Credit Card Issuer FAQ

I think the following information for all the major issuers would be useful.

Issuer:
Convert to another card type:
Combine Credit Lines:
Reallocate Credit Lines:
Max Number of cards:
BT Checks:
BT to checking account: Ys
Period between CLI:
To get a human on the phone:
Disscution threads:

I don't know all the information for all these issuers, but I'll update the Quick Summary if people post what they do know.

this could be an excellent resource, thx OP. I posted what I know in the Quick Summary - that way others can update with complete info

Slight problem is that a lot of these criteria are YMMV...for example someone can have a lot more than 3 Citi cards (I do), though others may be declined for that many. Sometimes CIti allows reallocation, sometimes they dont (based on competence/laziness of CSR).

This is a great idea!

I hadn't thought about the fact that there might be a problem reallocating credit between a Visa and MasterCard from the same issuer. Just realized that's what I'm trying to do with 2 of my Citi cards -- I hope it goes through. When I spoke to a CSR the other day he seemed to be having some trouble but told me to call back in a few days to make sure it was processed. I'll update this to let you know how it turns out.

clearanceman said: Thanks for the info on Citi. I have three cards and my wife has one, I guess I am maxed out on my side, I had consdered applying for a fourth, glad I didn't now.see my post, I have quite a few Citi cards (7 i believe) so there is no hard and fast 3 card rule for everyone

I was able to consolidate two Citi Diamond Preferred cards; however, they wouldn't allow me to consolidate or reallocate credit between a Diamond and Professional card.

uguud said: I was able to consolidate two Citi Diamond Preferred cards; however, they wouldn't allow me to consolidate or reallocate credit between a Diamond and Professional card.thats right a prof card is considered a biz card, and citi will not combine personal CLs with biz Cls

I was able to BT electronically to checking account with Chase (Chase Perfectcard) in March 2005

jrtang said: If an issuer doesn't allow BT to checking account, but offers BT checks, does that mean you CAN'T write a BT check to yourself and deposit it into your checking?
Depends on the issuer. Bottom line: ask before you do it to avoid having a BT count as a cash advance. Some issuers will count any check written to yourself as a cash advance. (You can usually get around this by writing the check out to the name of the bank you are depositing in, and depositing directly into your own account.)

FYI, about discover.

I have two discover cards, first is Platnium with 15K CL and 6K 0% for life balance on it. The second is the Restruant card. Its been over 6 months since my last CLI on the restruant card, so I called and asked for CLI. Tina (the CSR) asked how much? I said whatever I can get. She put in 15K and "the system" returned 14K. She quickly explained I wasn't denied a 15K limit, just I'd have to transfer to a credit analyst (read hard inquery). I think 15K is the most you can get without a hard inquery. So I went from 11K to 14K, no hard. Also asked for lower purchase rate currently 16.74%. Had to transfered to another departement and they asked what my other cards had. I said besides my 0% intro rates 12% (Just made up the 12%, I have a Motely fool low rate card at 6%, but I'm sure the can't match that). They offered 15.99% or 0% for 6 months. Took the 0% of course.

Of course everyone offered to low rate BT. 7.9% yeah right. I probably could have done better on the BT rate but didn't bother.

golf247 said: Another question about BT checks. If married and each person has individual bank accounts, can you write a BT check to spouse and bypass cash advance fees (independent of CC issuer)?

good tactic
anyone done this?

excellent thread.

The quick summary in the locked citicardman's thread says there is no limit for the number of citi cards.

One more thing I'd be interested in seeing is whether the issuers report to the credit bureaus on a regular basis even if there was no activity / no statement generated.

And to reply to moledude and aFewGoodMan -- AMEX does have a timeline between credit increases. It's between 1 and 2 months, until you reach some top number (from personal experience). And I agree on on the best time to request CLI -- after you receive a statement.

For BoA , I just call the number on the back of my card and press 0 and I got a CSR.

bump

Regarding writing a check to yourself:

I did BofA no-fee 0% BT several times. I deposited the checks to my BofA checking account four times, send to Scottrade to fund my ROTH, and paid property tax. None of those counted as cash advance.

The BT checks were sent to me in a promo letters. The letters specifically say:
"Use this check to eliminate other high-rate balances, like loans and credit card payments. Or use them like your personal check. You can also get cash by depositing them into your bank account. Best of all, there are no balance transfer fees or check fees with this offer!"

Never use the option to do BT online, although the letters say it can be done @ EasyBT dot com.

chase usually deducts $500 when you combine consolidate credit cards.

It would be nice if this thread were expanded to include information about how much you can make off each card's "special offers" over the course of a year. I have some cards I've never gotten a special offer from, while others have been very productive. This thread seems to be the logical place for such info.

s0meguy said: I was able to BT electronically to checking account with Chase (Chase Perfectcard) in March 2005

I tried to last night and was told card had to be open for 90 days before they would do it, otherwise have to use checks.

PITA point - I received new cards with great Balance Transfer option, but no checks to be able to implement. I had to call and request them.

What does the "BT to checking refer" to? I ask because I have been successful writing out Bank of Amreica checks to myself and depositing them into my checking account. The same is true with my Chase cards. I have also called and had a Chase CSR BT transfer straight to my checking account, once was an electronic transfer and the other they mailed the check to my credit union. I would think these instances would mean that "BT to checking" should be YES for both of these companies.

Excellent thread.
Has OP updated his info?

byex0039 said: What does the "BT to checking refer" to? I ask because I have been successful writing out Bank of Amreica checks to myself and depositing them into my checking account. The same is true with my Chase cards. I have also called and had a Chase CSR BT transfer straight to my checking account, once was an electronic transfer and the other they mailed the check to my credit union. I would think these instances would mean that "BT to checking" should be YES for both of these companies.

BT to checking refers to the credit card company electronicly transfering money directly to your checking account and thus avoiding the sometimes lengthly holding periods.

YMMV with Chase allowing BT to checking.

bump