The Definitive Amex 3X CLI Guide

[Anonymous]

If it's a CC I don't think there's any rule stating that you need to wait a certain amount of time.  Members have reported getting 2 Amex card approvals in close proximity using the same HP.  I think the rule is different though with their charge cards, where you must wait 30 days after getting one to apply for another.

[Ivylicious1908]

Thanks @Anonymous ! I am not sure which card I am eyeing yet. My SL with BCE was 2000.00 and I hit the love button last month and got approved 3X to 6000.00. All my scores are 750's and I want a higher limit for traveling reasons.

[Anonymous]

Sweet, nice 3X CLI.  You should be able to grow that card nicely.  Don't be shy in going for $18k the next time you request! 

[MansaMusa]

The consensus is that CLI requests are softpulls, but this is not always the case. When I requested a CLI back in March I was approved, but AMEX did hard-pull me. I just requested a CLI from $33K to $38K and was instantly approved. Always happy for an increase but wish I would have tested the waters on the request.

[Anonymous]

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@MansaMusa wrote:

The consensus is that CLI requests are softpulls, but this is not always the case. When I requested a CLI back in March I was approved, but AMEX did hard-pull me.

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Did the language on the CLI page indicate SP or HP language?  If it was stated SP and you ended up with a HP, I would contest it with Amex.

[Anonymous]

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@coldfusion wrote:

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@raisemysc0re wrote:

I just got approved for the BCP at 15K the otther day.

What is the best strategy for getting the highest CLI at 61 days?

I plan on spending an average of 2-3K per month on this card for the first 6 months.

Is high spend more/less important with Amex?

What amount should my 61 day CLI ask be? 

DP's

EX Fico9 828

Fico8 scores all right around 800

Income 165K

DTI < 12%

UTI < 1%

Highest CL PenFed PCR 25K

AAoA 2.5 years

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High spend.

Let balance report. 

PIF.   While success with AMEX isn't predicated on being a transactor it's traditionally been the best path. 

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I've had Amex Plat since July. Average spend of $15k per month. High income salary. FICO 8 around 715 EQ. Thin file. Amex shows a 30 day late from 6.5 years ago. Zero delinquency since.

I haven't had a single pre-approval automated message when I check for cards. Is it because I pay off my card weekly before the balance is reported? I even called to see if the phone reps showed any prequalified offers. I have a large purchase coming up and a 0% APR card would be nice. 

While I'm posting, any recommendations on which Amex has the most generous starting limit? Is the "You're preapproved" message a pretty sure fire way of knowing if I'm going to get denied? 

[coldfusion]

I suspect more likely because your history with them includes a late payment, your file is thin, and you're only 5 months into your new spending cycle.   A FICO 8 score of 715 implies your profile is good enough to get approved but it also implies you don't have a perfectly clean file.

Just because you don't get a preapproval doesn't mean that odds are you'll get a denial.   Keep in mind that AMEX preapprovals do not guarantee a subsequent approval either.

My own experience with highest AMEX SL was my old SPG (now Bonvoy Brilliant) CC but I'm really not in a position to comment on which family of cards is typically the most generous with regards to SL.

Mentioning that SPG brings a tear to my eye, that was a great earner before Marriott acquired Starwood.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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While I'm posting, any recommendations on which Amex has the most generous starting limit? 

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I think SL is least important when it comes to Amex since you have potential for 3X CLIs.  Whether you start with a $3k limit or a $10k limit, the potential is there for it to be $27k-$35k in approximately 8 months time from account opening.  Obviously success with that growth is all profile-dependent, but a lower verses higher SL isn't a big deal at all with Amex IMO relative to other lenders where you have to wait longer for an increase and the increase potential is far less.

[KJinNC]

Key word, "potential." YMMV. Here is MM (my mileage):

$1,000 Delta Gold last August - note, this is believed to be the minimum CL for a card with this annual fee

$3,100 Hilton Aspire last August - note, this is believed to be the minimum CL for a card with this annual fee

$20,000 Delta Platinum this spring

$10,000 BCE this spring

I moved CLs around between cards, and eventually closed the Delta Gold card since the Delta Platinum is duplicative.

Numerous requests for CLI, all denied, until last week, when I got a CLI from $7,500 to $10,000.

So, in my case, I would say a card with a somewhat higher AF (Delta Platinum is $200) may get a higher CL. But maybe it was just about the sequence of applications, and I'd have gotten $20K on the BCE and $10K on the Delta Platinum if I applied for them in the opposite order. Also, see my signature; my profile is pretty weird, so what applies to me may not apply to anybody else; but in my case, Amex likes me fine for approving cards, but is super suspicious of me for CLIs.

[Anonymous]

I would say if you were approved for 2 cards at the minimum known SLs that for whatever reason your profile didn't sit all that great with Amex.  That being said, it would make sense why CLIs could be more difficult.  It does seem though that since you did ultimately get a higher SL on another tradeline that whatever it was finally went away or at least improved profile wise, yielding better results.  That could mean the potential for CLIs will increase too over time.