Asking for CLI - good or bad?

[turninganewleaf]

I have had a gas credit card  with a $300 limit for one year and it has been paid in full every month (with low utli) - no lates. 

Would it benefit or hurt me to call and ask for a CLI in an attempt to raise my credit scores?  Will they pull a credit report on me to do this or will they just review the history of the account to make the decision?  If it's the former, then I'll sit tight where I am.  I don't want any more voluntary hits.

[Anonymous]

You can ask if they can increase with out pulling our credit. Make it very clear no credit pull. Some people say no hard hits, but sometimes it still can happen, no credit check is better. I used to ask for credit line increased all the time every 6 months. But I got to a limit point where they told me no more... lol

[turninganewleaf]

For those of you who are interested, I called Chevron (my gas card creditor) and asked about increasing CLI.  They said that since I've almost reached a year (in two weeks) of having this card and having paid it off in full each month, no lates, that I am up for an automatic increase line of credit.  They confirmed that they only review the account history and that they do not pull credit reports.

So, I guess that's good for me, no hits and higher credit line to hopefully reflect positively on my credit report! 

[Anonymous]

I have a Chevron gas card. I got it about 2 years ago and it was part of the credit rebuilder program. I started at a $200 CL and am now at $1000.00!! Unfortunately, you cannot ask but they do review quite often. After one year - it seems to go up every four or five months. Good luck!!

[turninganewleaf]

Good news regarding my earlier post... I checked my Chevron account this morning and I was given a $100 credit line increase (after a full year of on time payments and PIF each month).  Now, my util on this card is 8%.  Unfortunately, I also realize I can only charge one tank of gas a month to stay within the 1-9% util, but that's okay.  I'm beginning to realize it's worth it!  I'll keep paying cash for every other fill up.

Also, I was told, one more year at same progress and I'll move into the regular Chevron credit account system and out of the credit rebuilder program!

I wonder what, if any, kind of increase my FICO score will take.  Hmm.....

[Anonymous]

That is what I was told. They said in two years, with good payments, I would be moved into the "regular" chevron card program. Not so. It is officially two years for me now and they didn't give me the "regular" card - but they did increase my CL to $1000.00.

On a postive note, after I hit the year mark, they kept giving me CLI's.

[turninganewleaf]

Have you called them?  Did they explain why you're not in the "regular" program?  Is there a difference b/n the two as far as reporting is concerned?

As for the CLI, even though they told me I wouldn't get another increase until after another year, you think I'll actually get another increase before that?

[Anonymous]

You know, I haven't called in a while but I will call them shortly and get back to you and let you know exactly what they say.

I was told the same thing - that it would be another year before I saw an increase. This is what happened to me.... I got the card two years ago at a two or three hundred ( I forget ) CL. Then after one year it was $400. After about three to four months it went up to $600. When I hit the two year date it went up to $1000. I never asked for an increase.... just got them, but I did call on occasion and ask and was told they only increased at yearly anniversary which isn't completely true b/c I got one b/w one and two years.

Let me go call and see what they say about switching to a regular card.

[Anonymous]

Just called Chevron. They have switched me over to the regular chevron card - they just didn't tell me. it happened at the two year mark. Funny b/c I never knew.

[turninganewleaf]

Great!  So, is there any differences b/n Chevron's credit builder and regular account?  Lower APR maybe?