IMO: Best way to go about getting CLI w/Cap one

[NowIcare]

Hi all,

I have been a member on here for a couple months now, I have learned so much......... anyhow I got to thinking after reading many posts on Cap 1 and the backdoor #. So I gave it a shot last week and to my suprise It worked, I hear alot of people get turned down when they call and just ask for a CLI.

Here is how it went..... Give it a try and let me know how it turns out.

Cap1: Hello and how can I help you?

Me: Hello, I was wondering if you could help me out. I was interested in doing a balance transfers and was wondering if it would be a possibility to get a CLI as I would like to  take advantage of your great rates and dont want to max out my card.

Cap1: Ok hold on 1 sec, I see you have been a good customer and we value your business. I see your limit is 500, ill tell you what I can do, ill increase your limit by 1000 is that enough for the transfer you had in mind? that brings your available credit to 1500.

Me: (not wanting to push it) Yest thank you, I appreciate that.

Cap1: Can I assist you with your balance transfers?

Me: Let me get all my account #s and balances in order and I will call right back.

Cap1: sure thing, is there anything else I can help you with?

Me: No thanks, you have been great have a good day

Cap1: you too. bye

So the whole process took about 3 min. I think this is a better way to go about it then just calling and telling them your thinking of closing or just asking for CLI.

What do you guys think? BTW I have only had the card for about 3 months.

Message Edited by NowIcare on 03-31-2008 04:39 PM

Message Edited by NowIcare on 03-31-2008 04:40 PM

[Anonymous]

Thanx for the info. Will try it after i reach 4 months with them

[unknown_entity]

I have found that if you are a new account holder with Cap One, you can call for a CLI after the 3rd payment posts.  If you do this before the auto-cli (credit steps) you will get 300 when you ask and then you will get an additional 500 auto-cli after the 4th statement posts.  This brings the total CL to 1,100.  If you wait for the credit steps CLI to post before calling, you will get 100 less in CLI's.

[Anonymous]

I lucked out and got a 500.00 CLI the weekend before last when CAP 1 was being generous.  My auto CLI (hopefully) will still kick in this month.  In the literature the sent me, it says I will get an auto CLI of 250.00.  Someone here said that since I got the first CLI of 500.00, I will get an auto CLI of 500.00.  We will see later this month.

[Anonymous]

Hi Nowicare. Super congrats! Your approach paid off! Excellent.

[Anonymous]

That worked for me, also.  To bad they only gave me $500 and not $1,000.

[Anonymous]

Oh yes, the BT trick. I have used that one several times also. Thing is, I did intend to actually BT when I did it, but I needed the highest CLs and lowest BT rates/fees to pick the card they went on. So, technically I wasn't lying.

Citi ended up winning.

[Anonymous]

After fruitless attempts for a CLI from CAP1, I decided to call almost everyday for the last two weeks to find out why I have only received one CLI from them in four years. It took some time, but I finally received some answers - in addition to a few letters of correspondence from CAP1. 

Many of us have a "Credit Needs Improvement" card", however there are several different products under that heading. That is why some are able to receive a CLI by calling in and some are not. For example, my card is not eligible for CLI by request. I didn't know that. My card falls under the 12 month review procedure. Must have no lates or over limit fees within a 12 month period. I am in a catch-22 situation because my purse was stolen last year. The theives used my CC which went over the limit. In addition, my payment was late because I had to wait from my new account to be created and checks, debit card, etc to be issued ... including a new card from CAP1. All that is reflected in my history, however it is being used again me for a CLI (and it is not supposed to). I have to write a letter but that is a whole different subject 

So while many posters here seem to think that calling the backdoor number is the key, it truly is not. The frontline reps actual use the same system as the Sr Account Supervisors. The Sr Account Supervisors do not have any additional promos to choose from. Many of you will believe otherwise, however I have heard that from many of them plus a Supervisor above their level.

The purpose of this long post to just to help others avoid the frustration I have been going through. CAP1 has many different "product" cards as they like to call them. Some of them are great, and others (like mine) can cause stress and frustration for those of us wanting bigger tradelines. Ask the right questions to determine what type of card you have.

[Anonymous]

Purplehaze - Thanks for posting your response!  I was in one of those really low-level starter cards and could not get a CLI through the backdoor number for the same reason.  I don't think they even offer the card I had anymore as I don't see one listed on their site with a $59 AF - although I haven't dug through all of the card offers...

In my case it wasn't that I was asking the wrong things, it was simply that my account type would not allow for any leeway.  I agree that it's a good idea to clarify this difference, otherwise those of us with the bottom-end product would get very, very frustrated (as I did).

For those who are getting the CLI's and have the credit steps option - take good care of your accounts and hang in there.  Cap 1 will obviously take care of you if you follow their plan.

[KingAdrock]

No, the backdoor reps do not really have any more authority. But they can actually talk to you and answer questions without reading from a script, I'd say that alone makes calling a backdoor # worthwhile.