Help with getting a 3x cli on my new Amex card

[periferel]

I got approved bce Amex card on the 11th of may. It only has a $2k starting limit even though I have two chase cards for $7.9k and $8.1k but I have banked there for a long time.

So I would like to get a 3x cli after the first 60 days. I didn't do my little application spree too well on the 11 may. I had planned to get a few CCs at the same time and considering my previous success with chase I figured I'd start there my ficos were around 710-720. I applied for the freedom and they gave me a $500 card. Anyway I went straight to Amex and applied for the bce and got a $2k limit. I then did something real dumb and applied for a cap1 card, I think the venture and got denied. It was dumb bc it's on all three reports whereas the amex and chase are only Experian. I called chase and had them move a few thousand from my cap to get it up to 3.4k so I got a zero apr on it for a while.

So about the amex- after the three apps I had 5 inquiries due to 2 in September plus those 3 so my Experian is I think 693. It took about 17 point hit. I have $593 balance on it and first statement is in two days. 

Question is should I pay in full now before statement to report zero. Or let statement go at $593, then use it a bit over the month and pay in full before second statement...Is there a method that helps ensure the 3x cli? 

Also is $2k a bad sign that I may not get the 3x? My last two baddies dropped off in January and I'm completely clean, all payments on time. About 50% utilization due to having $6k on chase flex and $2k on cap. I guess I will have a little smaller utilization when the new $2.5k reports this month between the new cards. 

Any help would be appreciated.

[Jordan23ww]

Congratulations on all your approvals! Make sure whenever you go for your 3x limit increase on your Amex make sure you first  check the free Fico Amex gives you. That is the score Amex will use as a soft pull for limit increases and when you apply for new cards.  It can lag in being updated 1 to 2 months at times. 

Of course your miles may vary but when I went for my limit increase at 60 days they were using an older score from over a month and denied me for my Fico score being too low.  It was still showing 709 although it was actually 739. I waited 90 days and tried again and was instantly approved for my limit increase at 739.  

Up to you but you may want to wait to ask for a limit increase until your Experian is at least 720 or higher.  At worst it's likely gonna be a soft pull if you get denied. It's just you'll need to wait 3 months before asking again if you're denied so you want to put yourself in the best position to be approved.

Regarding your question about paying the card off or carrying a balance, if you're able to I'd pay the card off. In my experience Amex seems to reward me when I don't carry a balance with new card approvals and limit increases (2 limit increases so far). Also I follow All Zero Except One (AZEO) only letting a $10 balance report on one of my cards each month.   Best wishes to you whenever you go for it!

[Jordan23ww]

I added to my previous reply in case you read it before I edited it. 

[Jnbmom]

@periferel 

There is no way to ensure any CLIs.

There is a lot of data points showing that when cards starting out with lower end limits 1-2K many times the 3x doesn't not happen at 60 days. This is not always the case of course  and no harm in trying . Run some spend through it and PIF .

[Anonymous]

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@periferel wrote:

... Or let statement go at $593 ...

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It's been reported AMEX prefers PiF to balances. I got a 3x shortly after paying off a 0% $6000 I'd carried for the better part of a year.

So I'd pay the $593 before requesting. Good luck.