on the AMEX website, when i request for a CLI, a form comes up to fill out...

does this form mean that there will be a hard pull?, or is it safe to fill out?

jmagic said:

on the AMEX website, when i request for a CLI, a form comes up to fill out...

does this form mean that there will be a hard pull?, or is it safe to fill out?


Form = hard pull

No form (preapproved CLI) = no pull

The two times I have requested a CL increase on the AMEX website it specifically stated there was no hard pull of my CR.

manuel said:I agree completely with Razorshock - I probably made something like 4K(half taxable, half nontaxable) last year from 0% related floats. It don't pay like a dayjob but it takes a lot less time.

And the challenge of maxxing out other people's money is kinda fun.

So are you guys closing these cards when you're "done" with them or what? Can anyone confirm that closing a CC is usually a bad idea?

acfu said:So are you guys closing these cards when you're "done" with them or what? Can anyone confirm that closing a CC is usually a bad idea?I can confirm. Age of accounts is a large factor in determining your FICO score - you will not really help or hurt your score in such a small window. Opening and closing a card within the 12 months BT time period is not really going to ding your score too much - the ding only comes from the application - your score will go back up in the next 6 months to pre-application level, so it's a wash. There's no real reason to close it though - more BT offers come around all the time that you may be able to use again on that card, you can use the excess CL to boost utilization or reallocate from other card with that issuer... I am not one who subscribes to the "having too much credit available" as a negative obviously.

I get a 2K increase with no hard pulls every 2 months or so. AMEX Blue @12K, Citi Platinum @ 12K, and MBNA AAA @ 11.5K. I have $0 balance on all of them, and have had them all for about 5 years.

What is the best way to get a high CL on a new card for 0% BT?? should i keep increasing my limits? close one of the cards? I really only use the MBNA for the 5% discount on gas. I'm planning on getting a AMEX that gives 5% back on Home Depot purchases.

I really dont want to do anything until after mid july though because i'm closing on a house the 8th.

I opened a Citibank CC about 5 months ago (but less than 6). I just hit the CL increase button online, and it worked. Starting CL was $3,700. It was bumped another $500 to $4,200. It's not a great bump but not bad with just a mouse click. Also, I like how it asks you if you accept this CL increase amount before committing the change.

Also, a few months ago, I opened up an account with Providian. The APR is a friggin high 18%, but I opened it for the 12 month 0% BT offer. My initial CL was $12K. They just bumped it up to $17K within the past couple of weeks for no reason. They won't get a cent of interest from me. I will just make sure I pay off the balance by the end of the 0% term.

I think these evil companies try to get you to use those "checks" they send you. I have been increasingly getting bombarded by them in the mail for the past few months. I'm no sucker.. but there must be suckers out there. That's why they keep sending them.

Edit: spellling

I recently applied for a CLI with citi and used total annual household income. Citi sent me a letter requesting proof of income(paystubs). So I was going to send in multiple paystubs(for one other person who lives in my household). Does anyone see any potential issues with my sending in someone elses paystubs?

bluegenie said:Does anyone see any potential issues with my sending in someone elses paystubs?

It would be a potential issue if you do so without asking that someones permission.

If you're concerned about your housemate's privacy you have the right to decline their request and they have the right to refuse to increase.

PiHKAL said:If you are making that much money then why are you credit scores so bad?

It's pretty easy. Our HH income is ~240k, but while my wife was in law school (prior to meeting me) she lived off her credit cards and ran-up huge debts. When I met her I had her file bankruptcy as her credit score was already terrible. A couple years later and her score is around 650, which is much better than it was -- but still not good.

Shouldn't that affect your wife's CS, not yours?

Googler said:Shouldn't that affect your wife's CS, not yours?"... for richer or poorer..."