Discover CLI. Best method?

[Anonymous]

Just got my Discover IT Cashback card yesterday in the mail!

When is best time to request CLI?

People keep saying 90 days, but 90 days from what? From when I activate the card?

Also how should I use the card for Discover to like me lol? Minimal, heavy, pay in full, carry small balance? 

Some input would be appreciated! Thanks!

[Anonymous]

There are quite a few threads on this and after you sift through them you'll see that there's nothing conclusive when it comes to discover.

My suggestion would be to wait until after 3-4 statements to see if you get an auto CLI. Many do around this time. If you don't get one within a week or so of your 4th statement, request one yourself.

As for spend, just use the card naturally. PIF every month. You can PIF and still let a balance report. Heavier spend in general is indicative of needing a larger credit line, but definitely don't spend money on anything you wouldnt pay cash for; don't make purchases just because you want to increase spend.

After 4 cycles, you'll have to see how discover reacts to your CLI requests based on your usage. Some report the most success with larger spends, where others say their best results came with smaller spends. I've seen favorable and unfavorable results on my discover account both ways, further punctuating the point that there's little consistency when it comes to discover.

[Anonymous]

use it heavy for 4 months, pay in full and then barely use it for the next 2 months. you will most likely get a fat CLI when you request one

[masscredit]

I was approved for my Discover card Jan 31st. I gave it normal use ($1K-$2K per month) and either PIF before the statements closed or let the balances report then PIF before the due date. I requested a CLI after 3 months. They gave me an extra $500.  It's been 2 months since I did that. I'm going to try again after my next statement closes in a few days. 

[Anonymous]

Your spending on the card should be based on maximizing rewards in conjunction with your other cards, you got the card for IT's 5% category and 1st year cashback so spend on the quarterly categories (10%) and general spending (2%) that does not fall into categories with your other cards. Don't sacrifice rewards trying to trigger CLIs especially with Discover, trying to figure out a pattern with Discover is an exercise in futility.

[Anonymous]

Exactly right above.  Never leave rewards on the table due to CLI-chasing.

[Anonymous]

+1 to both of the above. I didn't take advantage of 5% cash back with my older Discover IT as actively as I should have, but I'm not making that mistake again - I worked my new Discover hard on groceries in April-June, and I'm using it at least once every week for restaurant spend in July-September. Same for October-December when Amazon CB becomes available. I do plan to check for CLI availability each month after the statement cuts (will do so this Saturday, in fact, when my available cash is at its highest for the month) but I'm not going to sweat it, the rewards from spend in the appropriate categories come first.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Your spending on the card should be based on maximizing rewards in conjunction with your other cards, you got the card for IT's 5% category and 1st year cashback so spend on the quarterly categories (10%) and general spending (2%) that does not fall into categories with your other cards. Don't sacrifice rewards trying to trigger CLIs especially with Discover, trying to figure out a pattern with Discover is an exercise in futility.

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The best advice anyone could give... CLI's are good but the real reason you have cards is for using their benefits, not to tell people about how much you have to use. Trying to get CLI's is good to good to build a profile, but the only aim of trying to get CLI's leaving everything else down the drain is foolishness which unfortunately a lot of people are after.

[Shooting-For-800]

They gave me 3 CLIs totalling $8,500 within 9 months.

I would check every week 7 days after your statement hits.

My last CLI was $4,000 and I had a $5,000 balance (0%).

I have charged about $12,000 so far in 9 months and paid off about $7,000.

I have not cashed out any of my reward money if it matters.

GL!

[masscredit]

My CL is climbing $500.00 at a time.  I first requested a CLI after my third statement.  My limit went from $6K to $6500.  I recently requested another CLI. That was two statements after the last increase. I received another $500.00 to bring it to $7K.  Each time I receive a 2 day notice then I sign in a few days later to see if my limit increased.