First AMex card approval is being sock drawered until I get desperate for its use

[slund5499]

Becane Amex member again in Feb 2015 with a Delta Gold. Starting CL was only $1K. Used card extensively untilo this month. Paid 90% off every month and got the 30K mile bonus. Asked fpr CLI 6 times over last 3 months. Declined everytime for stupid reasons, but most likely for length of time for Amex account.

SInce getting the Amex, it has become a stepping stone but alot of new credit.

Key Bank $3500

Bank America rewards $500

Discover $1500

Venture $5000

Shell $500

Credit line increases not related to Amex:

Overstock to $1150

Quicksilver graduation to $2500

As happy as I was just to get in with Amex again, the thrill has lost is appeal. No CLI..... Declined for Amex app's multiple times.....Gold PRG, Hilton Honors, evreryday, Blue Cash, Jet Blue, Amex Costco, Green NPSL, Starwood and Plenti........

I think Fico requirements for most other cards need to be 700. Experian is now 688 but lots of inquiries.

No matter....I have other resources to use and other rewards to concentrate on for now.

[Anonymous]

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@slund5499 wrote:

Becane Amex member again in Feb 2015 with a Delta Gold. Starting CL was only $1K. Used card extensively untilo this month. Paid 90% off every month and got the 30K mile bonus. Asked fpr CLI 6 times over last 3 months. Declined everytime for stupid reasons, but most likely for length of time for Amex account.

SInce getting the Amex, it has become a stepping stone but alot of new credit.

Key Bank $3500

Bank America rewards $500

Discover $1500

Venture $5000

Shell $500

Credit line increases not related to Amex:

Overstock to $1150

Quicksilver graduation to $2500

As happy as I was just to get in with Amex again, the thrill has lost is appeal. No CLI..... Declined for Amex app's multiple times.....Gold PRG, Hilton Honors, evreryday, Blue Cash, Jet Blue, Amex Costco, Green NPSL, Starwood and Plenti........

I think Fico requirements for most other cards need to be 700. Experian is now 688 but lots of inquiries.

No matter....I have other resources to use and other rewards to concentrate on for now.

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I'm not eligible for any AMEX CLI before July. Used my last one on my Blue Sky to get it to 24K.

I wouldn't sock drawer it unless it's rewards simply don't cut it anymore. I got my biggest CLI's from AMEX (5K -> 7K Auto, 7K -> 12K, 12K -> 14K Auto, 14K to 24K) with monthly if light use and very low utilization with the occasional carrying of a balance.

[Anonymous]

Well that's no fun... I would continue to use it though, maybe not as a primary card, but def to show usage and possibly get CLI later on.  I don't use my Delta Gold for anything except buying tickets or shopping on skymiles shopping when they offer up to 15-30miles/$1 on stuff I was going to buy anyway.  

[DeeBee78]

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@slund5499 wrote:

Becane Amex member again in Feb 2015 with a Delta Gold. Starting CL was only $1K. Used card extensively untilo this month. Paid 90% off every month and got the 30K mile bonus. Asked fpr CLI 6 times over last 3 months. Declined everytime for stupid reasons, but most likely for length of time for Amex account.

SInce getting the Amex, it has become a stepping stone but alot of new credit.

Key Bank $3500

Bank America rewards $500

Discover $1500

Venture $5000

Shell $500

Credit line increases not related to Amex:

Overstock to $1150

Quicksilver graduation to $2500

As happy as I was just to get in with Amex again, the thrill has lost is appeal. No CLI..... Declined for Amex app's multiple times.....Gold PRG, Hilton Honors, evreryday, Blue Cash, Jet Blue, Amex Costco, Green NPSL, Starwood and Plenti........

I think Fico requirements for most other cards need to be 700. Experian is now 688 but lots of inquiries.

No matter....I have other resources to use and other rewards to concentrate on for now.

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You're not eligible for a CLI for 90 days if you're denied. 180 days if you're approved. Stop asking for one until 90 days have passed from the date of your first denial. 

For a near 700 Experian score, you have rather low limits. My guess is because you're scaring lenders off with all your inquiries. Save yourself from yourself and don't app for 6 months. Watch how quickly that score climbs, and how easy the CLI's will come after that!

[Anonymous]

I don't understand AMEX either.  On 5/16 I was approved for an everyday card with $15K limit based on my 675 score, albeit with a 19.99% interest rate after the 15month 0 period which is why I applied for the card.  Last august I was denied for the the same card with a 678 score, but my life was a real mess.  I've cleaned up my act, so to speak, and maybe that is reflected in ways other than my FICO score.  I opened up two new accounts in January and closed 3 this year as well.  I have had a charge card (currently senior gold) since 2013 but backdated to 1991.  No problems with that card, but the original card for which I get dating credit was a $1000 optima that was written off in a 1992 bankruptcy.  I know AMEX doesn't backdate anymore, but they have been quite good to me, even saving me money on the AF for the senior gold (formerly regular green).  Lots of late payments and huge debts on closed cards and an open Home Equity line of credit ($114K)  but none since September 2013, most before 2010.  I guess I'd look elsewhere for credit if AMEX doesn't budge.  That's why I dumped Cap 1, though now they preapprove me for all their cards.  I'd rather stick with my 3 companies: AMEX, chase and NFCU.  I have more than what I need at the moment, at least until the 15 months is up.  I'll be 55 if I make it that far.  Inquires:  8 EQ, 4 TU, 8 EX (including new AMEX).  Utilization was 0 at time of application, now 5% due to buying dentures for my mother which prompted the card app.  Highest limit was 10K NFCU cash rewards, next high limit was $7K Chase Sapphire Preferred.   Two other low-limit chase cards.  Your guess is as good as mine.

[-Cal-]

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@DeeBee78 wrote:

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@slund5499 wrote:

Becane Amex member again in Feb 2015 with a Delta Gold. Starting CL was only $1K. Used card extensively untilo this month. Paid 90% off every month and got the 30K mile bonus. Asked fpr CLI 6 times over last 3 months. Declined everytime for stupid reasons, but most likely for length of time for Amex account.

SInce getting the Amex, it has become a stepping stone but alot of new credit.

Key Bank $3500

Bank America rewards $500

Discover $1500

Venture $5000

Shell $500

Credit line increases not related to Amex:

Overstock to $1150

Quicksilver graduation to $2500

As happy as I was just to get in with Amex again, the thrill has lost is appeal. No CLI..... Declined for Amex app's multiple times.....Gold PRG, Hilton Honors, evreryday, Blue Cash, Jet Blue, Amex Costco, Green NPSL, Starwood and Plenti........

I think Fico requirements for most other cards need to be 700. Experian is now 688 but lots of inquiries.

No matter....I have other resources to use and other rewards to concentrate on for now.

---

You're not eligible for a CLI for 90 days if you're denied. 180 days if you're approved. Stop asking for one until 90 days have passed from the date of your first denial. 

For a near 700 Experian score, you have rather low limits. My guess is because you're scaring lenders off with all your inquiries. Save yourself from yourself and don't app for 6 months. Watch how quickly that score climbs, and how easy the CLI's will come after that!

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+1 You keep resetting the 90 day clock every time you attempt a CLI

[Anonymous]

Unless you call AMEX to cancel the request.

[-Cal-]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Unless you call AMEX to cancel the request.

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Does that wink mean you've done this before? Calling to cancel the CLI request resets that 90 day window? hmm I didn't know that

[Anonymous]

AMEX isn't very fond of me either. I apped for it the middle of March this year and got a $2k limit, where others were giving me minimum $5k. At the time my scores were hovering and above 800. It was one of my early apps before a lot of INQs. This was before I found myFICO and I didn't know strategies to deal with them. I unsuccessfully tried to recon and was flat out told no. I used the card heavy and PIF before calling them. I can only figure that they aren't happy that I had the AMEX Costco card that I cancelled a few months earlier after it was finally paid off after years being maxed out. It's funny reading how some people love AMEX because they're easy to deal with, but certainly not for me either. If I don't get the 90 day 3x CLI, then it's staying SD and eventually will cancel it.

[NRB525]

+1 to just stop requesting the CLI until 90 has passed. Your scores probably weren't quite there for the first request and thus you probably keep extending that first cloud. The app denials may be related, at least an indicator the $1k is your current internal max.

Use the card lightly and wait until September to try then.

Good Luck!