I was checking my accounts making sure all my payments posted (they did) but when scrolling through my Citi cards I noticed something looked odd with my Double Cash... my limit was lowered from $17,200 to $15,140.
I looked around the dashboard and found the 'notices and letters' section, and sure enough, there is a letter from a few days ago titled, "WE'VE UPDATED YOUR CREDIT LIMIT" (in all caps, LOL). It is Citi's standard CLD for non-use letter:
Hi, UncleB. We frequently review cardmember accounts - a recent review of your Citi®
Double Cash Mastercard® account shows that a significant portion of your available
credit limit is not being used.
Based on your current credit limit usage, we've decided to lower your credit limit from
$17,200 to $15,140, of which $760 is available for cash advances.
If you'd like to request the reinstatement of your current credit limit, you can call us at the
number on the back of your card within the next 60 days. Please note that if you contact
us after 60 days, we will consider this as a new credit limit increase request.
For background, until around February this account had between $2k and $3k in use each month. Since then (roughly six months) it's only received minimal use, less than $100 some months down to $0 other months (especially after the nerf of the Rewards+ back in the summer).
There are no new baddies, no high utilization, no HPs, or other 'flags'... I believe the reason in the letter is genuine. My FICO Bankcard Score 8 as reported by Citi themselves is 885 (out of 900) so no worries there (I've been sitting on my hands for a while - no new accounts or HPs in over two years - thus the good Bankcard score). FICO 8 scores are all 850 across the board. My other three Citi cards are untouched.
I have to admit the CLD caught me slightly off-guard, but most surprising was the amount - I'm surprised they weren't more aggressive. In any case the account is just as usable to me as it was a few days ago. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
So, what's next? Good question... I've decided *not* to call and request the old limit to be reinstated. Why? Well, they're right; I'm really not using the card much these days, and I probably won't be. The old Citi Rewards+ made the Double Cash (very) marginally better than my other 2% options, but with that now gone there's no reason to use the DC over my several other 2% non-category options. This situation is making me consider calling in to see if I can simply PC the card to another Custom Cash (it would be #4) but I'm not sure if that's worth it (still thinking on this). At least then it would occasionally get some use, though. Another consideration is that I might be looking at the Citi AAdvantage MC next year, and having (slightly) lower exposure might be helpful.
Unrelated, I also got a CLD from Belk a few months ago - this one was expected (no use for over 18 months). The credit line went from $5K to $1024 (typical Synch CLD limit). I could likely get this bumped back up as well but I'm also leaving it alone, since (again) they're not wrong, and frankly I only keep it around for the age, anyway - it's 19 years old. Also I don't see any point in poking Synch for a CLI that I really don't even care about.
Hopefully someone will find these data points useful. 
great dps, but do consider taking the CLD as a chance to lower your limit to a full whole number 
15,000 just looks so much nicer on the credit report
@NoMoreE46 wrote:Good DP on a CLD from Citi. Six
months timeframe on an a very low risk profile seems aggressive from a big bank but it is what it is.
The actual CLD amount is also interesting.
I know, right?
The funny thing is, while it did have consistent monthly use for the last few years before that it got very little use at all (this was PC'ed years ago from a Diamond Preferred). During those years of mostly no activity they weren't bothered in the least.
I also find the new credit line curious. First, it's a really weird number (like many folks I prefer a nice, round number but thankfully I'm not too hung-up on it or else this would be maddening, ha). Second, since they bothered with a CLD at all I would have expected them to go a bit further yet they didn't. Taking a little over $2k from a card with a $17.2k credit line seems kinda pointless (although obviously the Citi algorithm disagrees). 🤔
I'm still tossing around the idea of a PC to a(nother) Custom Cash. In that case they can lower it to $1k if they want and I'll be fine.
@GZG wrote:great dps, but do consider taking the CLD as a chance to lower your limit to a full whole number
15,000 just looks so much nicer on the credit report
LOL, I actually considered doing just that, but with Citi being Citi I figured might as well leave well enough alone. With my luck the rep would get confused by the request and I'd end up with a closed account.
Although to be fair, the last couple of times I've had to speak with a rep (about PCs) they've been pretty good.
@UncleB wrote:I was checking my accounts making sure all my payments posted (they did) but when scrolling through my Citi cards I noticed something looked odd with my Double Cash... my limit was lowered from $17,200 to $15,140.
I looked around the dashboard and found the 'notices and letters' section, and sure enough, there is a letter from a few days ago titled, "WE'VE UPDATED YOUR CREDIT LIMIT" (in all caps, LOL). It is Citi's standard CLD for non-use letter:
Hi, UncleB. We frequently review cardmember accounts - a recent review of your Citi®
Double Cash Mastercard® account shows that a significant portion of your available
credit limit is not being used.
Based on your current credit limit usage, we've decided to lower your credit limit from
$17,200 to $15,140, of which $760 is available for cash advances.
If you'd like to request the reinstatement of your current credit limit, you can call us at the
number on the back of your card within the next 60 days. Please note that if you contact
us after 60 days, we will consider this as a new credit limit increase request.
For background, until around February this account had between $2k and $3k in use each month. Since then (roughly six months) it's only received minimal use, less than $100 some months down to $0 other months (especially after the nerf of the Rewards+ back in the summer).
There are no new baddies, no high utilization, no HPs, or other 'flags'... I believe the reason in the letter is genuine. My FICO Bankcard Score 8 as reported by Citi themselves is 885 (out of 900) so no worries there (I've been sitting on my hands for a while - no new accounts or HPs in over two years - thus the good Bankcard score). FICO 8 scores are all 850 across the board. My other three Citi cards are untouched.
I have to admit the CLD caught me slightly off-guard, but most surprising was the amount - I'm surprised they weren't more aggressive. In any case the account is just as usable to me as it was a few days ago. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
So, what's next? Good question... I've decided *not* to call and request the old limit to be reinstated. Why? Well, they're right; I'm really not using the card much these days, and I probably won't be. The old Citi Rewards+ made the Double Cash (very) marginally better than my other 2% options, but with that now gone there's no reason to use the DC over my several other 2% non-category options. This situation is making me consider calling in to see if I can simply PC the card to another Custom Cash (it would be #4) but I'm not sure if that's worth it (still thinking on this). At least then it would occasionally get some use, though. Another consideration is that I might be looking at the Citi AAdvantage MC next year, and having (slightly) lower exposure might be helpful.
Unrelated, I also got a CLD from Belk a few months ago - this one was expected (no use for over 18 months). The credit line went from $5K to $1024 (typical Synch CLD limit). I could likely get this bumped back up as well but I'm also leaving it alone, since (again) they're not wrong, and frankly I only keep it around for the age, anyway - it's 19 years old. Also I don't see any point in poking Synch for a CLI that I really don't even care about.
Hopefully someone will find these data points useful.
I would call Citi and get that cash advance feature reduced to zero. Citi is great for this allowance. I would also do the PC to Custom Cash and ask for a further CLD, at least to 5 or 6k max CL (I have mine at 1k), since you'll never spend more than $500 in a month for a category bonus. This would clear up some TCL Citi headroom for that AA card next year and keep Citi from ever performing a CLD again.
Citi:
US Bank:
Chase:
Aven:
RH:
@UncleB wrote:I was checking my accounts making sure all my payments posted (they did) but when scrolling through my Citi cards I noticed something looked odd with my Double Cash... my limit was lowered from $17,200 to $15,140.
I looked around the dashboard and found the 'notices and letters' section, and sure enough, there is a letter from a few days ago titled, "WE'VE UPDATED YOUR CREDIT LIMIT" (in all caps, LOL). It is Citi's standard CLD for non-use letter:
Hi, UncleB.
Based on your current credit limit usage, we've decided to lower your credit limit from
$17,200 to $15,140, of which $760 is available for cash advances.
For background, until around February this account had between $2k and $3k in use each month. Since then (roughly six months) it's only received minimal use, less than $100 some months down to $0 other months (especially after the nerf of the Rewards+ back in the summer).
There are no new baddies, no high utilization, no HPs, or other 'flags'... I believe the reason in the letter is genuine. My FICO Bankcard Score 8 as reported by Citi themselves is 885 (out of 900) so no worries there. My other three Citi cards are untouched.
I have to admit the CLD caught me slightly off-guard, but most surprising was the amount - I'm surprised they weren't more aggressive.
Hopefully someone will find these data points useful.
^ Agree. The CLD is not surprising. The drop seems unusually small. It may be a warning shot. "Get back in the game or face additional consequences".
The drop was likely moderated by higher historical use on the card.
@ElvisCaprice wrote:
@UncleB wrote:I was checking my accounts making sure all my payments posted (they did) but when scrolling through my Citi cards I noticed something looked odd with my Double Cash... my limit was lowered from $17,200 to $15,140.
I looked around the dashboard and found the 'notices and letters' section, and sure enough, there is a letter from a few days ago titled, "WE'VE UPDATED YOUR CREDIT LIMIT" (in all caps, LOL). It is Citi's standard CLD for non-use letter:
Hi, UncleB. We frequently review cardmember accounts - a recent review of your Citi®
Double Cash Mastercard® account shows that a significant portion of your available
credit limit is not being used.
Based on your current credit limit usage, we've decided to lower your credit limit from
$17,200 to $15,140, of which $760 is available for cash advances.
If you'd like to request the reinstatement of your current credit limit, you can call us at the
number on the back of your card within the next 60 days. Please note that if you contact
us after 60 days, we will consider this as a new credit limit increase request.
For background, until around February this account had between $2k and $3k in use each month. Since then (roughly six months) it's only received minimal use, less than $100 some months down to $0 other months (especially after the nerf of the Rewards+ back in the summer).
There are no new baddies, no high utilization, no HPs, or other 'flags'... I believe the reason in the letter is genuine. My FICO Bankcard Score 8 as reported by Citi themselves is 885 (out of 900) so no worries there (I've been sitting on my hands for a while - no new accounts or HPs in over two years - thus the good Bankcard score). FICO 8 scores are all 850 across the board. My other three Citi cards are untouched.
I have to admit the CLD caught me slightly off-guard, but most surprising was the amount - I'm surprised they weren't more aggressive. In any case the account is just as usable to me as it was a few days ago. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
So, what's next? Good question... I've decided *not* to call and request the old limit to be reinstated. Why? Well, they're right; I'm really not using the card much these days, and I probably won't be. The old Citi Rewards+ made the Double Cash (very) marginally better than my other 2% options, but with that now gone there's no reason to use the DC over my several other 2% non-category options. This situation is making me consider calling in to see if I can simply PC the card to another Custom Cash (it would be #4) but I'm not sure if that's worth it (still thinking on this). At least then it would occasionally get some use, though. Another consideration is that I might be looking at the Citi AAdvantage MC next year, and having (slightly) lower exposure might be helpful.
Unrelated, I also got a CLD from Belk a few months ago - this one was expected (no use for over 18 months). The credit line went from $5K to $1024 (typical Synch CLD limit). I could likely get this bumped back up as well but I'm also leaving it alone, since (again) they're not wrong, and frankly I only keep it around for the age, anyway - it's 19 years old. Also I don't see any point in poking Synch for a CLI that I really don't even care about.
Hopefully someone will find these data points useful.
I would call Citi and get that cash advance feature reduced to zero. Citi is great for this allowance. I would also do the PC to Custom Cash and ask for a further CLD, at least to 5 or 6k max CL (I have mine at 1k), since you'll never spend more than $500 in a month for a category bonus. This would clear up some TCL Citi headroom for that AA card next year and keep Citi from ever performing a CLD again.
You crack me up every time you post your card strategy. I'm glad it works for you, but neutering your own credit lines is bizarre unless it's a mental thing to prevent overspending.
@dfwxjer wrote:
@ElvisCaprice wrote:
@UncleB wrote:I was checking my accounts making sure all my payments posted (they did) but when scrolling through my Citi cards I noticed something looked odd with my Double Cash... my limit was lowered from $17,200 to $15,140.
I looked around the dashboard and found the 'notices and letters' section, and sure enough, there is a letter from a few days ago titled, "WE'VE UPDATED YOUR CREDIT LIMIT" (in all caps, LOL). It is Citi's standard CLD for non-use letter:
Hi, UncleB. We frequently review cardmember accounts - a recent review of your Citi®
Double Cash Mastercard® account shows that a significant portion of your available
credit limit is not being used.
Based on your current credit limit usage, we've decided to lower your credit limit from
$17,200 to $15,140, of which $760 is available for cash advances.
If you'd like to request the reinstatement of your current credit limit, you can call us at the
number on the back of your card within the next 60 days. Please note that if you contact
us after 60 days, we will consider this as a new credit limit increase request.
For background, until around February this account had between $2k and $3k in use each month. Since then (roughly six months) it's only received minimal use, less than $100 some months down to $0 other months (especially after the nerf of the Rewards+ back in the summer).
There are no new baddies, no high utilization, no HPs, or other 'flags'... I believe the reason in the letter is genuine. My FICO Bankcard Score 8 as reported by Citi themselves is 885 (out of 900) so no worries there (I've been sitting on my hands for a while - no new accounts or HPs in over two years - thus the good Bankcard score). FICO 8 scores are all 850 across the board. My other three Citi cards are untouched.
I have to admit the CLD caught me slightly off-guard, but most surprising was the amount - I'm surprised they weren't more aggressive. In any case the account is just as usable to me as it was a few days ago. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
So, what's next? Good question... I've decided *not* to call and request the old limit to be reinstated. Why? Well, they're right; I'm really not using the card much these days, and I probably won't be. The old Citi Rewards+ made the Double Cash (very) marginally better than my other 2% options, but with that now gone there's no reason to use the DC over my several other 2% non-category options. This situation is making me consider calling in to see if I can simply PC the card to another Custom Cash (it would be #4) but I'm not sure if that's worth it (still thinking on this). At least then it would occasionally get some use, though. Another consideration is that I might be looking at the Citi AAdvantage MC next year, and having (slightly) lower exposure might be helpful.
Unrelated, I also got a CLD from Belk a few months ago - this one was expected (no use for over 18 months). The credit line went from $5K to $1024 (typical Synch CLD limit). I could likely get this bumped back up as well but I'm also leaving it alone, since (again) they're not wrong, and frankly I only keep it around for the age, anyway - it's 19 years old. Also I don't see any point in poking Synch for a CLI that I really don't even care about.
Hopefully someone will find these data points useful.
I would call Citi and get that cash advance feature reduced to zero. Citi is great for this allowance. I would also do the PC to Custom Cash and ask for a further CLD, at least to 5 or 6k max CL (I have mine at 1k), since you'll never spend more than $500 in a month for a category bonus. This would clear up some TCL Citi headroom for that AA card next year and keep Citi from ever performing a CLD again.
You crack me up every time you post your card strategy. I'm glad it works for you, but neutering your own credit lines is bizarre unless it's a mental thing to prevent overspending.
Nope, it's controlling your CL to your needs, yet maintaining proper utilization. What I find bizarre is asking for CLI's or allowing the issuers to give a CLI for no reason or benefit when proper utilization has already been achieved. Why allow the issuer to suck up some of your total CL when you could use that CL on another card opening? Has absolutely no benefit to credit score (or rewards) and you open yourself up to future CLD's when the issuer has a change of strategy.
As far as credit file, I probably wouldn't ask for a CLD either, unless done at a proper strategic moment, like upon issuance of SL or like now, when an issuer CLD has been performed. It's a YMMV, dependent on the strenth of your credit file.