Brooks Brothers CLI Warning

[AI_JMV]

Last night I was checking my account to make sure there wasn't a balance, and I saw the request credit increase link.  I just wanted to see what they ask for and what the process was, and when I clicked it, I immediately got a screen saying "Thank you for your request, we will review your account and get back to you in 7 to 10 days".  I almost had a stroke.  I am going to be closing on my mortgage next week, and the last dang thing I need is a HP from a dumb store card I don't even want!!

I sent a secure message to them that I did not authorize a pull from my CR, and that I did not want an increase.  I was just researching the process.  I then called them this morning, and spoke to a CS agent that told me that my CR was not pulled, and that I would receive a letter.  So far, I have not gotten an inquiry alert, but I am on pins and needles.  I locked my reports, but I don't know if that will make a difference, since I already have a relationship with them, so typically that doesn't stop them from pulling.  Either way, it's a good warning to stop messing around with CLI links lol. 

Just in case you have this account, be warned, you have NO preview when clicking that link.. it is a straight request. :-/ I used to work for Citi... I should have known it would have been a sh***y experience (eyeroll). 

[CreditInspired]

Wow
Thanks for the warning OP. I don’t have a Brooks Brothers acct but it’s still good to know if there are other STORE cards that handle a CLI request that way.

FYI. When I’ve asked for a CLI on my Citi Costco and CitiDC, both asked for income and mortgage/rental amount plus had a stmt saying it would be a SP before I clicked on submit.

Hopefully yours is not a HP.

[CreditCuriosity]

Hopefully you dont get a HP, but would of just taken a quick write up to the lender if a HP happened to appear explaining it.  Obviously you want to avoid them, but not the end of the world unless it drops your score enough to change your rate or if really low disqualify you due to pushing you outside band.

[Anonymous]

Any time I ever requested a CLI with Citi it was a SP.  Even my last experience several weeks ago where I consolidated my Simplicity, closed it and moved most of the limit to my DC, a HP never showed up.

[AI_JMV]

Thanks.. so far, so good on not getting an alert.  But, man.. I am going to be sweating the next couple of days! Still can't believe they did that! 

[aircobra]

That's the same as my Best Buy Visa.

[Anonymous]

A locked or a frozen file should prevent HPs even from institutions you have relationships with, they can SP but not HP, or else it would not prevent identity thieves from opening new accounts with existing lenders. We did have one poster claiming HP got threw the frozen wall few weeks ago but the poster never came back to the thread to clarify, even if it did it's probably just an outlier.

[AI_JMV]

Thank you for the encouragement.  I am going to keep them locked for a few days.  I just need to unlock them for my mortgage company soon before we close.  What an annoyance. 

[OmarR]

---

@Anonymous wrote:
A locked or a frozen file should prevent HPs even from institutions you have relationships with, they can SP but not HP, or else it would not prevent identity thieves from opening new accounts with existing lenders. We did have one poster claiming HP got threw the frozen wall few weeks ago but the poster never came back to the thread to clarify, even if it did it's probably just an outlier.

---

This has always been my experience.

I have done CLI's many times and I have NEVER had a HP break through my frozen reports.

OP, you should be fine.