What would you do? Amex limit xfer and CLI

[Anonymous]

Hope some of you Amex aficionados could give a little input on this. (I've been through the 3x CLI guide)

BCE - opened 5/17 w/ $1k SL; 2x CLI's on 2/19 and 9/19; now at $4k.

Delta Plat - opened 3/20 w/ $2k SL.

My next 3x CLI opportunity for the BCE is tomorrow, the 23rd. It's only had about $2k put through it over the past 6 months as I was working on other SUB's (and I've been more points focused rather than cash back). They've only ever given me 2x on it.

Does it make sense to try for the CLI tomorrow, as it's the higher limit card, or wait until my 61 days on the Delta, in hopes the higher SUB spend (and PIF) would trigger a 3x?

Yes, a BCE 2x or a Delta 3x would result in the same overall exposure with Amex. I don't have a lot of confidence in a BCE 3x due to only getting a $2k SL on Delta this past week (but an approval is an approval!).

Or possibly moving some BCE limit to the Delta and then waiting for the 61 day mark?

Not sure if this would have any bearing on things at this point, but it may explain Amex's hesitance with my CL's  --- First Amex was a basic Blue back in 2002. Layoff in 2003 resulted in Amex closing the account in 2004. Don't remember the exact scenario (no BK), only that the account was closed and I did pay them everything, about $1500. Didn't try for another card from them until the BCE in 2015 which was for BT purposes and I didn't take the SUB. Kept a balance on it a little longer than I wanted to and Amex made some money. About this time last year, Amex raised my rate about 4 points, claiming my EX wasn't in line with others with the same rate. Found it slightly humorous as my score at that time was about 80 points higher than when I got the card, and it's about another 50 points higher now. How long is Amex's memory, really?

So back to the CLI/limit transfer options, any advice?

[seattletravels]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Hope some of you Amex aficionados could give a little input on this. (I've been through the 3x CLI guide)

BCE - opened 5/17 w/ $1k SL; 2x CLI's on 2/19 and 9/19; now at $4k.

Delta Plat - opened 3/20 w/ $2k SL.

My next 3x CLI opportunity for the BCE is tomorrow, the 23rd. It's only had about $2k put through it over the past 6 months as I was working on other SUB's (and I've been more points focused rather than cash back). They've only ever given me 2x on it.

Does it make sense to try for the CLI tomorrow, as it's the higher limit card, or wait until my 61 days on the Delta, in hopes the higher SUB spend (and PIF) would trigger a 3x?

Yes, a BCE 2x or a Delta 3x would result in the same overall exposure with Amex. I don't have a lot of confidence in a BCE 3x due to only getting a $2k SL on Delta this past week (but an approval is an approval!).

Or possibly moving some BCE limit to the Delta and then waiting for the 61 day mark?

Not sure if this would have any bearing on things at this point, but it may explain Amex's hesitance with my CL's  --- First Amex was a basic Blue back in 2002. Layoff in 2003 resulted in Amex closing the account in 2004. Don't remember the exact scenario (no BK), only that the account was closed and I did pay them everything, about $1500. Didn't try for another card from them until the BCE in 2015 which was for BT purposes and I didn't take the SUB. Kept a balance on it a little longer than I wanted to and Amex made some money. About this time last year, Amex raised my rate about 4 points, claiming my EX wasn't in line with others with the same rate. Found it slightly humorous as my score at that time was about 80 points higher than when I got the card, and it's about another 50 points higher now. How long is Amex's memory, really?

So back to the CLI/limit transfer options, any advice?

---

Go for the 3x on BCE. They'll counter if they dont want to give you that and you're eligible for an increase. 

[pinkandgrey]

I personally would go for the 3x on the BCE. But you should probably just decide which card you want to use more, and try to CLI that one. 

[Anonymous]

3 x 4k = 12k; 2 x 4k = 8k; 12k > 8k

3 x 2k =   6k; 2 x 2k = 4k;   6k > 4k

Looks clear-cut to me.

Even if a bigger ask nets a 2x versus a lesser ask nets a 3x -- 8k > 6K.

So get the greater CLI now, worrly about allocating it later. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Went for the 3x on the BCE. Got the 7-10 day message. Dang they're stubborn.

Figure they used the same EX 763 as they did for the Delta (currently 769); $102k income, 3% util across all cards.

[Anonymous]

hopefully you get the good news soon.

keep us updated.

good luck

[elixerin]

yeah thats nuts, i just got my 3x from 4k as well too at 700 EXP and 1% UTI in Jan.. 

Prob just a verification issue 

[Anonymous]

---

@elixerin wrote:

yeah thats nuts, i just got my 3x from 4k as well too at 700 EXP and 1% UTI in Jan.. 

Prob just a verification issue 

---

Here's to hoping! But there's quite a few DP's that say the 7-10 day ends up with a denial. At least I got it out of the way and my 91 days starts now instead of waiting 91 from the 61 day mark on the Delta. Just have to wait and see what they say.

[Anonymous]

So I got the denial letter for the BCE CLI and figure I must have slipped over to the Twilight Zone somewhere along the way.

---- The following key factors contributed to our evaluation:

--The average of your payments in relation to the balance on your American Express account(s); The balance on my BCE was $0 and has been PIF before statement cut.  Delta had a $551 balance, but had just gotten it the week before and started SUB spend. 1st statement hasn't cut yet.

--The amount currently outstanding on your American Express account(s) is too high relative to the income you provided on your application; Again, see above. $102k income. 

I do have a small PL with them, about $4k which is set on auto pay from an account I don't touch otherwise. Even with that I have a hard time understanding how my numbers are an issue for them. I know several other people who are in less ideal positions that have no problem at least getting a CL of over $10k with Amex. The $102k income is just mine and doesn't include DW, even though we joint file. Maybe I should have included the combined number on the app.

They did use the updated (at the time) EX 769. Now at 772.

Sooooo....any suggestions how to maximize the chance of something happening at the 91 day mark? The Delta will be getting all the spend til then and I'll just make multiple payments when needed.

[elixerin]

Dang, Sorry this happened to you. Let me bite,

I don't think AMEX has an issue with your profile (cause it looks good), but moreso formed a hesitancy based off your current relationship with them.. Spend, Payment patterns, and any Credit Behavior with them is all being analyzed and considered. The recent 2K approval hints a less favorable recent history with them (not sure as to why since your EXP is excellent, Maybe its the PL coupled with your current BCE patterns? who knows).. the spend and scores are otherwise rather sufficient for a 3x from 4k.

Personally i would have played the relation game with them for a couple months before an expected CLI or App (Spend often, pay often, repeat often)<--PIF and reporting scores are imp. for a scope in my 60 days from November to Jan i mainly used their card and cycled the limit a quite a bit (fully ignored minimum payments, statement balances, 0 intro apr, killed the $500 cash back bonus, and only let low balances report), i got pre approvals for all the other cards in the end of dec-jan(ish) and had my eye on the Platinum BUT purposely waited for my 3x on Jan 8 THEN was immediately approved for Platinum right after. Heck, not sure it even played a "part" in either decisions but just to be safe.. i for one think all these little things add up and are examined when going for applications or increases with AMEX, the PL most likely has a play as well somewhere in there..

AMEX is definitely a relationship over credit score type of company but even so they still SP Experian regularly for everyone to make sure your not drowning everywhere else

Anywho, a lot can be achieved in 90 days.. Best wishes, i'll be looking forward to seeing the 3x in approvals in 91!