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Decreasing citi CL to free up credit

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Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Decreasing citi CL to free up credit


@red259 wrote:

@Anonymous wrote:

@red259 wrote:

I just called citi again. They are still making the same offer of crediting the AF back if I spend 1k within 3 months on card. I confirmed I can pc to the citi doible cash which is non-AF. Its annoying because many other people get the offer of spend $95 and get $95 credit. This is something I would do. However, since I have redeemed most of my american airlines miles I do not see much value in this card. I don't like the ideal of putting 1k of spending on the card, since I am only getting one mile per dollar. That spend can go on other cards for a better return. Not to mention that since I don't have a huge AA balance at the moment that I will not have enough to redeem any flights with those 1k miles in the near future. I do want a citi double cash at some point to use down the line if I want straight cash back.

 

The concerns are as follows. One, I want to pick up the citi premier card and believe I am at the limit with citi. Therefore, it would be a good idea to reduce my overall exposure by reducing my available credit with citi. I believe, and correct me if I am wrong, that citi can be difficult with moving credit lines between exisiting accounts at a customer's request. So if I reduced the credit line and kept the double cash card I would be stuck with a low limit on the double cash. Also, I have a citi hilton with a larger credit line that I have not decided if I will keep at the end of the year. I'm up in the air about it at the moment since it won't automatically give me a free night. It is quite possible that I would like to PC that card to the double cash because it is a better credit line. Finally because the way citi does their bonus rules if I close the card it will reset the 18 month clock on how long I need to wait to get an AA signup bonus vs being elgible in like two months for another one. I believe it only impacts the ability to get the bonus on the personal AA plat card (compared to the gold, exec or business AA cards but I could be wrong). Although, I am not looking to get another AA card right now and the next one I get will likely be for business, but we are talking about a year and a half wait during which time my ceiling with citi can improve and I may want to build up my AA balances before they put changes into effect with their program.

 

The way I see it I have the following choices:

 

1. Close the AA plat accont (drawbacks resets 18 month clock, credit doesn't free up for awhile with citi)

 

2. Pay the AF and spend the 1k to offset it and then reduce the credit limit to free up additional credit with citi, which would end up making this card somewhat useless going forward and would have been about 1k of spend wasted -not a huge amount of money but without upcoming AA flights I don't see the value in the card and I can reapp for the plat with bonus in future to get back the benefits if I need them down the line)

 

3. app for the citi premier now and go through recon and see if they will pull the money out of the AA card and then close it.

 

4. PC the AA plat card to double cash and hope when I apply for the premier they don't reject me or want to take money out of the double cash account (probably unlikely since I just went through this two months ago and its a percentage of income thing I think- also I wanted to keep the option of PCing my Hilton to double cash open due to that card having larger line)

 

What seems like the best course of action here?

 

 


I've reduced total CL with Citi before by closing a card before. It's really not as fast as one thinks it is.


I'm talking about reducing the line before closing the card and then closing it. If you close the card without reducing the line first then that credit does not free up for awhile, which is what I am trying to avoid. 


Ah, I didn't think to try it that way. Is that a Frequent Traveler trick?

Message 11 of 20
red259
Super Contributor

Re: Decreasing citi CL to free up credit


@Anonymous wrote:

@red259 wrote:

@Anonymous wrote:

@red259 wrote:

I just called citi again. They are still making the same offer of crediting the AF back if I spend 1k within 3 months on card. I confirmed I can pc to the citi doible cash which is non-AF. Its annoying because many other people get the offer of spend $95 and get $95 credit. This is something I would do. However, since I have redeemed most of my american airlines miles I do not see much value in this card. I don't like the ideal of putting 1k of spending on the card, since I am only getting one mile per dollar. That spend can go on other cards for a better return. Not to mention that since I don't have a huge AA balance at the moment that I will not have enough to redeem any flights with those 1k miles in the near future. I do want a citi double cash at some point to use down the line if I want straight cash back.

 

The concerns are as follows. One, I want to pick up the citi premier card and believe I am at the limit with citi. Therefore, it would be a good idea to reduce my overall exposure by reducing my available credit with citi. I believe, and correct me if I am wrong, that citi can be difficult with moving credit lines between exisiting accounts at a customer's request. So if I reduced the credit line and kept the double cash card I would be stuck with a low limit on the double cash. Also, I have a citi hilton with a larger credit line that I have not decided if I will keep at the end of the year. I'm up in the air about it at the moment since it won't automatically give me a free night. It is quite possible that I would like to PC that card to the double cash because it is a better credit line. Finally because the way citi does their bonus rules if I close the card it will reset the 18 month clock on how long I need to wait to get an AA signup bonus vs being elgible in like two months for another one. I believe it only impacts the ability to get the bonus on the personal AA plat card (compared to the gold, exec or business AA cards but I could be wrong). Although, I am not looking to get another AA card right now and the next one I get will likely be for business, but we are talking about a year and a half wait during which time my ceiling with citi can improve and I may want to build up my AA balances before they put changes into effect with their program.

 

The way I see it I have the following choices:

 

1. Close the AA plat accont (drawbacks resets 18 month clock, credit doesn't free up for awhile with citi)

 

2. Pay the AF and spend the 1k to offset it and then reduce the credit limit to free up additional credit with citi, which would end up making this card somewhat useless going forward and would have been about 1k of spend wasted -not a huge amount of money but without upcoming AA flights I don't see the value in the card and I can reapp for the plat with bonus in future to get back the benefits if I need them down the line)

 

3. app for the citi premier now and go through recon and see if they will pull the money out of the AA card and then close it.

 

4. PC the AA plat card to double cash and hope when I apply for the premier they don't reject me or want to take money out of the double cash account (probably unlikely since I just went through this two months ago and its a percentage of income thing I think- also I wanted to keep the option of PCing my Hilton to double cash open due to that card having larger line)

 

What seems like the best course of action here?

 

 


I've reduced total CL with Citi before by closing a card before. It's really not as fast as one thinks it is.


I'm talking about reducing the line before closing the card and then closing it. If you close the card without reducing the line first then that credit does not free up for awhile, which is what I am trying to avoid. 


Ah, I didn't think to try it that way. Is that a Frequent Traveler trick?


Dunno about frequent traveler but its a work around from them holding back your available credit for new products. Dunno how quickly it frees it up but apparently much better than just closing a card and waiting. Something with the way citi's system works. 

;
Starting Score: EQ: 714, TU 684
Current Score: EQ: 725 7/30/13, TU 684 6/2013, Exp 828 5/2018, Last App 8/5/17
Goal Score: 800 (Achieved!) In garden until Sepetember 2019
Message 12 of 20
red259
Super Contributor

Re: Decreasing citi CL to free up credit

Just was told that when I PC from AA exec to AA plat not only did that reset the 18 month clock on exec it also did so on the AA plat. Because they count a PC as closing one card and opening another. Anyone aware if this is true? If soe it makes the notion of outright closing the aa plat card much simplier, but would be really annoying from the point of view of citi not being clear with their bonus rules. 

;
Starting Score: EQ: 714, TU 684
Current Score: EQ: 725 7/30/13, TU 684 6/2013, Exp 828 5/2018, Last App 8/5/17
Goal Score: 800 (Achieved!) In garden until Sepetember 2019
Message 13 of 20
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Decreasing citi CL to free up credit

Sounds about right.
Message 14 of 20
red259
Super Contributor

Re: Decreasing citi CL to free up credit

I only have two days until the AF is due. I can pay it and then cancel later on and get it back, but I'd rather not go through that hassle. However, if I call in today and reduce my credit line and then cancel tomorrow or day after will that free up my credit for a new citi app? The alternative is simply applying now before doing anything with my AA card and seeing what happens with recon, but that could end up in a denial?

;
Starting Score: EQ: 714, TU 684
Current Score: EQ: 725 7/30/13, TU 684 6/2013, Exp 828 5/2018, Last App 8/5/17
Goal Score: 800 (Achieved!) In garden until Sepetember 2019
Message 15 of 20
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Decreasing citi CL to free up credit

I would fully expect a business week for it to work.
Message 16 of 20
red259
Super Contributor

Re: Decreasing citi CL to free up credit


@Anonymous wrote:
I would fully expect a business week for it to work.

So the options then become go for the app now and see what happens or reduce the credit line, pay the AF, wait a week and then close the account and have to wait for them to send the money back to me. 

;
Starting Score: EQ: 714, TU 684
Current Score: EQ: 725 7/30/13, TU 684 6/2013, Exp 828 5/2018, Last App 8/5/17
Goal Score: 800 (Achieved!) In garden until Sepetember 2019
Message 17 of 20
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Decreasing citi CL to free up credit

Basically, Yes. With the constant devaluation no loss with closing that card.

Message 18 of 20
icyhot
Valued Contributor

Re: Decreasing citi CL to free up credit


@red259 wrote:

@icyhot wrote:
From what I experienced with Citi, they will not open a declined app by moving CL from another one. However they will move part of a credit line. As far as the card not having had any activity, I never ran into that

I don't understand what you are saying. So if its a decline then I can't call up and move a credit line? Therefore I should reduce the credit limit before apping? 


No, they won't do it. So maybe that's the best option 

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Message 19 of 20
red259
Super Contributor

Re: Decreasing citi CL to free up credit


@icyhot wrote:

@red259 wrote:

@icyhot wrote:
From what I experienced with Citi, they will not open a declined app by moving CL from another one. However they will move part of a credit line. As far as the card not having had any activity, I never ran into that

I don't understand what you are saying. So if its a decline then I can't call up and move a credit line? Therefore I should reduce the credit limit before apping? 


No, they won't do it. So maybe that's the best option 


K so what it is looking like is that I should call up today, reduce the credit line, pay the AF in two days and wait a week before closing and applying for new card and wait for them to send the AF back to me?

;
Starting Score: EQ: 714, TU 684
Current Score: EQ: 725 7/30/13, TU 684 6/2013, Exp 828 5/2018, Last App 8/5/17
Goal Score: 800 (Achieved!) In garden until Sepetember 2019
Message 20 of 20
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