Information on how to get a Cap One CLI

[aamex]

So today, I called to speak with a CSR on the criteria for a credit limit increase after politely dancing around the question I finally got her to answer my question.

On-time payments (with cap one)

Balances/Not over the limit (with cap one)

Payment history (with cap one) - no late payments

Keeping the account active* (from second CSR) - keep the pack of gum running through if you're looking for any love from them.

Soft Inquiries – (all 3 bureaus)

Unfortunately, I was disconnected, dialed back to talk to a canned CSR who just wanted to brag on how great my account is being maintained. (then giving me an increase already!!!)

It is my assumption that the soft inquiry weighs heavily, so my strategy is to look at it as if I am applying for another card - low utilization, no recent inquires/accounts, etc.

Frankly, these are all no brainers to most of us, I think they're just kind of stubborn and it is hit or miss.

[John060675]

From my reading on here, you have to have perfect payment history (or almost perfect) to get a CLI through Cap1.  Even then it seems that some people say they still do not see any love from them.

I have a Cap 1 CC from 2007 that has not moved off of the $1,000 CL, and I just opened a Rewards CC through them 2 months ago.  I am using the Rewards CC, with a $500 CL,  for almost everything to show that I need a CLI.  I am hoping after a few months to call in and use my rapid spending and paying to show that a bump is necessary.  I am not sure if it will work, but I figure the worst that can happen is 3 inquires and a no response.

[Anonymous]

neither mentioned length of the account haveing an impact on CLIs?

ive only had my cap1 for a month and a half so far, but with a measly $300 limit. ive put somewhere around 500-1000 worth of purchases so far. i use it a lot and PIF and keep low statement balances. i might call in a month because i dont want to wait for the credit steps in like 5 months.

so im guessing they do take customer initiated CLIs now? thats a good move by them.

[Anonymous]

You need to pray to the CAP 1 God until they reveal to you in a dream the sacrifice they want made. You then need to hunt the appropriate animal (buying it will not work) in a loincloth and capture it between the hours of 1:3:00 a.m.. and 3:00 a.m. in the local time zone. After following all the rules revealed in the dream for the sacrificial ritual you then need to wait 60-90 days and your CLI will appear.

If you do not get your CLI then you misinterpreted the dream and must start all over. I've had a CAp 1 since 2000. Got it in a rebuilding phase for $700 with a $39 AF. It has never budged and I don't expect it ever will. I gave up asking a few years ago.

[Anonymous]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

You need to pray to the CAP 1 God until they reveal to you in a dream the sacrifice they want made. You then need to hunt the appropriate animal (buying it will not work) in a loincloth and capture it between the hours of 1:3:00 a.m.. and 3:00 a.m. in the local time zone. After following all the rules revealed in the dream for the sacrificial ritual you then need to wait 60-90 days and your CLI will appear.

If you do not get your CLI then you misinterpreted the dream and must start all over. I've had a CAp 1 since 2000. Got it in a rebuilding phase for $700 with a $39 AF. It has never budged and I don't expect it ever will. I gave up asking a few years ago.

---

My wife has same problem. She has it for past 7 years but not a single increase. Also she does not have enven a single bad entry on any of her CR. The only reason we have this card open is because this was her first card.

[Anonymous]

I have had my Cap 1 credit card for a month and a half now. My very first credit card. No hassle cash rewards card with a $39 AF that I applied for on their website for people with average credit. When I got my welcome materials my score was a 701 according to experian. Not bad for a newcomer who recently graduated college and only just started making payments on my student loans when the grace period ran out a few months ago.

My card has a 500 CL, will go to 750 in a couple of months with their credit steps program and I honestly dont expect any more than that. From what I have understood from doing a lot of searching is a lot of the capital one cards for people with average or rebuilding credit won't take you anywhere. Basically they are training wheels credit cards so to speak so I don't think it is reasonable to expect generous CL increases with  most of Capital One's cards.

I am more focused on upgrading. I only want to have one credit card and I figure after about another year I should have the credit score and history for the Venture card because that fits in perfectly with how i want to redeem rewards. As a US soccer fan I enjoy traveling a lot so that is perfect for me. Hopefully I can upgrade from my current card to the Venture. I really dont want to have to apply for the Venture to get it and then cancel my current card because I dont want to lose the payment history.

So with Capital One if you want a high CL it is probably best to upgrade to one of their cards for people with Excellent credit instead of trying to get a CLI with your current card. That is what I plan to do at least. I would sure hope you can go higher than 750 with a Venture card. 

[Jstic]

I've been a CO card holder for 11 years. Started with a 2000 limit, they raised it to 3000 in about 2005. I've inquired several times about a higher credit line, but they give me the same song and dance about how this card is not eligible at the time. I have a FICO score of 780 from Equifax and 760 from TU. Have never missed a payment or been late by one day with CO. Bottom line, I don't use the card at all. The way I look at it, bad business on their part. Nothing wrong with being conservative, but they take it to a new level compared to every other bank I do business with. I have no other cards with less than a $12,000 limit.

[Anonymous]

---

@Jstic wrote:

I've been a CO card holder for 11 years. Started with a 2000 limit, they raised it to 3000 in about 2005. I've inquired several times about a higher credit line, but they give me the same song and dance about how this card is not eligible at the time. I have a FICO score of 780 from Equifax and 760 from TU. Have never missed a payment or been late by one day with CO. Bottom line, I don't use the card at all. The way I look at it, bad business on their part. Nothing wrong with being conservative, but they take it to a new level compared to every other bank I do business with. I have no other cards with less than a $12,000 limit.

---

I think I'll do the same thing. We are in almost same boat

[SevenNEW]

I have come to a conclusion about this.

Common story. I got my Cap 1 steps card with no credi history and a $500 CL three years ago. I was a good boy and with time they raised it to $1000 and -- low and behold -- to $2750. After that nothing. The rest will sound familiar to many -- I have gotten a prime mortgage last year, two prime cards recently (Amex BCP and Chase Freedom) with decent CLs around 5k, but still no love from Cap 1. I expect that in a year or so (or maybe later) they will PC into something else, but I know there is no way of prodding them.

So, my conclusion is that Cap1 does a great job at the beginning and much later, but one should use it to get to the point where one can get good cards and then forget about it for a while. (One can decide to sockdrawer it as I do if there is no AF, or close it altogether.) Fast forward some time, one can try to PC it into a Cap 1 prime card or apply for a new one. And yes, it's ridicolous that they would be pickier than Amex, but it's the reality of things. Still their cash back is not terrible and they have no foreign transaction fees, so I can still see it in my wallet again, eventually. But one cannot build a whole credit history on Cap 1 even if one wanted to.

[JRomulus]

---

@Jstic wrote:

I've been a CO card holder for 11 years. Started with a 2000 limit, they raised it to 3000 in about 2005. I've inquired several times about a higher credit line, but they give me the same song and dance about how this card is not eligible at the time. I have a FICO score of 780 from Equifax and 760 from TU. Have never missed a payment or been late by one day with CO. Bottom line, I don't use the card at all. The way I look at it, bad business on their part. Nothing wrong with being conservative, but they take it to a new level compared to every other bank I do business with. I have no other cards with less than a $12,000 limit.

I think I'll do the same thing. We are in almost same boat

---

My situation about identical.  Initial $2000 limit about 10 years ago, and has long ago maxed out at $3000, various attempts at CLI over the phone have failed.  Meanwhile, Amex, Chase, Barclays and Discover have all granted me cards at much higher limits. 

My own theory is that Cap One pegs certain cards at a certain max level when issued.  Don't think it's worth beating your head against the wall after you try a time or two. 

One way I have heard of is people applying for a new Venture card and getting a higher limit on the new card.

As for me, I take the Cap One $3000 card with me to Europe and use it because there are no foreign transaction fees, then when I get home, PIF and back into the sock drawer it goes.