@SomeGuyNamedFred wrote:*Update*
I started a new job with an increased salary of ~70k, so decided to go for the Freedom after all.
I went into a branch and was insta-approved for a $500 limit, and the worst APR. While I'm happy to have the card, I'm a bit disappointed at the low limit, but the lady who put it through suggested I come back a couple days later when she could call a number and probably get my limit increased due to my income. I asked, and she said it wouldn't be another hard pull (which turned out to be false).
I went in a couple days later for the cli request, where again I was told it wouldn't be a hard pull. I asked the lady on the phone for a 5k limit, maybe a little too ambitious but thought they would at least give a counter offer (nope). Insta-denied, and was told I'd get a letter in the mail with an explanation for the rejection.
The rejection letter said I have too many active accounts and too much available credit (what the heck? this is my first card). I called the number in the letter, and spoke with someone from the lending department. I explained why I had requested the increase, and that I didn't understand their reason for the rejection given that this is my first cc and it has the lowest limit available. She came back and said the real reason for the rejection is because of my absent revolving credit history and that they'd like to see 4-6 months of payment history before considering an increase. She suggested I request another cli then (through customer service).
So now I have 2 inquiries and an awesome card that I can't use that much and have to pay off at least once a week. It's bitter-sweet. My plan is to just make do for the next 6 months, and build up my history, and then app for an Amex (BCE or Costco). Still not sure I made the right choice of not starting with Cap 1 which probably would have given me a higher limit. It will depend on whether Chase does an auto-cli and for how much. The lending agent said it is not general policy for chase to do auto- cli
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CONGRATS on your freedom approval, sorry to hear about the low CL.
Anytime you request a CLI you have to assume it will be a HP regardless of what the CSR says. I think you should wait 1 year before asking again, you may see auto luv inbetween. I did 6 months into having the card.
Congrats on your approval. Hopefully in 6 mos you will get a nice bump.
Congrats on the approval!!! Having the first card is critical, no matter what the credit limit is!
@SomeGuyNamedFred wrote:
The rejection letter said I have too many active accounts and too much available credit (what the heck? this is my first card). I called the number in the letter, and spoke with someone from the lending department. I explained why I had requested the increase, and that I didn't understand their reason for the rejection given that this is my first cc and it has the lowest limit available. She came back and said the real reason for the rejection is because of my absent revolving credit history and that they'd like to see 4-6 months of payment history before considering an increase.
This is laughable, but quite classic for Chase. I had a very similar experience with their recon department...
My suggestion is that you should apply for a second credit card some time in the next few months, while running transactions through the Freedom. When you get a card with a remarkably higher CL, Chase will either give you an auto CLI to match, or see your spending on the card decline and eventually give you a CLI anyway 
