USAA CLI?

[BLAIX]

First time posting, so sorry if I am mistaken on my credit understanding.

I recently found out hard truths about credit that I had been duped on for years - I thought I should be carrying a rolling balance, I thought I should be utilizing high and paying off regularly but not keeping a statement balance of <10%, I didn't realize I should have opened more than one LOC in the previous years. In learning everything and trying to fix a few bad marks on my report (I forgot about a card two years ago with a small balance I thought I had paid off, it went delinquent 120+ days with CapOne) that I am going to start trying to write goodwill letters and validation requests. That being said, I recently applied for three more LOC, I knew I'd be taking hard inquiry hits but I felt like it would be worth it to put more LOC under my belt. One was just a card at the Express store where I buy my business clothes, one was the ChaseFreedom for 2200 and the other was CapOne Platinum for 3k. 

I've had my USAA Platinum for 7 years now and I'm only sitting at 1500. I've never missed a payment with them on my LOC or auto loan (4 years). I've tried a few times to get a CLI and I'm taking hard inquiry hits and getting nowhere. I called for one today and when I was declined I told him I was able to open a new account with twice the limit of this 7year old account which has been in pristine standing with them and requested to speak to a credit analyst. I was told that there was no one they could transfer me to, they would just have someone look over my account and see what they could do about it, but no one would be able to speak with me. I had always been pretty happy with USAA but I felt like this was some pretty crummy customer service. I was told I would just get a letter in 7-10 business days explaining my declination.

My question to you is this - what do you know about USAA and CLI? I was under the impression I should be able to speak with a supervisor or someone other than your typical CSR who really can't do much else other than running your score and telling you what it spits out. Any help?

[rdubb]

---

@BLAIX wrote:

First time posting, so sorry if I am mistaken on my credit understanding.

I recently found out hard truths about credit that I had been duped on for years - I thought I should be carrying a rolling balance, I thought I should be utilizing high and paying off regularly but not keeping a statement balance of <10%, I didn't realize I should have opened more than one LOC in the previous years. In learning everything and trying to fix a few bad marks on my report (I forgot about a card two years ago with a small balance I thought I had paid off, it went delinquent 120+ days with CapOne) that I am going to start trying to write goodwill letters and validation requests. That being said, I recently applied for three more LOC, I knew I'd be taking hard inquiry hits but I felt like it would be worth it to put more LOC under my belt. One was just a card at the Express store where I buy my business clothes, one was the ChaseFreedom for 2200 and the other was CapOne Platinum for 3k. 

I've had my USAA Platinum for 7 years now and I'm only sitting at 1500. I've never missed a payment with them on my LOC or auto loan (4 years). I've tried a few times to get a CLI and I'm taking hard inquiry hits and getting nowhere. I called for one today and when I was declined I told him I was able to open a new account with twice the limit of this 7year old account which has been in pristine standing with them and requested to speak to a credit analyst. I was told that there was no one they could transfer me to, they would just have someone look over my account and see what they could do about it, but no one would be able to speak with me. I had always been pretty happy with USAA but I felt like this was some pretty crummy customer service. I was told I would just get a letter in 7-10 business days explaining my declination.

My question to you is this - what do you know about USAA and CLI? I was under the impression I should be able to speak with a supervisor or someone other than your typical CSR who really can't do much else other than running your score and telling you what it spits out. Any help?

---

As far as I know there is no way to speak directly to the credit departement at USAA, you can only deal with the CSR.

Sounds like you have a rebuilder card and USAA does not do CLIs on their rebuilder cards AFAIK. I had a Platinum card with USAA that was also a rebuilder and I just closed it today. It didn't make sense to pay the $35 AF anymore. It was sitting at $1,000 for years. I asked about getting a CLI or converting it to a WMC but was told that it wasn't possible. I ended up app'ing for 2 other cards and was approved for a $16,000 limit on both. They also approved a $10,000 personal loan. If your credit has improved you'd be better off applying for a different card than trying to get a CLI on the rebuilder.

[cs91]

I agree, I think you should just apply for a new account, you've already taken the HP (Which is good for 30 days). If you are ok with taking the hit for a new account I'd head that direction..just my .02 cents.

[BLAIX]

No I've had my USAA Platinum for 7 years before I had the issues on my report 2 years ago, so it's just their USAA Platinum MC, not a secured card or anything. I've been approved for two more lines of credit this week all above my 7year old account with USAA. It's just disappointing that I'm being extended larger lines of credit from places I have no history with and being denied a CLI from some place I've been loyal and on time to for seven years and counting.

[cs91]

Yeah they can be quirky, I applied for a CLI on my USAA accounts back in August and one was approved and one wasnt....it's an internal rating on you and the account. But like I said..maybe you'd be better off apping for a new card as u already have taken the HP hit. A few years ago I tried for a CLI on my account and got denied (I didn't understand why, util was low and perfect payment history). I ended up apping the same day and got approved for a larger limit and lower APR...so who knows the method to their madness.

[BLAIX]

I can use the inquiry they just made to open another card with them you mean? I'm just not sure if I will be approved and if that will affect me.

[awp317]

I have always had better luck using the app on my phone to get credit line increases, but since you just asked for one they might not let you. 

[cs91]

Yes that inquiry is good for 30 days so you can app for a new card...it won't be second HP.

[BLAIX]

Just an update. I asked for my request to be put into review since I've had great credit with them and yada yada. I wasn't able to speak to anyone but just expected the same ol same rejection letter, but lo and behold I logged on my account to pay off a small purchase today before my statement cuts and saw that my CL had doubled.

So I guess there's that.