Amex 3x CLI theory, and success vs failure experiences

[Mister]

Hi I've been reading and learning about the Amex 3x CLI thing. Unfortunately, I only became aware of it right after I asked them for about a mere 38% increase; I apparently left 162% on the table! Only about 88 days left to go now...

My understanding so far is that so long as it has been at least 91 days since the last CLI was approved, or since the account was opened if it has no previous CLI's, then you ask for a new limit that is exactly 3x your existing limit, but so long as that number doesn't exceed 50% of the annual income you have on file with them in your profile. If 3x would exceed 50% of income, then I presume you request the amount that would take you up to 50% (or 49.9%?)

Is that all correct, and is there any more to it? Are any other CC providers known to work like this, or it's just them? Thanks.

Also, this surely can't work for everybody all of the time. Has anybody tried it within the above rules but either been counter-offered or even just plain rejected? Any great stories out there, such as has anybody gone from $1k SLI to $3k to $9k to $27 in nine months etc.?

[markbeiser]

There have been a lot of us that went from $1k to $27k in 9 months.
You can ask for more than 3x, but they will counter with 3x, assuming you are elligable.
You can ask for a CLI to >50% of your stated income, but in my personal experience, you likely will get a flat denial with no counter offer. Others have reported getting a counter offer contengent on a financial review.
Some have reported that asking for a CLI to more than $34k can trigger a financial review, but that was not the case for me.

[Anonymous]

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@markbeiser wrote:

Some have reported that asking for a CLI to more than $34k can trigger a financial review, but that was not the case for me.

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At least in the deep distant past, there was some confusion between an FR and a proof of income request.  I asked for a CLI that would take me above $25K and was surprised to be met with a POI request, which in those days (when $25K was REAL money!) required send/fax in a printed form (and they asked me to resend as part of it was blurry or something).   When I mentioned this in either this or a different forum, I basically got the response "Everyone knows that at $25K....." and then a little while conventional wisdom was at $35K.   But there have been many exceptions.

[Aim_High]

My AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant was perhaps my fastest growing card ever.

About six months from $15K SL to $75K.   

The data points are >here.<

So yes, YMMV, for better and for worse.  And there is no pre-defined credit limit where you'll be asked for income verification or financial review.  It just depends on profile and overall relationship. 

*My Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant credit limit currently sits at $65K since AMEX borrowed from it to approve my Hilton Surpass, which now holds a $10K limit. 

[NoMoreE46]

I went from a $10,000 SL to $30,000  in 6 months with no POI or a FR.    Dreaming that my 2nd CLI request would go to $90,000.   

Nope.   

Reported income (just under 6 figures) wont merit this.  CL is  now sitting at $32,600. 

[ElvisCaprice]

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@NoMoreE46 wrote:

I went from a $10,000 SL to $30,000  in 6 months with no POI or a FR.    Dreaming that my 2nd CLI request would go to $90,000.   

Nope.   

Reported income (just under 6 figures) wont merit this.  CL is  now sitting at $32,600. 

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Shocking, another DP where income has a bearing on CL.  

[Pppoolboy]

I had a gold card and a blue business cash (BBC) with Amex for ~2 years.  The BBC had a credit limit of $12,500 and the gold had a "pay over time" limit of $7000.

Then, about 16 months ago I opened a blue cash everyday (BCE).

Was given a $1000 limit.

Over the next year I requested 4 CLIs on that BCE, once every 3 or so months.

Was denied each time.

In that time, I opened a business platinum with a "pay over time" limit of $50,000.

After a little over a year of requesting CLIs on the BCE and being rejected each time, I lost interest in the card and closed it.

I don't like to have low-limit cards open on my profile for an extended period of time.  If they don't look like they're going to get increases, I dump 'em.

YMMV.