bank/Elan. Further, was part of a two-year team working with them on their IT as an outside consumer (they actually listened).

Finally today, they are reaching modernization and the IT works. Yes! Best of luck on your challenge. Do know, Elan is generally a little better on CLs and not quite as conservative.

Re: Elan Max Cash $500 Limit: Can I Over Pay and Charge Over My Limit?

FicoMike0 — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 18:04:25 GMT

@Follower

I hope that's $780 total for two months, not each. That do you pay for gas? I think I'm paying about $.7 ccf.

Re: Elan Max Cash $500 Limit: Can I Over Pay and Charge Over My Limit?

Varsity_Lu — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 19:29:35 GMT

@TrapLine wrote:
@Varsity_Lu

You know ... check one of your Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Card bills and look on the right side where it says "Active Summary" and read down to the bottom where it says "Minimum Payment Due," under that you will see the verbage "Revolving Line of Credit" ... this is like a Flexible (NPLS) Credit Limit and will allow you to go over your "Revolving Line of Credit" limit by 25%. US Bank and Elan both have had this account feature for many years but, do NOT tell you or advertise it. This may allow you a little extra breathing room.

Uhhh...I have no idea what you are talking about. Her statement last month posted a $76.72 balance. The line on her bill that says "Revolving Line Of Credit" reads $500. Below that it says "Revolving Line Available" and it reads $423.28, which is exactly her credit limit minus the statement balance. I don't see any indication of a hidden 25% overage. Maybe I'm missing something?

Re: Elan Max Cash $500 Limit: Can I Over Pay and Charge Over My Limit?

Follower — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 19:54:58 GMT

@FicoMike0 wrote:
@Follower
I hope that's $780 total for two months, not each. That do you pay for gas? I think I'm paying about $.7 ccf.

No, it is not. It's that for each month.

Looks like I'm paying $2.58 per CCF.

Re: Elan Max Cash $500 Limit: Can I Over Pay and Charge Over My Limit?

FicoMike0 — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 02:50:13 GMT

@Follower

Wow, you guys in the north east are really getting a raw deal. Here in oh10, the high price fuel is propane, at 2.29 a gallon. A gallon of propane is approximately equal to 1 ccf of nat gas in energy content, 100,000 btus. I seem to recall a story that a big problem is that ny won't allow gas lines to cross the state. If course, mass is probably screwing you as well.

I just calculated that at $.70 ccf, gas delivers thermal energy equal to electricity at $.025 kwh, making gas much cheaper for me. I have gas heat, hot water, cook stove and clothes drier.

What do you pay for electricity? At your gas rate, you would break even at about $.092 kwh.

Re: Elan Max Cash $500 Limit: Can I Over Pay and Charge Over My Limit?

FicoMike0 — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 02:57:12 GMT

@Varsity_Lu

Beside the payment surcharge, what do you hate about oh Ed?

We have aep and I have to give them a lot of credit for keeping the power on, it hardly ever fails and when it does, never more than a few hours. We had our transformer fail, called them early evening, by about 2 AM they had it replaced and a new line run from the pole to the house.

Re: Elan Max Cash $500 Limit: Can I Over Pay and Charge Over My Limit?

TrapLine — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 17:14:33 GMT

@Varsity_Lu wrote:
@TrapLine wrote:
@Varsity_Lu

You know ... check one of your Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Card bills and look on the right side where it says "Active Summary" and read down to the bottom where it says "Minimum Payment Due," under that you will see the verbage "Revolving Line of Credit" ... this is like a Flexible (NPLS) Credit Limit and will allow you to go over your "Revolving Line of Credit" limit by 25%. US Bank and Elan both have had this account feature for many years but, do NOT tell you or advertise it. This may allow you a little extra breathing room.
Uhhh...I have no idea what you are talking about. Her statement last month posted a $76.72 balance. The line on her bill that says "Revolving Line Of Credit" reads $500. Below that it says "Revolving Line Available" and it reads $423.28, which is exactly her credit limit minus the statement balance. I don't see any indication of a hidden 25% overage. Maybe I'm missing something?

The long and short of it would be that some financials have a feature that allows you to exceed your assigned credit limit. An example is American Express Charge Cards offer No Pre-set Spending Limits. Other lenders have provided a similar feature as part of their extra benefits (most called it a Flex Limit). Simple bottom line is US Bank and Elan have offered that and it used to be a set dollar amount (Csrs told me about it). The one thing is, they do not advertise it.

For your further knowledge Chase does it today on certain credit cards and my business card has it (flex limit). Usually finanicials would allow you to go over your limit and pay the over the limit with your next statement. Elan has has the same option on some cards. While I do not know if you have it, the thought is it may. Do know I have it on my Elan Card (note they issue for many financials so it could be bank dependent). In yester-year, back before August 1st, 2015 this was a big thing but not so much today.

Re: Elan Max Cash $500 Limit: Can I Over Pay and Charge Over My Limit?

AndySoCal — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 04:46:31 GMT

A possible non credit card solution might be level pay. I am using level pay with the local gas company. My home has a gas stove, water heater and central heating system. I currently pay $62.00 a month. In the winter the usage spikes up and in the summer the usage is almost nothing. The house is 900 sq ft. Level pay helps make budgeting easier. The level pay price per month may be adjusted up or down depending usage and costs.

Re: Elan Max Cash $500 Limit: Can I Over Pay and Charge Over My Limit?

Varsity_Lu — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 10:57:48 GMT

@AndySoCal wrote:
A possible non credit card solution might be level pay. I am using level pay with the local gas company. My home has a gas stove, water heater and central heating system. I currently pay $62.00 a month. In the winter the usage spikes up and in the summer the usage is almost nothing. The house is 900 sq ft. Level pay helps make budgeting easier. The level pay price per month may be adjusted up or down depending usage and costs.

Well, @FicoMike0 asked about Ohio Edison...here is one of the things they are terrible about: even (budgeted) pay. I did that with OE for a few years but they can't even estimate a monthly payment correctly. The one year they put me on a budget of like $150, but I knew it was too low based on the previou 24 months of bills. The last month came and my actual last month bill was like $1800. I mean, how hard is it to add up 12 previous bills and divide by 12? Also, their customer service is terrible. Whenever I reach out via email, it's like 10 days before they get back to me. Calling in? Plan to be on hold for a loooooong time.

Re: Elan Max Cash $500 Limit: Can I Over Pay and Charge Over My Limit?

TrapLine — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:13:38 GMT

@Varsity_Lu wrote:
@AndySoCal wrote:
A possible non credit card solution might be level pay. I am using level pay with the local gas company. My home has a gas stove, water heater and central heating system. I currently pay $62.00 a month. In the winter the usage spikes up and in the summer the usage is almost nothing. The house is 900 sq ft. Level pay helps make budgeting easier. The level pay price per month may be adjusted up or down depending usage and costs.
Well, @FicoMike0 asked about Ohio Edison...here is one of the things they are terrible about: even (budgeted) pay. I did that with OE for a few years but they can't even estimate a monthly payment correctly. The one year they put me on a budget of like $150, but I knew it was too low based on the previou 24 months of bills. The last month came and my actual last month bill was like $1800. I mean, how hard is it to add up 12 previous bills and divide by 12? Also, their customer service is terrible. Whenever I reach out via email, it's like 10 days before they get back to me. Calling in? Plan to be on hold for a loooooong time.

The idea of a budgeted monthly gas bill is great but, like you my provider was way to low in their estimates. What they did do is allow for the residential customer to request a change to the budget amount (it could only be to raise the monthly amount) so I did the calculation you did and had them reset their budget amount every year and that worked. My provider tried to hide but, if a customer could work through their telephone menu a real person was available.