@purebulldogs wrote:Amex seems to really grow when we do regardless of the card (not counting the one to get back in with them).
If I can only afford $500 a month and they know it, my limit will probably stay at 500.
Now if my income grows a lot, my scores increase, amex will most likely raise the credit limit even on the same card.
The opposite of the cap one platinum card that's in a bucket no matter how high the score or income gets to. Once a crap card always a crap card with capital one I guess.
Reminds me of when Amex credit writers told me I could spend as much as I can show I can afford. I said a million dollars? They said if you can show you can afford to pay it back, sure.
I don't consider tham as great as all that, but definitely agree that they are well above average in making credit limit increases accessible.
@UncleB wrote:
@Remedios wrote:Also, before we get into idolizing and idealizing, let's remember that some of Amex $500/$1000 cards for not grow for some when acquired during times when credit report wasn't that good.
A new card may be approved with decent limit and it will grow, but "old" one might be forever stuck.
Also, get a brand new late and see who's first to CLD/Close, same with utilization.
Amex is by far most reactive and fastest to react given how data driven they are, and they usually get it right before anyone else does. When Amex starts looking away and pinching their nose, stuff 'bout to happen with those profiles.
When Amex is your BFF, they are a good BFF to have.
Oh yes... Amex giveth, and Amex taketh away, LOL.
It seems like those who are patient and take it slow with Amex tend to do OK. Those who come out of the gate swinging for the fences sometimes get tripped up, and just like @Remedios mentioned they can get squirrelly over things that don't bother other lenders.
In the last five years, the only AA (adverse action) I've had was actually with Amex. Several years ago I did an app apree (yeah, I know) and my scores dipped into the 740s, which triggered an APR increase on my Everyday card; none of my other lenders even blinked. Not the worst outcome, but it reminded me that they keep a close watch on things.
Yep, while I too like AmEx and have 4 of their cards again including the ones I "lost" they most certainly do "Amex giveth, and Amex taketh away, LOL." UncleB! .
So, @purebulldogs before you put them too high on a pedestal let me tell how "forgiving" they are lol. Way back in 2002 I had a brick and mortor business that was my sole source of income that after 10 years of doing very well in buisness it started failing. That eventually also lead to me having to file BK later down the road, even though AmEx was closed before that and thus not included because of what they did. At the time I had, had an AmEx Green Card (which I rarely used anymore) since 1984 and Gold and Platinum since 1994 going back to when Platinum was truly exlusive and by AmEx Invitation only like the Black Card is now. I had always had heavy use and PIF on both of the Gold/Platinum and was never late and always made sure they got paid even during my financial distress. Well, even though I did everything right with them they saw through their credit monitoring and credit profiling what was coming and shut down all 3 cards even though I had a perfect history with them and was probably a year before I file BK. No warning, and like I said never a missed monthly PIF in what was 18 years with them at the time.
They then also took it to their max step and Blacklisted me for the next 19 years just letting me back in last Summer. There's a reason they soft pull every members credit every month. Now I'm not saying they did me wrong at all. Heck they were smart in what they did as they would have probably gotten burned if they hadn't. But trust me while they are good and good to have they aren't the glowing friend you think. If things get bumpy they'll be the first ones to turn their back on you and when they do they have a long memory and won't dance with you again for a long time. Now they did when they finally let me back in show my Member Since date on all my cards as 1994 (not sure why they didn't go back to 1984 unless it was because I never really used that card much or they just somehow missed it).
I won't claim to have Amex figured out because I don't.
I had a $1k Delta Gold from 2015-2017 that I never got a CLI on... in their defense I didn't use the card that much beyond meeting the initial SUB spend because the perks weren't all that great. It was closed by me prior to filing Ch 13 because I wanted to keep the bridge open.
In 2022 Amex gave me the same card with a $10k limit. My "cardmember since" was reset to 2022 and I have a new SUB. Why did they give me a 10x CLI? I have no idea based on their previous actions. Maybe they did it to get me to use the card more... and if that's the case they succeeded. The perks have improved (2x miles at restaurants/grocery) and it's nice to have a card with a $10k limit because I can dump monthly expenses on it (around $3k) and not even care about utilization... and Amex will be happy (I can hope) because I'm using the card.
Will I get a CLI though? Probably not. 
"You are denied because you don't use enough of your credit limit."
