Way back in the 80s, when I first had credit -- and still had good credit -- I was declined for credit because I had "too much unsecured credit." Or something like that. I guess maybe my total CLs weren't substantiated by my annual income, is my guess. Or maybe it was my DTI at the time.
So, now that I'm rebuilding, I'm trying to be cautious and strategic. I have stayed away from store cards, which I had a ton of before, except for Walmart (for the FICO, mostly). And I've worked to get CLIs w/my bank CCs. So, now I'm wondering when to stop asking for CLIs. Or if I need to be a little more strategic about which ones to CLI.
I was doing CLIs on Walmart and Old Navy every 4 mos, like clockwork. My ON was upgraded to a Visa $4k on my 1 yr anniv. Walmart is @ $2k for the store card. I'm not using the ON Visa because the rewards just aren't there for me, and I'm having enough of a challenge juggling the cards I'm using. I know I should use it for something before GE closes it on me. Though, really, I'm not sure that would be all bad, since I'm not using the card anyway. I'd rather have that $4k as a CLI on another card.
So, I'm kind of at a standstill w/my 2 GE cards and don't know what I should do. I read a post today with a ginormous Walmart CL. But even if I CLI'd my way there, what would be the point? I rarely shop there. Again, I'd rather have the CL going to a card I use. I almost tried for a Walmart CLi online today, but I'm afraid if my CLs get too high with cards I don't really use, then the other cards I DO use won't CLI me, because my total CLs will already be too high, from the cards I rarely use. I hope that makes sense! 
How do we determine if and when to stop asking for CLIs on certain cards? Can you have *too much* avail credit/total CLs?
I'd really appreciate hearing others' thoughts on this. 
bichonmom ..... I see where you are coming from. I remember when I first started getting credit cards in the 90's, you could have to much credit. I was always told that. The creditors counted every bit of the credit limit you had against you because you could use it at anytime. Now it looks like it's different and it confuses me at times. I too see people with really high limits on store cards and wonder why they would want a 10,000 credit line at walmart or where ever. I know utility plays a big part of it but I am trying to get it all sorted out in my mind too. 
I think a lot of it comes down to personal habits. If you are disciplined enough, then your total available credit line isn't probably a dig deal to you. For someone that has problems with self control, even a single $5000 CL can get one into mounds of trouble.
@madmann26 wrote:I think a lot of it comes down to personal habits. If you are disciplined enough, then your total available credit line isn't probably a dig deal to you. For someone that has problems with self control, even a single $5000 CL can get one into mounds of trouble.
+1 to This! I am one of the ones that got a credit limit increase to $9,500 on my Walmart card. I also have a $20,000 Visa. My utilization is at 2%. This type of a situation is one where your particular situation is unique to YOU. Only you can control your finances. If someone doesn't want a high limit on a store card, they shouldn't try to get one. Period. If someone does, then it is entirely up to them. The bottom line remains, like madmann26 said, you have to use what you have responsibly. It is when you don't use what you have responsibly that you get into trouble. That is one fact that is a constant to everyone. I never try to judge what someone else may or may not be doing based on my own situation or what I would or wouldn't do or what I do or don't understand. That doesn't work, and frankly, it isn't right. What works for one person may or may not work for another, but never base your life on what someone else does or doesn't do, or what works or doesn't work for someone else. Most people have a hard enough time worrying about their own business to be worried about someone else's! Additionally, if the Banks start to think that I have too much available credit, THEY will let me know. So far, they don't seem to think so! Until that time happens, if I can get CLI's, that's what I'm gonna do! 
