SIS started a thread some time ago re: Highest CL per CC - what I want to do with this thread is spin-off that topic to share strategies used to get CLI on various cards – WITHOUT a hard pull. Why is this useful? Raised limits = lower utilization = higher FICO.

Discover

Initial limit: 5,000

Current limit: 17,500*

Strategy: Called every 3 months till 12.5k... One call to bump 12.5k to 17.5k

Citi Div Platinum

Initial limit: 6,800

Current limit: 19,250

Strategy: Mixture of CL button and calling ('till I figured out CLI button max = CSR max)... First CLI at 5 months.

*The Discover Rule - If you have already reached 15k and request a CLI, a hard pull is required.

Why would Citi give you an automatic CLI if you have shown that you don't go above 1k in spending?

That makes no sense.

Storme said:Why would Citi give you an automatic CLI if you have shown that you don't go above 1k in spending?

That makes no sense.

This does happen with issuers. I have a card that I use soley for restaurants and entertainment for work in which I receive reimbursement. I don't use over 20% of my CL yet they keep bumping up the limit periodically.

Storme said:Why would Citi give you an automatic CLI if you have shown that you don't go above 1k in spending?

That makes no sense.

Maybe they would like you to use their card more often then other cards...Maybe they want you to start spending more, carry a balance, etc...It really does not have to make sense...They are just giving you more of a chance to carry a larger balance...

had Blue cash that was unused for a little over a year with 2K cl.
Did instant CL increase on-line to 3.9K
called in a few days and got another instantincrease to 10K.
also, I've recently applied for 3 AMEX cards (BLUE - 7.5K & Hilton $20K, IN NYC - limit unknown)... don't know why they gave me so much CL, but I got from 2K to almost 40K in a week

Citi seem to be more likely to approve you for higher CL for the type(i.e. brand) of card that you don't have: i.e. if you don't have universal card, you are more likely to get approved for it and with higher CL.
Example, my wife moved all CL to Dividend Card(total about $19K), closed all other cards. Applied for Driver's Edge and For Universal Card - got 3K CL on Driver's and 10K on Universal.

Looks like MBNA is not going to give me anymore, in order to get Schwab card I was given a choice move some CL from existing cards on convert existing account. Total MBNA CL about 33K
Same with case, but I got "stuck" on $26K total CL.

Got one discover card with 10K cl and have been approved for new one with 8K. But from what I understand discover does not let you move CL. Is this correct?

PS I did not read the full OP. Now that I see that you want to bump CL without hard pulls... I understand that you won't find my info very useful.

It seems the credit line is related to your household annual income. I got a good credit score but some credit card companies were reluctant to increase my credit line because my annual income is not that high.

magnate said:

citi, keep hitting the online CLI button. (if it comes up, don't fill in the form. (citi from 750>1500>2250>2550>3250>4500)

Could you please elaborate? How often you hit the CLI button? Your sentence makes it sound like you are rapidly hitting the mouse button hehe. And what do you mean by don't fill out the form? So, if some form comes up to fill out, just try the CLI button another time?

I do think annual household income must play a decent factor into credit lines. To this day, I don't have a single CL above $17.5K. All together, though, I have over $100K in total available credit (small compared to some on this board). I think those guys on this board who report $25K, $50K, etc lines must report $150K or more for annual income. Mine is still in the "5 figure" range.

Of course, we don't know the algorithms each CC issuer uses to increase our lines. To me, main factors are: income, utilization, credit store, credit history length. And as mentioned, BTs are probably one of your best weapons. Although, I did have one point where I asked to BT about $5K for a new line, but they only offered a $2.5K line so the BT became null.

FWIW..

I remember SiS saying it's best to keep your AMEX CL's below $20K.. I currently have been using the online increase and stopped when the CL reached $19,750

Got Delta AMEX Gold with a 4k limit, got it bumped up automatically to 8k after about 10 months with an offer of an additional increase upto 20k if I used BT.

I have found Chase to be very generous.
My Citi cards have the lowest credit lines, and they have been reluctant to offer me good increases. Possible it is because I have 2 citi cards, and my wife has 1.
I have been calling the companies roughly every 6 months to ask for an increase. I might finance my next car that way if I get a 1.9 for lifetime of loan, or some such deal.
MBNA has given me bumps every month or two without me ever asking.