Amex allows a credit limit increase on credit cards 60 days after account opening, and one credit limit increase, per card, every 6 months.
A credit limit increase can be done online or over the phone.
Recently Amex has been very stingy with me in credit on my new cards, the lowest was last August’s Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Business Credit Card for which I was only granted a credit line of $3,000. In 2013 I am going for the 10k MQM ‘Mileage Boost’ for reaching $25k annual spend, and then another 10k for reaching $50k, so I needed more credit.
I canvassed various sources and experts and the answer consistently came back that if Amex is going to approve a credit limit increase, the maximum is almost always 3 times the current credit limit. Further, that asking for more does no harm because they will just approve for the 3x credit limit.
I requested the credit limit online, asking for $10k, sure enough, it came back as approved for $9k, with the option to accept or decline.
This is a credit report soft pull, not a hard pull, so not worries about that.
Readers, does the 3x rule hold true for you?
I wish they could do a credit line swap. My Amex Hilton Honors card has $8,900 limit while my SPG Personal card only has $3,000. Much rather have it the other way around nowadays…
Yes, they recently approved me for the Delta Gold card with some odd credit limit amount ($2450 or something strange like that).
I waited until 61 days, and requested via phone (automated system) and was approved for exactly 3x.
Does this result in a credit pull?
Wow, did not know this option existed, and certainly would not have thought it’s a soft pull. Thanks for the tip.
Is the request approved instantly or will a rep has to look over the info first?
Also, is this really just a soft pull? Is this only true for Amex or other banks as well?
@Michael A – soft pull
@Matt – it was instant, since I requested 10k on this one and they only offered 9k there was just an extra screen for me to accept. Phone is auto, too, have done that before as well.
Each bank is different and some I do not have personal experience, I will research.
@Grant – I agree, my highest limits with them have been cards that I have not kept.
You are able to swap credit limits with other cards online. I recently moved $10k from one card to another.
Ok guys, don’t do this if you don’t want attention from AMEX.
I did this and did not get an instant response – rather I got this:
“Request a Line of Credit Increase
Your request for a line of credit increase has been submitted.
You will receive a written response within 7-10 days. ”
Regretting it now, there will be eyes on my account.
@Steven – good point that it is only something to do if you need it. Amex attention with financial reviews is awful, I went through that, though it seems the main triggers are new card applications or huge spend beyond reported income, I have not seen reports of credit increases triggering FRs but I suppose they could if taken to excess.
$8.2k initial CL, asked for $20k, but was only approved for $13.5k