Discover CLI: More likely with high usage or high reporting balance?

[Anonymous]

So I got several modest increases when I was letting my full balance report on my Discover card. When I moved recently, for example, I was putting quite a bit of money relative to my credit line on the card. I was letting it report (imagine $1200+ on only $1750 of total credit) which dropped my credit score 30-40 points due to utilization.

I'm putting through more money in some cases now, but I'm paying off and letting utlization scores go down. My scores have gone from a low of 710 to a high of 755 in about 6 months just doing this (according to Discover's TU score they provide). However, I also have not got a CLI in a while.

Do I have to let balances report in order to get good auto CLIs from Discover?

I'm always paying in full (not paid 1¢ of interest) and I've not asked Discover for a CLI, all auto.

[takeshi74]

The CLI's that one qualifies for with any creditor are not just a matter of usage.  One's entire credit profile and income matter.  My Discover limit was doubled early on with very little to no usage.

It is not just your Discover account that matters.  Again, your entire credit profile matters.

If you are worrying over usage versus utilization, keep in mind that they're not mutually exclusive.  Use all you want and pay it down prior to report date.

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@Anonymous wrote:

My scores have gone from a low of 710 to a high of 755 in about 6 months just doing this (according to Discover's TU score they provide). However, I also have not got a CLI in a while.

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It's never just about score.

[Anonymous]

I think it's more to do with your overall CR. I rarely (almost never) use my Discover card, And they're pretty good to me with SP CLI. I just randomly did one a few days ago after looking at a thread talking about it and they gave me a 5k increase to $21,900. Just go for it! Good luck!

[pizza1]

agree with said posters above...depends on a lot of things.

I only utilize like 2-3% on my CL monthly, and always PIF before SM cuts, and I get a small CLI every 91 days. The most I think Ive every charged against my limit has been 10%.

[Themanwhocan]

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@Anonymous wrote:

So I got several modest increases when I was letting my full balance report on my Discover card. When I moved recently, for example, I was putting quite a bit of money relative to my credit line on the card. I was letting it report (imagine $1200+ on only $1750 of total credit) which dropped my credit score 30-40 points due to utilization.

I'm putting through more money in some cases now, but I'm paying off and letting utlization scores go down. My scores have gone from a low of 710 to a high of 755 in about 6 months just doing this (according to Discover's TU score they provide). However, I also have not got a CLI in a while.

Do I have to let balances report in order to get good auto CLIs from Discover?

I'm always paying in full (not paid 1¢ of interest) and I've not asked Discover for a CLI, all auto.

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You are not getting a CLI, because you are not asking for a CLI. Ask once a month online, and as long as it doesn't say it WILL pull your credit, then it won't. And you'll probably get fairly regular increases. 

IF you occasionally spend a lot, like $1000 - $1500 every 3 months, then the increases will be larger in my experience. But this isn't strictly necessary as I was still getting $1000 - $1500 CLI's when I was just spending minimal amounts each month , just enough so I would get the free FICO scores. But, when the CLI's dropped from $1500 to $1000, and then I spend $1500 for the 10% cash back at Amazon during the 3rd quarter, then my CLI's increased to $3000. And I spend $1500 during the 4th quarter on Amazon again, and I'm still getting good CLI's (November they didn't give me an increase, but then December they doubled the CLI to $6000).

I never let balances report if I can help it. And my Discover card is now at $26,500. 11 months ago it was $8,500. However, I had a $30,000 limit on my American Express for the past 6 months, so having prior experience with higher credit limits probably didn't hurt my chances either.

[ojefferyo]

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@Anonymous wrote:

So I got several modest increases when I was letting my full balance report on my Discover card. When I moved recently, for example, I was putting quite a bit of money relative to my credit line on the card. I was letting it report (imagine $1200+ on only $1750 of total credit) which dropped my credit score 30-40 points due to utilization.

I'm putting through more money in some cases now, but I'm paying off and letting utlization scores go down. My scores have gone from a low of 710 to a high of 755 in about 6 months just doing this (according to Discover's TU score they provide). However, I also have not got a CLI in a while.

Do I have to let balances report in order to get good auto CLIs from Discover?

I'm always paying in full (not paid 1¢ of interest) and I've not asked Discover for a CLI, all auto.

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My experence with Discover is that I have high usage and high balance. Usually near the CL and I always PIF, I've let the balance report before and I've also paid it before the statement cuts. Makes no difference to Discover as they can see your usage and payments. I have always been approved a CLI. 

[Anonymous]

That is kind of inaccurate logic discover will raise your credit limit when you have significant util on it, but they are not doing it because you have a high balance.

If discover is your only card with a high balance and everything else is paid down then they will probably reward you. I was first class passenger on the gravy train myself I went from 1350 to 11k

[Anonymous]

High balance reporting, $0 balance, heavy spend in one month, no spend for a month, doesn't matter in my experience. Increases have been pretty steady. Started at $1500 in October and now $10,000.

TMWC is right You must ask in order to receive. GL

[Anonymous]

October of 2014! Should have clarified.

[OmarGB9]

^Lol I was gonna say