Advice on requesting AMEX CLI

[Anonymous]

---

fused wrote:

Here's what's strange. I charge between 8-10K a month on this card and have never been late, but my stated income with Amex is lower than what my charges total. Amex hasn't blinked an eye. You would think they would be asking questions. Of course they don't realize that 90% of these charges are for my employers travel expenses. It would seem Amex's #1 issue is payment history. Just food for thought.

---

I think they also look at what types of charges you're making,  If you're buying groceries and revolving on anything but a 0%...that spells trouble.

[haulingthescoreup]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

---

@Anonymous wrote:
I would wait until the balance is zero.. I did it before and they declined me basically saying they didn't like my payment history of leaving a balance. Then I payed it in full and got a 2500 increase 30 days later.

---

I thought credit card companies liked people keeping a balance so they can charge ridiculous APRs > 10% on them.

---

CCC's also make their money off of people like fused, who melt the numbers off the plastic every month, because they get transaction fees every time the card is used.

AmEx has obviously found that it can make buckets of money off of its traditional cardholders, even with their generous rewards programs. I don't do all the traveling etc that runs all these charges through every month, so if I ever do get an AmEx, it will probably be a revolver (credit card) instead.

[CreditFlow]

---

@fused wrote:

It would seem Amex's #1 issue is payment history. Just food for thought.

---

I couldn't agree more.. I got my foot in the door with Amex when every other credit card wouldn't give me more than a $500 CL. Started running up $600 - $1K a month and PIF, a year later I got a blue and offers for a platinum. I've had reps say that they look at your history when considering just about everything.. I guess the saying "the past predicts the future" holds true with these guys.

Message Edited by Cadillacz on 12-20-2007 02:36 PM

[fused]

---

Brammy wrote:

I think they also look at what types of charges you're making,  If you're buying groceries and revolving on anything but a 0%...that spells trouble.

---

Now this would be interesting to know. I think you could also include gas, utilities and more food. lol

[fused]

Back to the OP now. As long as anyone honestly states their income when they apped and they do not fear a FR,  I see no reason whatsoever not to ask for a CLI so long as they manage their credit and finances well. The worst thing Amex can do is say no, it's like they're going to punch you in the nose.

[kclb]

I love my AMEX. I've been swiping like there was no tomorrow. hahah. Oh gimme gimme that CLI when I ask for it later...

2k Initial, now $3k...goal $5-$10k in a year...hope so...

[Anonymous]

OP here...

I just came into some Christmas money this afternoon (I forgot about Christmas money!!) so it looks like I will be able to PIF after all... I think I will do that, give my other cards a few weeks to report smaller balances and then request CLI. Hopefully my EX score will not have taken a dive since today...

I just wanted to clarify that normally I do PIF, or at the least down to <10% but alot of Christmas presents went on the cards this year and I knew it was going to take me a cycle or two to pay them off. No major damage done

[Anonymous]

---

Brammy wrote:

---

fused wrote:

Here's what's strange. I charge between 8-10K a month on this card and have never been late, but my stated income with Amex is lower than what my charges total. Amex hasn't blinked an eye. You would think they would be asking questions. Of course they don't realize that 90% of these charges are for my employers travel expenses. It would seem Amex's #1 issue is payment history. Just food for thought.

---

I think they also look at what types of charges you're making,  If you're buying groceries and revolving on anything but a 0%...that spells trouble.

---

I think they look at EVERYTHING. They are really meticulous I think about they way they watch things...

[haulingthescoreup]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

OP here...

I just came into some Christmas money this afternoon (I forgot about Christmas money!!) so it looks like I will be able to PIF after all... I think I will do that, give my other cards a few weeks to report smaller balances and then request CLI. Hopefully my EX score will not have taken a dive since today...

I just wanted to clarify that normally I do PIF, or at the least down to <10% but alot of Christmas presents went on the cards this year and I knew it was going to take me a cycle or two to pay them off. No major damage done

---

Hooray for Christmas money!

Nice work on the just-in-case planning.