I started with a BOA secured card in 2008 with a limit of 1k.
I kept the card clean, charged very little and PIF every month. After 1 year I got my deposit back, and was unsecured with a 1500 CL.
After having that for about six months, I got an automatic approval to 2k. (around June 09) I continued to PIF every month, and make small charges, always staying under the 30% utilization. Meanwhile I had gotten an AMEX Premier rewards gold, back about a year and a half ago when they were pushing them real hard. I use it for everything, and have accumulated about 250K points.
So I decide about 45 days ago, to click the luv button at BOA website, and ask for a CLI, I was declined, but couldnt figure out why, My scores had been steadily climbing for the last two years, all the way from a 545 to a 712, I have 3 Charge offs, that I had already PIF BEFORE I found this site that were still on my report, but aside from that, the report was clean.
After talking to the CSR, she saw that my report was spotless, and that the denial was for the items that had occurred prior to me being a secured holder all the way back in 2005-2006. So she asked what I wanted my limit to be. I took a shot and said 10K, I figured WTH.
She came back and said, she could only do a 5K limit, and that although I PIF every month, I didnt show usage that would justify a 10K limit, her advice.. use the hell out of the card, even though I PIF every month, then they would see that I could handle it, and then come back and push the luv button again in 3-4 months. Since its a soft pull, It shouldnt ding my credit. Fair enough, makes sense to me right?
So last month, I buy airline tickets, go to Paris, charge about 5K on the card..(FYI, this wasnt reckless spending, it was a planned trip, that I had saved for, and was going to use my AMEX card to earn the points)
Anyhoo, I PIF soon as I got back from Paris, two weeks ago, before the statement cuts.
I wait for the statement to cut, and the very next day race to the website to try out the luv button, I figure WTH, soft pull, no harm no foul..why wait 4 months.
I got the denied message, call 1800xxxxxxx, so Im thinking, this sucks, Oh well, Im not gonna call, because she already told me not to try for the CLI until a few months right..
Well, the next morning, checking my online acct, as usual, nothing special, just daily ritual. It shows available credit 10K.. I did a double take, and then started to smile..
Apparently, I got the CLI without even calling, looks like someone saw the statement, and pushed a button.
I could have easily just said, I went from 1k secured to 10K unsecured in two years, but I figured someone would appreciate (as Paul Harvey used to say)......
.......The Rest Of the Story.....
Thanks for the help My Fico.
