Why no amex CLI?

[Anonymous]

I envy all of you who get your regularly-scheduled 3x CLI every time you ask, and if not 3x, then at least *something*.

I have exactly ONE personal AMEX - The Bonvoy Brilliant.  I've had it since Feb 2019.    It has a $3100 credit line.  

NO AMOUNT of CLI requests seem to get through. Always the 7-10 day message

I have a Platinum Business - I can (and have) spend 80k on it before they even make a phone call.  I have a Gold Business - I can spend 25k on it before they blink.  (Yes, both NPSL, I get it, its different, and business credit), but no amount of requests seem to budge that 3100 - which is irritating because 1) a long stay at a marriott (like a vacation) might eat that and 2) I __HAVE__ to pre-pay it, because just about any hotel stay is going to push it up %-wise to where it will affect my score - at least a bit.  

So Meh.  Drives me nuts. And yes, all the business cards are under "my" profile, so even though they're business credit, they're still in with my amex relationship.  Supposedly Amex thinks about such things together.  Sort of.

To make matters worse (or, more confusing) - They just approved me for a new Bonvoy Business card in one of my newer companies.  $10,000 SL, SLIGHTLY LESS THAN HALF of the estimated revenue from that LLC this year.  And yes, I *TOLD* them the expected revenue - $25K - and they granted me a 10k SL.

I don't get it. 

And yes - I did travel during the pandemic and use the card.  It wasn't just an overly expensive grocery card.

EX8-786

Inq 2/12 3/24

AAoA 3yr 4 months

1 Bad from 2017 - Paid collection

[FishingGuy]

I think that's odd.....   I'm curious,   Instead of just requesting a CLI on line, have you

1> called them and requested an increase on your current card  ?   .... or

2> have you tried applying for another personal Amex card, perhaps they'll issue you one with a much higher line?

[jcooks]

What's the reason for denial of CLIs?

[AlanGJP]

My feeling is a lot more cards bucket than previously imagined. My first Amex was a $1k Delta Gold. It's still at $1k and I'm always denied a CLI. That said, I apped for a Business Gold and was approved with a $10k POT limit. (I push 8-12k/mo through it and never carry a balance) Same deal with my initial Discover. Took almost a year to get any CLI, then when it started happening - went from $1k to $2.5k. When it hit $2.5k denial after denial once again. So, out of frustration I apped for a second and was approved for a Miles card with a $10k SL. I'm still getting denied for CLI on that first card. And don't get me started on Capital One...

I imagine my Delta will never grow like my other cards and I will eventually close it. I can't speak for you as I don't know what your profile looked like when you were approved, but depending what your SL was, I'd consider if that's not the case.

Of course these are my data points and I can't speak for yours.

[FinStar]

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@jcooks wrote:

What's the reason for denial of CLIs?

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I'm curious as well. 

@Anonymous- can you elaborate?  You're citing the things you've tried and other AmEx CCs under your business(es), but what reason(s) are they citing every time you receive the 7-10 message.

[Anonymous]

Sorry folks. I checked this for a few days and didn't see any replies and got busy. Thanks Finstar for the mention. 

every time they simply list whatever reason codes are on my fico, which is currently short credit hisry, consumer finance, and short revolving history. With a 786 EXP8

They also mention the balances on my other Amex cards - included "high balances on Amex cards" - same balances I always keep and pif (remember - all NPSL, all business cards)

this time I'll give it to them - they used a score from the previous month even though my score in the amex app had updated. The score they used included a high balance showing on THATmonth old score, so hey this time (shrug) I guess it's legit.

I don't understand why they weren't using the score they displayed to me. Does it take them a few days to pull that into their system?

I also don't understand why they approve me for a new card with all of that. You'd think it was one or the other. 🤷‍♂️

[DONZI]

These are peculiar times..

Maybe an online chat or telephone call with amex?

[FinStar]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Sorry folks. I checked this for a few days and didn't see any replies and got busy. Thanks Finstar for the mention. 

every time they simply list whatever reason codes are on my fico, which is currently short credit hisry, consumer finance, and short revolving history. With a 786 EXP8

They also mention the balances on my other Amex cards - included "high balances on Amex cards" - same balances I always keep and pif (remember - all NPSL, all business cards)

this time I'll give it to them - they used a score from the previous month even though my score in the amex app had updated. The score they used included a high balance showing on THATmonth old score, so hey this time (shrug) I guess it's legit.

I don't understand why they weren't using the score they displayed to me. Does it take them a few days to pull that into their system?

I also don't understand why they approve me for a new card with all of that. You'd think it was one or the other. 🤷‍♂️

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There appears to be something that AmEx might be factoring differently (algorithm-wise) on your business accounts than your personal revolving account/profile.  Obviously, none of us are privy to know what they're evaluating internally, but at least the NPSL features work fine for both your Gold and Platinum business cards.

On the upside, at least your new Bonvoy business card should be more manageable and flexible without having to pre-pay any charges.  

As far as the timing, yes the scores they provide online vs what is typically used in some lending decisions typically lag, that's why you'll see a disconnect between the current score displayed online vs an older one used in a CLI or new approval decision.  

Obviously, nothing that can be done as far as the reporting of the Consumer Finance Account until it falls off, but the other items they addressed can be managed so that you can optimize things for the next CLI opportunity.  Too bad you can't reallocate CLs between biz and personal, otherwise that could be an option.  Try a CLI on your new card in about 61+ days and see if that yields anything.