AmEx success story

[CF_Frost]

I got my first AmEx with about eight months of credit history in March of 2013.  My file was thin, with a bank issued secured card and a new discover, and only about $38K of income.  Thankfully they approved me for $1K.  Honestly, the $1K at the time felt enormous next to my $500 secured limit and $750 Discover It limit.  

Fast forward less than two years, and thanks to their generous credit limit policies and the wealth of knowledge on this website, I received a CLI from them to $25K.  Income is about the same at $40K (which I thought would be my achillies heel this request) and my score has gone from the 717 they originally pulled to about a 775.  Thanks to whoever put the definitive Amex 3x guide together, because it is quite the resource.  

CLIs were as follows

$1K

$3K

$9K

$16.1K

$25K

[NRB525]

Congratulations! Yes, getting even a $1k limit with AMEX is a good way to start.

Which AMEX card do you have?

Was the $16,100 limit a result of a counteroffer, or you picked that out of the air when requesting?

[sorachepa]

great story.. glad it worked so perfectly for you.

i never had the same luck with my Delta Skymiles card.. got denied for CLI once.. had a CLD from 9.5K to 4.5K (UTIL % hit 55% due to miscalculation on my part.. doing BTs between cards).. after 2 months when the UTIL came back to 27%, they increased the limit back to 9.5K and after 3 more months, they did autoCLI to 12.5K ( i didn't even request anything)

[CF_Frost]

The $16.1K was their counteroffer.  I got a CSP the month before, so the inquiry might have spooked them.  

The card is a BCE.  I showed 0% util for about the first year and then would let a small balance report but PIF the following months.  I didn't spend a whole lot on the card, maybe $1K monthly at the peak, and only about $2-$300 since I got my CSP.  I set the minimum payment to autodraft after my CLI six months ago, but I doubt that had much to do with anything.  I can't think of anything specific I've done on the card.  I've seen where some people will try to spend at places AmEx wants to see and avoid places like liquor stores and such, but I haven't paid much attention to that sort of thing.  Just paid them like I should, kept my hard pulls low, and tried to garden my other cards as best as possible.  The only other card I really had any gardening success with was my Discover that bumped me from $750 to $3k over time, but they have been very stigny with me.  Got declined for a $2K CLI a few months ago.  Speaking of that, I might try to get a soft pull CLI from them right now.  My CSP is still my favorite and most used card, but I do love AmEx.

The rest of my profile is a CSP $10K and Freedom $3K.  I cancelled my secured bank issued card about nine months ago due to the annual fee.

[CF_Frost]

Perhaps this thread would better be served for the approvals forum, but Discover finally approved my $2K CLI request.  A solid day of gardening. 

[NRB525]

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@CF_Frost wrote:

Perhaps this thread would better be served for the approvals forum, but Discover finally approved my $2K CLI request.  A solid day of gardening. 

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Congratulations on that!

What is the timing of the Discover CLI you've gotten? How much do you use the Discover for daily charges?

[CF_Frost]

@NRB525 Discover has been a tough nut for me to crack.  I have requested CLIs with no balance and a small balance, after the statement cuts and mid cycle, and have had mixed results.  I think they like heavy use and perhaps carrying a balance, neither of which I have provided them.  I believe I went from $750 to $1000 to $1200 from auto CLIs and then from $1200 to $2K from the luv button, and then to $3K and now $5K via the same method.  I've tried calling and online and the results have been consistently inconsistent.  Slow and steady seems to be the way I'll have to get where I want with them, as I can't really justify spending much outside their 5% categories with most of my spending coming from the categories my other cards cover.  I think what might have held me back with them is that I made a couple transactions that constituted as cash advances and they got a little spooked on me early.

I think this is probably meaningless, but I try to use the AmEx equivalent of Discover Deals as much as possible.  I doubt it has any impact whatsoever, but perhaps I should pay more attention to Discover's promos.  

[Anonymous]

Congratulations for your multiple CLI's throughout time with Amex! Continue Success in The World of Credit Cards!

[NRB525]

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@CF_Frost wrote:

@NRB525 Discover has been a tough nut for me to crack.  I have requested CLIs with no balance and a small balance, after the statement cuts and mid cycle, and have had mixed results.  I think they like heavy use and perhaps carrying a balance, neither of which I have provided them.  I believe I went from $750 to $1000 to $1200 from auto CLIs and then from $1200 to $2K from the luv button, and then to $3K and now $5K via the same method.  I've tried calling and online and the results have been consistently inconsistent.  Slow and steady seems to be the way I'll have to get where I want with them, as I can't really justify spending much outside their 5% categories with most of my spending coming from the categories my other cards cover.  I think what might have held me back with them is that I made a couple transactions that constituted as cash advances and they got a little spooked on me early.

I think this is probably meaningless, but I try to use the AmEx equivalent of Discover Deals as much as possible.  I doubt it has any impact whatsoever, but perhaps I should pay more attention to Discover's promos.  

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I hope so, because I maxed that puppy out with BT 0% offers, am paying it down, and ran new charges as well, during another offer. My card has so much usage these past several months, I can't keep it in the sockdrawer, it's a fire hazard.

Time will tell for me.

[taxi818]

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@NRB525 wrote:

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@CF_Frost wrote:

@NRB525 Discover has been a tough nut for me to crack.  I have requested CLIs with no balance and a small balance, after the statement cuts and mid cycle, and have had mixed results.  I think they like heavy use and perhaps carrying a balance, neither of which I have provided them.  I believe I went from $750 to $1000 to $1200 from auto CLIs and then from $1200 to $2K from the luv button, and then to $3K and now $5K via the same method.  I've tried calling and online and the results have been consistently inconsistent.  Slow and steady seems to be the way I'll have to get where I want with them, as I can't really justify spending much outside their 5% categories with most of my spending coming from the categories my other cards cover.  I think what might have held me back with them is that I made a couple transactions that constituted as cash advances and they got a little spooked on me early.

I think this is probably meaningless, but I try to use the AmEx equivalent of Discover Deals as much as possible.  I doubt it has any impact whatsoever, but perhaps I should pay more attention to Discover's promos.  

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I hope so, because I maxed that puppy out with BT 0% offers, am paying it down, and ran new charges as well, during another offer. My card has so much usage these past several months, I can't keep it in the sockdrawer, it's a fire hazard.

Time will tell for me.

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Then you are golden with Discover. they do luv heavy use. want to be your go to card. do would be my go to card. but online shopping and restaurants is not my thing. im glad they came back to the gas thing again. congrats op on your success with amex. that is nice. so you just stopped at 25k. they did not want tax returns? my next 3x should take me close to 25k. im at 10.5k now. but don't wan tissues