Interesting Conversation With Discover Regarding CLI Denial

[Anonymous]

Good morning! I just wanted to share an interesting conversation I had with one of Discover's representatives at the limit increase dept. As usual, I tried for this month's CLI to see if I could get my 2.3K limit increased, but sadly, i was denied again. This month, my account will already be a year old. So after the denial message, I considered calling them to ask why they keep denying me on the basis of Insufficient experience with the current limit. In the past year my spending was above 100% of my existing limit, and they have it on record since they provide the spend analyzer and year end report. My usual month to month spend with Discover was about $400 - $500, the highest being in November and December last year, I ran about $600 - $700 because of the holidays. The representative said that he noticed that I make multiple payments each billing cycle and unfortunately, their CLI database is only recording the last payment made during the cycle, thus, causing the computer system to think that I have not sufficiently used the credit I was given. So if my last payment was $17 out of a total spend of $600 on a given month, the computer system would only see the last payment I made, and will use that as basis when evaluating a request for a limit increase. I asked the rep if he could see my overall spend  from the past three months cycle and he says yes, but their computer analyzing the limit increases could only see the small amount I paid, and for that reason they could not grant me a limit increase. Not even a manual review? So in short, I am being punished for keeping on top of my balances. Yes I do pay them multiple times during a cycle because I find it easier for myself to pay it when I already have the funds for it. But to use that as a reason for a denial seems a bit unfair for a consumer who only wants to keep on top of managing finances. Oh well, I can't wait to get my cashback match in April, at least i have that to look forward to.

[Shadowfactor]

Interesting. Maybe that’s why I never can get a CLI. Still stuck at $200.
I’ve had that credit limit the entire card history length. Yes half of it was time being secured.

My scores have risen over 130 points since opening and 55 points since graduation.

I just wish they would up it to $500. Atleast then I can use it at the grocery store.

[Anonymous]

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@Shadowfactorwrote:
Interesting. Maybe that’s why I never can get a CLI. Still stuck at $200.
I’ve had that credit limit the entire card history length. Yes half of it was time being secured.

My scores have risen over 130 points since opening and 55 points since graduation.

I just wish they would up it to $500. Atleast then I can use it at the grocery store.

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Wow! How long have you had the card? If it's been a year, then perhaps you should just re-apply again, maybe that card is stuck at a certain threshold. I actually closed my Capital One last year, which also started out as secured, but graduated August of last year, but it just did not grow any more than what I'd hoped for. If you like Discover, i'd say just apply again. I do like them still, just frustrated with the way they evaluated my account.

[Shadowfactor]

10.5 months. So 3 statements past graduation.

I know it’s not a long time, but my scores have improved significantly since graduation. Now at 697 TU on my last softpull. I was at 646 at graduation.

Always paid the card off as each transaction posts. If I want to use the card I have to recycle the limit with payments.

[Anonymous]

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@Shadowfactorwrote:
10.5 months. So 3 statements past graduation.

I know it’s not a long time, but my scores have improved significantly since graduation. Now at 697 TU on my last softpull. I was at 646 at graduation.

Always paid the card off as each transaction posts. If I want to use the card I have to recycle the limit with payments.

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Which is exactly why I thought it being unfair to use the last payment to evaluate a CL increase request. If one is working with a lower limit, then obviously, we need to make multiple payments in order to make it useable and less overwhelming when it comes to managing and paying bills. 

[arkane]

I can believe the bit about the CLI system being stupid, but I still think that being the reason for a denial is hogwash. We have more than a few accounts of people not getting any luv from Disco, then getting one later when they stop using the card altogether for a few months. 

[Anonymous]

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@arkanewrote:

I can believe the bit about the CLI system being stupid, but I still think that being the reason for a denial is hogwash. We have more than a few accounts of people not getting any luv from Disco, then getting one later when they stop using the card altogether for a few months. 

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Hi Arkane, when I do get approved for a Visa card in May, I probably will give Discover a rest.

[NRB525]

A $2,300 Discover after graduating from secured is not bad. Building credit takes time. If you aren’t using the limit by paying after statement, then it looks like the limit is adequate.

[Remedios]

I pay weekly, and I got a CLI after 3 statements. 

Even on mobile app it will list total amount for transactions and total payments.There is no way in hell that their system does "not know" how much you paid. You were given a junk excuse for not getting a CLI. 

I noticed that a day after I requested CLI, Disco soft pulled EX, then again 3 days later. Are your other cards at low utilization also? 

[Anonymous]

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@Remedioswrote:

I pay weekly, and I got a CLI after 3 statements. 

Even on mobile app it will list total amount for transactions and total payments.There is no way in hell that their system does "not know" how much you paid. You were given a junk excuse for not getting a CLI. 

I noticed that a day after I requested CLI, Disco soft pulled EX, then again 3 days later. Are your other cards at low utilization also? 

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While the explanation may well be junk,  I wouldn't be surprised if some systems for some issuers do have expectations of "normal" behavior, such as paying once per month (and after the statement is cut) so you could run into this type of thing.