topic What do CCC look for on card usage? in Credit Cards

What do CCC look for on card usage?

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:00:53 GMT

What do CCC look for in card usage? Do you push big dollars through or just 10% of CL? Any thoughts? Assuming you are PIF each month

Re: What do CCC look for on card usage?

Red1Blue — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:34:46 GMT

I use the card and once every week I do a PIF of any balance that is on the account for that date. Once the statement cuts, I do PIF what is on the statement. HSBC seems to like it, they gave me a CLI after 3 months even with out asking.

Re: What do CCC look for on card usage?

marty56 — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 01:08:04 GMT

I got a Samsclub card 3 years ago with a 300 CL it is now at 3100. It seemed to me the liked usage around 50 - 60 % and then when I didnt use it for awhile, the raised my CL all with out ever asking. I know PIF.

I honestly dont know what they wanted but this is what I did with them.

Re: What do CCC look for on card usage?

haulingthescoreup — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 01:16:37 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

What do CCC look for in card usage? Do you push big dollars through or just 10% of CL? Any thoughts? Assuming you are PIF each month

Hi, mogo, welcome to the forums!

It differs a lot by the card issuer. American Express likes lots of activity, but they want you to PIF (pay in full) every month, even on its "revolvers" (credit cards like Blue and Clear), even though they don't really tell you this. Some are more likely to give you a CLI (credit limit increase) if you don't PIF, so that they can get some interest income out of you. I found that Citi doesn't mind PIF'ing, but they want to see lots of activity, as in well over 50% of the current credit limit, before they give you a CLI. My USAA cards seem pretty content with kinda low usage, because I have a great history with them, and I try to be a VERY low-maintenance customer.

CCC (credit card companies) make money off of you every time you use the card, so don't believe it when someone says, oh, they'll dump you if you don't carry a balance. This is true of some of the bottom-feeders, but many CCC's are perfectly happy as long as you use their cards a lot. I don't pay cash for anything any more. It's pretty pathetic when you put $1.51 on a credit card for a large Diet Coke at the McDonald's drive-through!

So be wary when someone says "CC's want you to do this..." Do searches here on the forum for particular CC's and see what people say about them. It's really, really variable!

Re: What do CCC look for on card usage?

Anonymous — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 02:15:37 GMT

haulingthescoreup wrote:
It's pretty pathetic when you put $1.51 on a credit card for a large Diet Coke at the McDonald's drive-through!

Not when you can make at least $0.0151 in rewards!

Re: What do CCC look for on card usage?

Anonymous — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 06:24:22 GMT

krystofur wrote:

haulingthescoreup wrote:
It's pretty pathetic when you put $1.51 on a credit card for a large Diet Coke at the McDonald's drive-through!

Not when you can make at least $0.0151 in rewards!

My cash back rewards always round to the nearest penny. That's a full $0.02 right there!

Re: What do CCC look for on card usage?

Anonymous — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 16:40:53 GMT

krystofur wrote:

haulingthescoreup wrote:
It's pretty pathetic when you put $1.51 on a credit card for a large Diet Coke at the McDonald's drive-through!

Not when you can make at least $0.0151 in rewards!

Remember krystofur, with the Chase Freedom Card, you can possibly earn $0.0453 in rewards on this purchase, since McDonald's is considered a "quick service payment/fast food restaurant."

Re: What do CCC look for on card usage?

Anonymous — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:41:32 GMT

psychic wrote:

krystofur wrote:

haulingthescoreup wrote:
It's pretty pathetic when you put $1.51 on a credit card for a large Diet Coke at the McDonald's drive-through!

Not when you can make at least $0.0151 in rewards!

Remember krystofur, with the Chase Freedom Card, you can possibly earn $0.0453 in rewards on this purchase, since McDonald's is considered a "quick service payment/fast food restaurant."

Lets not get greedy!

Re: What do CCC look for on card usage?

haulingthescoreup — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:48:15 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@haulingthescoreup wrote:

It's pretty pathetic when you put $1.51 on a credit card for a large Diet Coke at the McDonald's drive-through!
Not when you can make at least $0.0151 in rewards!
Remember krystofur, with the Chase Freedom Card, you can possibly earn $0.0453 in rewards on this purchase, since McDonald's is considered a "quick service payment/fast food restaurant."
Lets not get greedy!

Hmmmm, maybe instead of cash back, we should think about using a points card for my drive-throughs. How many miles on Delta do you think that large Diet Coke would get me? About 4 feet into the jetway, I'm thinking...

Anyway, OP, sorry, we've threadjacked again.

But as you can see, it's awfully variable what different companies want. If it's one of the better companies, you might even call customer service and ask them what they like to see. That's where I learned about Citi's requirements for a CLI. And keep reading here, especially when you see a discussion going about a specific card that you're interested in. HTH

Re: What do CCC look for on card usage?

fused — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:01:33 GMT

This just my experiences and opinions with these CCCs:

Amex: charge, charge and charge more, then PIF or make LARGE payments = CLIs w/o hard inqs, offers for better cards and if you behave no FR

Chase: use a lot and revolve balances = CLIs (sometimes auto CLIs)

FIA/BoA: use a lot, make big payments, revolve balances = CLIs w/o hard inqs

CITI: no clue yet, I gave up on them

Discover: not sure yet