@JoeRockhead wrote:Just to clarify, the only time you have the right to know the factors that were considered is when there is a denial. While some lenders may tell you the reasons in regards to a reconsideration of a low starting limit, or high APR approval, they're under no obligation to disclose reasons for an approval, including the reason for a starting limit, or the reason for starting APR (low, or high in either case).
In regards to credit score disclosures, they're only required to disclose a credit score if it was a factor in a denial, or in regards to adverse action taken.
@JoeRockhead, just to level set, the post you responded to was from a spammer; notice the sneaky embedded link on the second line. Long story short, it is pretty safe to say anything that poster wrote is worthless and should be ignored.
@Horseshoez yes, I caught that... I'll often respond to these things simply for the benefit of other members who aren't as savvy as you, and may put some merit in what was posted. 
@JoeRockhead wrote:Interesting question but, I believe that only applies when someone is declined.
Low, or toy limits are generally an indication that it was barely an approval. Generally this (along with higher apr) can be attributed to things like lower scores, a thin file (inexperienced), credit seeking, and perhaps the presence of derogatory information. All things that could be listed when someone is declined.
Regarding the low or toy limits, I'm thinking it depends upon the lender. Focusing on CapOne, they seem to prefer applicants with marginal credit ratings versus ones with clean files and high scores. Consider the following:
- About 9 months after my Chapter 13 was discharged (and still showing on my reports) my FICO 8 scores were in the very low 600s and they approved me for a Quicksilver with a $3,000 starting limit which has since grown via auto-CLIs to $6,300.
- About 18 months later my Chapter 13 had fallen off my reports, all 28 of my FICO scores were well into the 800s, and CapOne had been pestering me to apply for a SavorOne card for several months by sending me repetitive preapproval E-Mails. I took the bait, applied, and got a $2,000 limit; that was over two years ago and they have yet to grant me a CLI.
The SavorOne application/approval pushed me on to a different score card, my scores FICO 8 scores dropped just below 800, and then a new vehicle loan later that year dropped my scores down into the 760s; even still, Chase granted me a starting limit of $11,700 for a CSP two months after I got the new vehicle.
TL, DR; some lenders reward clean credit files and high scores, others seem to prefer you to have middling credit.
@Horseshoez wrote:
@TL, DR; some lenders reward clean credit files and high scores, others seem to prefer you to have middling credit.
The only reward I ever got for a clean file and high scores was a 35% CLD 
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@HorseshoezWhile not discounting your experience, I have a somewhat different take on Capital One. As a general rule, I don't think having high scores is necessarily a problem for Capital One, it's more about wanting to be your main squeeze. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think my ok but not great post BK7 scores, which would typically equate to a borderline/lower limit approval (if not denied) from mainstream/prime cards, helped my odds of getting decent limits with Cap One. I attribute it more to a combination of not having too many cards and having given Capital One a majority of my spend for most of my rebuild. I've got 6 cards...my rebuild started 11/21 with a secured Discover (It Chrome), and my C1 cards (accounting for 4 of the other 5) were opened 02/2022, 09/2022, 07/2023, 04/2024. Every month since opening the QS1 in Feb 2022, C1 has gotten a majority of my CC spend. That combined with no interest paid imo, is why C1 is ok with giving me better SLs ($2k, $3k, $10k, $20k) than my score may suggest.
@Zoostation1 wrote:@HorseshoezWhile not discounting your experience, I have a somewhat different take on Capital One. As a general rule, I don't think having high scores is necessarily a problem for Capital One, it's more about wanting to be your main squeeze. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think my ok but not great post BK7 scores, which would typically equate to a borderline/lower limit approval (if not denied) from mainstream/prime cards, helped my odds of getting decent limits with Cap One. I attribute it more to a combination of not having too many cards and having given Capital One a majority of my spend for most of my rebuild. I've got 6 cards...my rebuild started 11/21 with a secured Discover (It Chrome), and my C1 cards (accounting for 4 of the other 5) were opened 02/2022, 09/2022, 07/2023, 04/2024. Every month since opening the QS1 in Feb 2022, C1 has gotten a majority of my CC spend. That combined with no interest paid imo, is why C1 is ok with giving me better SLs ($2k, $3k, $10k, $20k) than my score may suggest.
@Zoostation1, my Quicksilver ($3,000 starting limit with FICO scores in the low- to mid-600s and only one other card in my portfolio) was getting pretty regular CLIs through about the 2.5 year mark (reaching a limit of $6,300); the card got heavy spend and I never once carried a balance. However, my SavorOne ($2,000 starting limit with FICO scores in the low- to mid-800s and only two other non-CapOne cards in my portfolio) has yet to get a single CLI in spite of numerous requests and heavy spend, and also never carrying a balance.
As much as I appreciate CapOne for giving me my first unsecured card after my Chapter 13 discharge, I've decided to move on; my Quicksilver has been replaced with my Freedom Unlimited ($23,700 starting limit) and my SavorOne has been replaced by my More Rewards ($30,000 starting limit); granted the two replacement cards aren't exactly one-for-one swaps in terms of features, but close enough for me.
Long story short, the combined limit for my two CapOne cards is currently $6,300 (both recently dropped in my sock drawer), while the two cards I have as replacements have a combined limit of $53,000. On a normal month-to-month basis, the credit limit for the CapOne cards was reasonably sufficient, but we just bought a new home and started renovations, and just this week alone I've put just over $25,000 on the two replacement cards.