Citi CLI Questions

[nitrov]

Hi all,

I've been trying to read as many threads as possible on tips & tricks for Citi, but I still have some questions. I just got my first Citi card, the lovely Prestige. I apped on 3/26, was initially denied due to recent inqs, reconed via EO, got approved with a $17.5k CL. Under advisement of someone on here, I asked for a CLI online after activating my card (4/6, another HP), was denied due to "excess credit obligations" despite no change in my credit since approval, and <10% util and very low debt-to-income. My credit score was around a 730 when I was approved. I checked EQ and did get a SP AR from them again on 4/22 which I found odd.

So, I have a couple questions:

• Luv button: I'm not seeing one. Can anyone provide a screen shot? Only option I have for requesting a CLI is under the Account Management tab
• SP vs. HP language when requesting a CLI: what do each look like?
• When are the best time intervals to request CLIs, specifically only with a SP?
• Since I was just denied for a CLI on 4/6, do I have to wait 6 months for another one?

Any other tips & tricks for Citi would be great!

Thanks

[redpat]

IMO, you should wait six months and use the card with the limit they gave you ($17,500 is a good starting limit), I know I happy with $17K, I don't really need more for what I'm planning to use the card for.

The next question is do you really need a higher limit or is it just because you want one?  I have noticed that many on these forums are CLI trigger happy, alway pushing for more with really no need for it.  It maybe nice to look at but they are limits that can't be really used, IMO.

[Berk]

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@redpat wrote:

The next question is do you really need a higher limit or is it just because you want one?  I have noticed that many on these forums are CLI trigger happy, alway pushing for more with really no need for it.  It maybe nice to look at but they are limits that can't be really used, IMO.

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I really only need one card with a 10K limit as I never charge more than that at any one time in any given month. However, lenders love seeing someone who uses very little of their available total limit so in that regards the total limits are in a very real sense being used to show current and potential lenders that you are responsible with someone else's money. Besides, why not be CLI trigger happy if the lender is going to give you the increase? 

[nitrov]

Well I run about $5k a month through my primary card, so when in in between billing cycles my balance can get close to $10k. I don't like being near 50% util on any one card so I'd really rather be more around the $25-30k CL level. It's not the end of the world if it takes me a while to get it there, I'm just trying to figure out the way Citi works and the path of least resistance since I know they'll treat you well if you don't make them angry. I'm happy with the initial CL I got considering I have zero relationship with them before. Just trying to make the most of what I have. I'd like to close a smaller CL I have once this one gets bumped over $25k.

[nitrov]

Yea the whole "do you really need it" philosophical question doesn't really apply to much on these forums. Like do I really need 10+ CCs? No. Do I really need an 800+ credit score? No. Do I need $250k in available credit? No. Does it make me want it all any less? No. LOL

[redpat]

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@nitrov wrote:
Yea the whole "do you really need it" philosophical question doesn't really apply to much on these forums. Like do I really need 10+ CCs? No. Do I really need an 800+ credit score? No. Do I need $250k in available credit? No. Does it make me want it all any less? No. LOL

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Sooner or later with the build up of available credit the chances for increases diminish greatly or you can say peaked.

So one way to get higher limits for the cards you want chances are that you may need to thin the herd before doing so.

[nitrov]

Yea I have no problem with dumping some of my junk smaller/lame reward platform cards. I'm trying to garden right now so I just want to make sure if I do app for any CLIs in the next 6-12 months, they're only SPs. Once my Marriott card hits my credit I'm closing out 2 smaller cards so that'll make me happy.

[Anonymous]

Citi has been so great to us.  My SO opened a card last spring with a starting limit of 9k. By fall it was at 12k.  I opened my DC last summer with a 2400 limit.  Any SP CLIs online were denied.  Once I had other cards with limits at 10k and above, I called in and they approved a CLI to 3800.  Then a month later I had other increases, I was not allowed to request an increase online using a HP, so I just called in. I aksed for 15k and was granted 10K.

[redpat]

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@Berk wrote:

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@redpat wrote:

The next question is do you really need a higher limit or is it just because you want one?  I have noticed that many on these forums are CLI trigger happy, alway pushing for more with really no need for it.  It maybe nice to look at but they are limits that can't be really used, IMO.

---

I really only need one card with a 10K limit as I never charge more than that at any one time in any given month. However, lenders love seeing someone who uses very little of their available total limit so in that regards the total limits are in a very real sense being used to show current and potential lenders that you are responsible with someone else's money. Besides, why not be CLI trigger happy if the lender is going to give you the increase? 

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All lenders care about is usage and payments(not little ones) nothing more, nothing less.

Don't try to read into the tea leaves in what lenders like to see, lol.

[nitrov]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Citi has been so great to us.  My SO opened a card last spring with a starting limit of 9k. By fall it was at 12k.  I opened my DC last summer with a 2400 limit.  Any SP CLIs online were denied.  Once I had other cards with limits at 10k and above, I called in and they approved a CLI to 3800.  Then a month later I had other increases, I was not allowed to request an increase online using a HP, so I just called in. I aksed for 15k and was granted 10K.

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Thanks! Do you recall what the SP CLI language on the site looked like vs. the HP language?