Funny that I just opened a letter from WaMu that they did a CLI from $9000 to $9500 (which is a little lame in my opinion). I'm more informed now about credit and with my scores in the mid-700's if a lender told me to close accounts I'd walk away and go to one that wanted my business.
My CL hasn't changed significantly in the last 4 years since I bought my last house, a little here and there I guess. It irks me every time I think of it... I refinanced my previous house twice to lower interest rates and I was told that I was a "prime loan". When I bought this house Wells Fargo required me to pay off all my credit card debt. I don't remember how much it was but it wasn't significant, a few thousand I think. I think they did it because they knew that I COULD pay it all off AND I was putting $70k down (20%). What irks me is overhearing people in the builder's office being told about 100%, 105% financing, no down, etc. etc. etc., and now there are 3 houses in a row across the street from me that are bank forclosures.
Banks created this housing crisis and people who are responsible are paying for it. If I knew then what I know now I'd have told them where they could put that requirement and go elsewhere. I have a 30-year fixed at 6.25%.
On the Suze Orman show recently she said to get out of credit card debt at all costs even if you have good credit. The banks need to make money and they're going after the people that they CAN make money off of. They are raising interest rates on good history as well. I think I read here a post from someone on an article where someone had their rate raised outrageously in tiny print on a statement for no cause.
I know they can raise the interest rate if you're late and about 6 months ago I had made two payments totalling $1500 on a card I was working to pay off. I had thought that the billing cycle end date was the 14th and I made one of the payments on the 15th with all my other bills as usual. Well, the cycle ended the 16th so the next month, when I thought I had already made the payment for that month, they raised my rate to 10.99% because of a late payment. I immediately transfered the balance to another card at 2.99%.
In contrast when I moved about 7 years ago I got out of whack on payments when I hadn't received a bill on one card. I immediately called them when I got the bill with a late payment fee and did a payment over the phone. To my surprise the next month they had reversed the late payment charge because of my good history.
Neither of those ever showed up on my credit as a late.