Amex "Check Pending Ability" button

[Anonymous]

I just clicked the 'check spending ability' button for Amex Costco and put in 6K which is 2K above the CL.  It got approved.  Is this a CLI?  Or just one time authorization?

[Anonymous]

No cli, just an authorization. Dont play with the 'free fr button' unless you need to. It gives you free fr's if messed with enough.

[Anonymous]

Your spending ability is based on payment history with Amex, it's not a CLI. CLI is based on payment history + credit check.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

No cli, just an authorization. Dont play with the 'free fr button' unless you need to. It gives you free fr's if messed with enough.

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I assume fr mean financial review.  Is that bad?  I won't mess with the button again.

[Anonymous]

I wonder how I should ask for a CLI w/o hard pull or perhaps they will give me an auto CLI.  I started running everything through the card for the cash back reward and I'm having to make mid cycle payments just to avoid going over the limit.

[Anonymous]

Fr does mean financial review, yes. Its not bad if you dont mind sharing your last 2 years tax returns, bank statements, and not having use of Amex cards for a week.

After 60 days of opening an account you can request a cli. If denied, many on here say its a soft pull. 

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I wonder how I should ask for a CLI w/o hard pull or perhaps they will give me an auto CLI.  I started running everything through the card for the cash back reward and I'm having to make mid cycle payments just to avoid going over the limit.

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CLIs are always a soft credit check with Amex. I think you can request the first CLI at 61 days and then every 6 months thereafter. You can request a CLI through the link on your online account.

[pizzadude]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

I wonder how I should ask for a CLI w/o hard pull or perhaps they will give me an auto CLI.  I started running everything through the card for the cash back reward and I'm having to make mid cycle payments just to avoid going over the limit.

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CLIs are always a soft credit check with Amex. I think you can request the first CLI at 61 days and then every 6 months thereafter. You can request a CLI through the link on your online account.

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+1.   CLIs are soft pulls, and you can request as early as 60 days.   The Check Spending Ability button was created for charge cardmembers to be able to run a test charge when they anticipate a larger purchase amount than they have previously made.    As long as you use it for that purpose you there shouldn't be any issues.