FYI: Combining CL's with USAA

[Anonymous]

USAA does not combine CC's.

They will "re-alocate" the CL from one card into the existing CL of a second card.  However, they can only reduce the CL of the first card down to the "card minimum CL" which is $1000.

So in my case, if I wanted to get rid of the AMEX and move my CL's to my MC, then cancel AMEX, I would surrender (lose) $1000 on the AMEX at time of close, because you cannot re-alocate below the minimum CL.

Just an FYI because I am probably going to combine my NFCU cc's and USAA cc's and just found this out from CSR today.

[haulingthescoreup]

Don't forget, if your combined CL is over a certain figure, it gets dropped from util calculations. Which might be what you're going for.

[Anonymous]

Yep, I do want to move 1 or 2 of my CL's above the util calcs, if I can, so that its use doesn't give me that particular ding even though the balance/debt amount still would depending on what it was.

I also want to increase the average CL of my open accounts.  I plan to close all major CL's below $10k (with the possible exception of Discover), and combine all that I can.  I want this for consideration of my lenders, but also if this "estimated income" comes to play largely with CR data such as CL's.

I am fairly confident that my higher CL's won't stand in too much jeopardy, since they are with good CU's not known to be overyly AA trigger happy.  Especially if I reduce the number of open accounts, and these accounts all start turning 12 months from March through June. 

If I combine, I'll have $30k NFCU Visa, $15k NFCU NavCheck, $39k USAA (combined MC/AMEX CL), $20k PSECU Visa/LOC, $10k PenFed Visa, $10k Alliant Visa, $10k BoA Visa, $5k Discover.

I'm thinking of dumping CapOne $1k (builder), CapOne Pro Ultra (prime) $3k.

I'll keep JCPenney if they move my CL above $2k end of this month (now at $1800).

I'll keep CareCredit $14.8k, Chase Health $12k, Rooms to Go $6.5k because I have existing interest free balances for the next couple years.

I'll also keep my Juniper Biz MC (not personally reported) at $13,750 CL (current balance interest free for another 8 months, then PIF) and my BoA Biz Visa/LOC $30k CL.

[haulingthescoreup]

I've considered doing this with my USAA cards, which would give me $36K on the MC (with the $1K on the AmEx, which I suppose I'd then close), but then I thought, what would be the advantage of hiding a balance on a high-limit card, when I break into a rash at the thought of carrying a balance, and their APR's aren't really attractive for doing so? --maybe for a couple three months, I suppose.

But anyway, I'm all about simplifying things these days, so if you can consolidate some CL's, congrats to you!

[MrChairman]

My highest limit is from Discover at this point at 2k Maybe in 3-5 years I can have the problems you two have of combining 10k+ CL cards hehehehe. Just goes to show you the power of excellent credit.

-The Chairman

[Anonymous]

What is the CL hurdle when your balance does not show in the util calc?  30K, 40K????