Searching for 0% APR Credit Card for New Business
Author: radicimo
Joined: 12 Feb 2005
Posts: 11
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 12:41 am
Post subject: max credit limit w/ 0% APR
I am in the process of applying for a new credit card. Haven't looked at a credit report in about 1 year, but nothing serious has ever been on there in the past. My credit is immaculate. Chase Platinum, I have had for 15+ years, when it was a Chemical card -- credit limit $11,200. UAL Visa, I have had for 10 months (for the points) -- credit limit $15,000. Last time I checked, my FICO score was 799, and there is no reason it should have gone down. I pay my balances in full every month, and have not had more than 2 credit cards at one time in many years. Have had no late payments in the past 5 years, nor any defaults ever. A revolving car loan 5 years ago, which was paid off well in advance of due date, though never a mortgage. I am the ideal credit risk , with the exception that the creditors make no money off of me.
I am expanding a business, and want to take advantage of these 0% APR offers for 12 to 15 months. I applied for a CITI Platinum card that offered transfers at 0% APR for 15 months from the transfer. They refused to process the application because I did not provide a telephone bill for a landline or a utility bill. I rent a room in a friend's house, and all bills are in his name. I sent them the top of a credit card statement and a bank statement, but that was not sufficient. I refused to provide a bill that was in someone else's name to establish my credit. That just seemed to onerous for my taste, and they were unwilling to take a driver's license as proof of address. The process came to an impasse, and they were the inflexible party.
So I'm looking for another 0% APR offer. That was a good one, for sure. I like the AMEX blue offer for up to 15 months at 0% APR on new purchases. I could also get 12 months at 0% APR on transfers from Chase, who should go a little easier on me given the longstanding relationship. Not that I need any credit issuer to go easy.
I'm looking for about $12,000 credit limit, preferably on one card but possibly two. I plan to max the 0% deal and pay minimum payments until the APR changes and either transfer out or pay off the balance. The equipment I am purchasing will be generating income. I am self-employed, and my salary is somewhat fudgeable -- I pay myself as little as I can and keep most of the money in the business.
Are there any suggestions about how or where I might go about maximizing my credit limit when applying initially? I would apply with AMEX for blue in a minute if I was certain they'd give me a big enough limit. Is there a way to find out what limit they'd give without going through the formal application and having them pull my report?
Thanks in advance. Interesting and useful board here.
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Author: NightStar
Board Monitor
Joined: 07 Nov 2003
Posts: 2601
Location: Illinois
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 1:09 am
I would not give up on Citi Bank just yet, might try writing a letter through www.planetfeedback.com get a higher up person to reconsider your application and let them know what your delima is.
Usually through that site you are hooking up with CEOs, VPs and such that they might make the difference in helping you resolve this verification problem.
I am not savy on the credit card side, but thought to suggest that for your problem with Citi. Welcome to the board.
Best Regards,
Pammila Phillis
Board Monitor
U.S. Citizens for Fair Credit Card Terms, Inc.
http://www.cardratings.com
501-663-0314 PH
501-663-0033 FX
View our latest credit card ratings!
Author: hesiden
Joined: 14 Jan 2005
Posts: 42
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 1:45 am
Post subject: Re: max credit limit w/ 0% APR
Quote:
They refused to process the application because I did not provide a telephone bill for a landline or a utility bill. I rent a room in a friend's house, and all bills are in his name. I sent them the top of a credit card statement and a bank statement, but that was not sufficient. I refused to provide a bill that was in someone else's name to establish my credit. That just seemed to onerous for my taste, and they were unwilling to take a driver's license as proof of address. The process came to an impasse, and they were the inflexible party.
I don't see why a phone bill in your friend's name would be proof of your address when a drivers lic. bank statement are not. You say you "sent them" this. I've applied on-line and didn't need any of that. How are you applying? I expect they just need a land line phone number for activating the card. When you get it in the mail you must call from your "home phone" to active.
You could try an old fashoined approach and apply "in person" at a bank.
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Author: Polonius
Credit Expert (100+ Posts)
Joined: 19 Jan 2004
Posts: 494
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 2:23 am
Your credit score is nearly 800 and you can't get Citibank to issue a card? Something is strange here.
I'm a great believer in giving banks the paper/proof that they want. You're being asked for a utility bill and phone in your own name. Your response is that you don't have a "landline" in your own name and you don't have a utility bill in your own name--and that you neither own a house nor rent with your name on the lease. All those are signs of instability to whomever looked at your application. So present your cellphone statement as your phone bill. Call and have your name added to the electricity and/or gas bill. Then try again.
And try another bank--and/or an online application at the same bank.
I've always been self-employed and cannot finagle how banks arrive at their initial credit limit figures. I had a $23,000 Costco Amex limit, a $26,000 Optima Amex limit, and a Gold Amex card (no stated limit) when I applied for the Amex Blue Business card. I liked the 0% offer also, but the credit limit I was awarded was $5,000, which was much less than I expected. My 6 Chase cards have limits ranging from $4,000 to $18,500. None of this makes any sense. It's like playing the lottery.
Polonius
"Neither a borrower, nor a lender be; For loan oft loses both itself and friend"
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Author: radicimo
Joined: 12 Feb 2005
Posts: 11
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 2:29 am
Quote:
I don't see why a phone bill in your friend's name would be proof of your address when a drivers lic. bank statement are not. You say you "sent them" this.
That was my point. They take a phone bill, or a utility bill if there is no landline. I said that a bill in someone else's name is not proof of my address anyway. I think they're either trying to correlate information that they have no business requesting, or their system is broken. I refused to provide them anyone else's name, simply on principle.
I originally applied over the phone, based on an offer they sent me. I then received a letter in the mail requesting further proof of address. I sent the originals from the top of a credit card statement and a bank statement with the address, along with a note explaining my situation. Heard nothing and eventually called after a week or two. The flunky I spoke with was intransigent about passing me on to anyone else who could help, or bending their rules. She was however patient enough to listen to me rant. I offered to send a copy of my drivers license, but that is apparently insufficient. Explain to me how a legal proof of address is insufficient to establish my address, but a document with someone else's name is good?
It may be possible that since I move rather frequently that the credit agencies are reporting a different address?
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Author: radicimo
Joined: 12 Feb 2005
Posts: 11
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 2:42 am
Quote:
All those are signs of instability to whomever looked at your application. So present your cellphone statement as your phone bill. Call and have your name added to the electricity and/or gas bill. Then try again.
They explicitly stated in the original letter that a cellphone is not sufficient. I don't really want my name on the phone or electric bill.
I agree that I may give off signs of instability, but a near perfect credit score with 15+ years of credit on one of my accounts should go a long way. I move a lot, and don't settle down ... like a rolling stone. I travelled around the world for nearly a year and still managed to pay my credit card bills off on time and in full. Could be that they're seeing a lot of different addresses on record in the credit reports? Is that actionable on their part?
My theory is that they are doing some sort of Patriot Act b.s., and the information they requested will go into a government database somewhere. Since the name of my roommate is not germane to my credit, I don't want that information to be provided, and I don't want our names correlated anywhere in any database. Call me paranoid. He has a freaking CITI credit card, so for all I know they're pulling his name at that address and that's what caused the problem.
I figure if they're going to be intransigent and unreasonable, that I'll just take my business elsewhere.
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Author: NightStar
Board Monitor
Joined: 07 Nov 2003
Posts: 2601
Location: Illinois
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 2:45 am
Yes, that is true if you have a new address on the credit report that has not been there long, they will request phone / utility to prove location. But the credit reporting agencies do this too, but more common consumers can still get by them with a copy of drivers license.
When I applied for Pulaski Bank a few years ago, I sort of run into similar problem, they mailed me a letter, and tried calling me, but I didn't check my voice mail in a quick enough time to respond so they automatically turned me down. The only way to get them to reconsider after that was to fax in copy of my drivers license and phone bill, but they also required copy of my pay stub as well for wage confirmation. I mean a real pain this company was. I jumped through all the hoops and still got turned down, cause they deemed me to only be allowed $2k for credit limit, and since other creditors had granted me that much I was not elgible for any offer of credit from them. Besides the fact that I disclosed joint debt that they used against my debt to income ratios on individual application - it was a fine mess.
Usually problems like this spur me to try all the harder, if you have trouble with one rep, hang up and call back a second time, chances are you will get a different person that can help you, or that may be willing to transfer you to someone else that can be of help.
Best Regards,
Pammila Phillis
Board Monitor
U.S. Citizens for Fair Credit Card Terms, Inc.
http://www.cardratings.com
501-663-0314 PH
501-663-0033 FX
View our latest credit card ratings!
Author: Ira
SENIOR MEMBER (Member for 2 yrs.+)
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 835
Location: NJ
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 7:50 am
Why not simply get a separate phone line in your name. It doesn't cost much and you can always have it disconnected if you want once it has served it purpose.
As to why the credit card company wants this proof, put yourself in their position. Without some proof of stability you're nothing but a shadow with no roots to them. Perhaps copies of rent receipts or a copy of a room or apartment lease would suffice.
Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.
Ira
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Author: radicimo
Joined: 12 Feb 2005
Posts: 11
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 3:15 pm
I'm looking for the path of least resistance, and a lot of the advice I'm getting here does not go that route. I don't know if its more geared to people with bad credit who are trying to establish credit, or some of you take pleasure in pushing back against resistance. I figure if they're that inflexible about what is acceptible proof of my address, then they'll probably be inflexible about something else too later. I have taken care of my credit, and one of the advantages of such a high FICO score should be that creditors are besides themselves trying to get my business, and they are judging by the mail solicitations I receive. I can take my business elsewhere.
I do happen to be a shadow with no roots who has a spotless credit history. I have managed my credit flawlessly for over 15 years (knock on wood). They said nothing other than landline telephone bill or utility bill for that address, regardless of the name on the bill. That doesn't strike anyone else as intrusive?
Did use this opportunity to order Credit Reports under 60day denial clause. Experian and TransUnion were easy. Equifax doesn't tell you that's an option until the very end after you enter SS#, and then said I had no enquiries so was not entitled to the report. Guess that Citi doesn't use Equifax.
Getting back to the main question about credit limits. I only received one response on that. Thanks Polonius. My friend and his wife got $5000 limit on Amex blue too. I did find some useful advice in the archives here, where it is very possible to call (if) after a card is issued, with sweet talk and requesting a greater credit limit, and Amex has been known to bump up the limit to match highest limit card. So, I'll prob. give it a go.
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Author: NightStar
Board Monitor
Joined: 07 Nov 2003
Posts: 2601
Location: Illinois
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 8:04 pm
One card that I hear good about is Bank of America, you might try with them. Chase is another good lender that you can try with.
But it is becoming more common place that these companies want phone verification. Sometimes you can send in cell phone instead if you don't have a home phone number. Last for longest time that was our situation.
Best Regards,
Pammila Phillis
Board Monitor
U.S. Citizens for Fair Credit Card Terms, Inc.
http://www.cardratings.com
501-663-0314 PH
501-663-0033 FX
View our latest credit card ratings!
Author: radicimo
Joined: 12 Feb 2005
Posts: 11
Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 8:40 pm
Applied online with Amex blue and they gave me the introductory APR of 0% for 15 months, but only a $3200 credit line. Will try calling them tomorrow and trying the sweet talk. Have decided I want a 4th CC with 0% APR on balance transfers so I can get the frequent flyer miles on United and then transfer over. Amex blue only offers 0% APR on new purchases, so I'm hoping they'll up my limit to a more respectible 5000 or 6000, which is all I really need.
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Author: radicimo
Joined: 12 Feb 2005
Posts: 11
Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 11:07 am
Just a follow up ...
Called American Express this morning and tried a credit line increase request before receiving the card. She asked me how much I was looking for in a credit line. I said, "about as much as my other cards", and she said, "Well how much is that?" Not to be greedy I asked for $10,000 (keeping in mind the original line was $3200). I guess she had to have somebody else review the line increase, but got back to me in under 5 minutes with an approval.
Whoever originally suggested (found in the archives) this tactic of asking for a credit line increase before activating the card was spot on with their recommendation. Worked like a charm for me.
It is rather funny that Amex was willing to give me a card with a $10k credit line based on my filling out an online application and a phone call, while Citi wouldn't even take 2 distinct forms of proof of address and a signed handwritten note, mailed in.
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Author: dystopia
Joined: 14 Feb 2005
Posts: 1
Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 12:14 pm
Post subject: Re: max credit limit w/ 0% APR
radicimo wrote:
They refused to process the application because I did not provide a telephone bill for a landline or a utility bill.
I do not have a landline and therefore used my cell number (instead of "home phone number") when applying for the Citi Div Plat MC via the citicard website. The application sailed through - got the card a couple of weeks later. Not sure this info helps radicimo at this point, but I hope this helps someone else in the future.
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Joined: 12 Feb 2005
Posts: 11
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 12:41 am
Post subject: max credit limit w/ 0% APR
I am in the process of applying for a new credit card. Haven't looked at a credit report in about 1 year, but nothing serious has ever been on there in the past. My credit is immaculate. Chase Platinum, I have had for 15+ years, when it was a Chemical card -- credit limit $11,200. UAL Visa, I have had for 10 months (for the points) -- credit limit $15,000. Last time I checked, my FICO score was 799, and there is no reason it should have gone down. I pay my balances in full every month, and have not had more than 2 credit cards at one time in many years. Have had no late payments in the past 5 years, nor any defaults ever. A revolving car loan 5 years ago, which was paid off well in advance of due date, though never a mortgage. I am the ideal credit risk , with the exception that the creditors make no money off of me.
I am expanding a business, and want to take advantage of these 0% APR offers for 12 to 15 months. I applied for a CITI Platinum card that offered transfers at 0% APR for 15 months from the transfer. They refused to process the application because I did not provide a telephone bill for a landline or a utility bill. I rent a room in a friend's house, and all bills are in his name. I sent them the top of a credit card statement and a bank statement, but that was not sufficient. I refused to provide a bill that was in someone else's name to establish my credit. That just seemed to onerous for my taste, and they were unwilling to take a driver's license as proof of address. The process came to an impasse, and they were the inflexible party.
So I'm looking for another 0% APR offer. That was a good one, for sure. I like the AMEX blue offer for up to 15 months at 0% APR on new purchases. I could also get 12 months at 0% APR on transfers from Chase, who should go a little easier on me given the longstanding relationship. Not that I need any credit issuer to go easy.
I'm looking for about $12,000 credit limit, preferably on one card but possibly two. I plan to max the 0% deal and pay minimum payments until the APR changes and either transfer out or pay off the balance. The equipment I am purchasing will be generating income. I am self-employed, and my salary is somewhat fudgeable -- I pay myself as little as I can and keep most of the money in the business.
Are there any suggestions about how or where I might go about maximizing my credit limit when applying initially? I would apply with AMEX for blue in a minute if I was certain they'd give me a big enough limit. Is there a way to find out what limit they'd give without going through the formal application and having them pull my report?
Thanks in advance. Interesting and useful board here.
View our latest credit card ratings!
Author: NightStar
Board Monitor
Joined: 07 Nov 2003
Posts: 2601
Location: Illinois
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 1:09 am
I would not give up on Citi Bank just yet, might try writing a letter through www.planetfeedback.com get a higher up person to reconsider your application and let them know what your delima is.
Usually through that site you are hooking up with CEOs, VPs and such that they might make the difference in helping you resolve this verification problem.
I am not savy on the credit card side, but thought to suggest that for your problem with Citi. Welcome to the board.
Best Regards,
Pammila Phillis
Board Monitor
U.S. Citizens for Fair Credit Card Terms, Inc.
http://www.cardratings.com
501-663-0314 PH
501-663-0033 FX
View our latest credit card ratings!
Author: hesiden
Joined: 14 Jan 2005
Posts: 42
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 1:45 am
Post subject: Re: max credit limit w/ 0% APR
Quote:
They refused to process the application because I did not provide a telephone bill for a landline or a utility bill. I rent a room in a friend's house, and all bills are in his name. I sent them the top of a credit card statement and a bank statement, but that was not sufficient. I refused to provide a bill that was in someone else's name to establish my credit. That just seemed to onerous for my taste, and they were unwilling to take a driver's license as proof of address. The process came to an impasse, and they were the inflexible party.
I don't see why a phone bill in your friend's name would be proof of your address when a drivers lic. bank statement are not. You say you "sent them" this. I've applied on-line and didn't need any of that. How are you applying? I expect they just need a land line phone number for activating the card. When you get it in the mail you must call from your "home phone" to active.
You could try an old fashoined approach and apply "in person" at a bank.
View our latest credit card ratings!
Author: Polonius
Credit Expert (100+ Posts)
Joined: 19 Jan 2004
Posts: 494
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 2:23 am
Your credit score is nearly 800 and you can't get Citibank to issue a card? Something is strange here.
I'm a great believer in giving banks the paper/proof that they want. You're being asked for a utility bill and phone in your own name. Your response is that you don't have a "landline" in your own name and you don't have a utility bill in your own name--and that you neither own a house nor rent with your name on the lease. All those are signs of instability to whomever looked at your application. So present your cellphone statement as your phone bill. Call and have your name added to the electricity and/or gas bill. Then try again.
And try another bank--and/or an online application at the same bank.
I've always been self-employed and cannot finagle how banks arrive at their initial credit limit figures. I had a $23,000 Costco Amex limit, a $26,000 Optima Amex limit, and a Gold Amex card (no stated limit) when I applied for the Amex Blue Business card. I liked the 0% offer also, but the credit limit I was awarded was $5,000, which was much less than I expected. My 6 Chase cards have limits ranging from $4,000 to $18,500. None of this makes any sense. It's like playing the lottery.
Polonius
"Neither a borrower, nor a lender be; For loan oft loses both itself and friend"
View our latest credit card ratings!
Author: radicimo
Joined: 12 Feb 2005
Posts: 11
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 2:29 am
Quote:
I don't see why a phone bill in your friend's name would be proof of your address when a drivers lic. bank statement are not. You say you "sent them" this.
That was my point. They take a phone bill, or a utility bill if there is no landline. I said that a bill in someone else's name is not proof of my address anyway. I think they're either trying to correlate information that they have no business requesting, or their system is broken. I refused to provide them anyone else's name, simply on principle.
I originally applied over the phone, based on an offer they sent me. I then received a letter in the mail requesting further proof of address. I sent the originals from the top of a credit card statement and a bank statement with the address, along with a note explaining my situation. Heard nothing and eventually called after a week or two. The flunky I spoke with was intransigent about passing me on to anyone else who could help, or bending their rules. She was however patient enough to listen to me rant. I offered to send a copy of my drivers license, but that is apparently insufficient. Explain to me how a legal proof of address is insufficient to establish my address, but a document with someone else's name is good?
It may be possible that since I move rather frequently that the credit agencies are reporting a different address?
View our latest credit card ratings!
Author: radicimo
Joined: 12 Feb 2005
Posts: 11
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 2:42 am
Quote:
All those are signs of instability to whomever looked at your application. So present your cellphone statement as your phone bill. Call and have your name added to the electricity and/or gas bill. Then try again.
They explicitly stated in the original letter that a cellphone is not sufficient. I don't really want my name on the phone or electric bill.
I agree that I may give off signs of instability, but a near perfect credit score with 15+ years of credit on one of my accounts should go a long way. I move a lot, and don't settle down ... like a rolling stone. I travelled around the world for nearly a year and still managed to pay my credit card bills off on time and in full. Could be that they're seeing a lot of different addresses on record in the credit reports? Is that actionable on their part?
My theory is that they are doing some sort of Patriot Act b.s., and the information they requested will go into a government database somewhere. Since the name of my roommate is not germane to my credit, I don't want that information to be provided, and I don't want our names correlated anywhere in any database. Call me paranoid. He has a freaking CITI credit card, so for all I know they're pulling his name at that address and that's what caused the problem.
I figure if they're going to be intransigent and unreasonable, that I'll just take my business elsewhere.
View our latest credit card ratings!
Author: NightStar
Board Monitor
Joined: 07 Nov 2003
Posts: 2601
Location: Illinois
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 2:45 am
Yes, that is true if you have a new address on the credit report that has not been there long, they will request phone / utility to prove location. But the credit reporting agencies do this too, but more common consumers can still get by them with a copy of drivers license.
When I applied for Pulaski Bank a few years ago, I sort of run into similar problem, they mailed me a letter, and tried calling me, but I didn't check my voice mail in a quick enough time to respond so they automatically turned me down. The only way to get them to reconsider after that was to fax in copy of my drivers license and phone bill, but they also required copy of my pay stub as well for wage confirmation. I mean a real pain this company was. I jumped through all the hoops and still got turned down, cause they deemed me to only be allowed $2k for credit limit, and since other creditors had granted me that much I was not elgible for any offer of credit from them. Besides the fact that I disclosed joint debt that they used against my debt to income ratios on individual application - it was a fine mess.
Usually problems like this spur me to try all the harder, if you have trouble with one rep, hang up and call back a second time, chances are you will get a different person that can help you, or that may be willing to transfer you to someone else that can be of help.
Best Regards,
Pammila Phillis
Board Monitor
U.S. Citizens for Fair Credit Card Terms, Inc.
http://www.cardratings.com
501-663-0314 PH
501-663-0033 FX
View our latest credit card ratings!
Author: Ira
SENIOR MEMBER (Member for 2 yrs.+)
Joined: 19 May 2003
Posts: 835
Location: NJ
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 7:50 am
Why not simply get a separate phone line in your name. It doesn't cost much and you can always have it disconnected if you want once it has served it purpose.
As to why the credit card company wants this proof, put yourself in their position. Without some proof of stability you're nothing but a shadow with no roots to them. Perhaps copies of rent receipts or a copy of a room or apartment lease would suffice.
Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.
Ira
View our latest credit card ratings!
Author: radicimo
Joined: 12 Feb 2005
Posts: 11
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 3:15 pm
I'm looking for the path of least resistance, and a lot of the advice I'm getting here does not go that route. I don't know if its more geared to people with bad credit who are trying to establish credit, or some of you take pleasure in pushing back against resistance. I figure if they're that inflexible about what is acceptible proof of my address, then they'll probably be inflexible about something else too later. I have taken care of my credit, and one of the advantages of such a high FICO score should be that creditors are besides themselves trying to get my business, and they are judging by the mail solicitations I receive. I can take my business elsewhere.
I do happen to be a shadow with no roots who has a spotless credit history. I have managed my credit flawlessly for over 15 years (knock on wood). They said nothing other than landline telephone bill or utility bill for that address, regardless of the name on the bill. That doesn't strike anyone else as intrusive?
Did use this opportunity to order Credit Reports under 60day denial clause. Experian and TransUnion were easy. Equifax doesn't tell you that's an option until the very end after you enter SS#, and then said I had no enquiries so was not entitled to the report. Guess that Citi doesn't use Equifax.
Getting back to the main question about credit limits. I only received one response on that. Thanks Polonius. My friend and his wife got $5000 limit on Amex blue too. I did find some useful advice in the archives here, where it is very possible to call (if) after a card is issued, with sweet talk and requesting a greater credit limit, and Amex has been known to bump up the limit to match highest limit card. So, I'll prob. give it a go.
View our latest credit card ratings!
Author: NightStar
Board Monitor
Joined: 07 Nov 2003
Posts: 2601
Location: Illinois
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2005 8:04 pm
One card that I hear good about is Bank of America, you might try with them. Chase is another good lender that you can try with.
But it is becoming more common place that these companies want phone verification. Sometimes you can send in cell phone instead if you don't have a home phone number. Last for longest time that was our situation.
Best Regards,
Pammila Phillis
Board Monitor
U.S. Citizens for Fair Credit Card Terms, Inc.
http://www.cardratings.com
501-663-0314 PH
501-663-0033 FX
View our latest credit card ratings!
Author: radicimo
Joined: 12 Feb 2005
Posts: 11
Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2005 8:40 pm
Applied online with Amex blue and they gave me the introductory APR of 0% for 15 months, but only a $3200 credit line. Will try calling them tomorrow and trying the sweet talk. Have decided I want a 4th CC with 0% APR on balance transfers so I can get the frequent flyer miles on United and then transfer over. Amex blue only offers 0% APR on new purchases, so I'm hoping they'll up my limit to a more respectible 5000 or 6000, which is all I really need.
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Author: radicimo
Joined: 12 Feb 2005
Posts: 11
Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 11:07 am
Just a follow up ...
Called American Express this morning and tried a credit line increase request before receiving the card. She asked me how much I was looking for in a credit line. I said, "about as much as my other cards", and she said, "Well how much is that?" Not to be greedy I asked for $10,000 (keeping in mind the original line was $3200). I guess she had to have somebody else review the line increase, but got back to me in under 5 minutes with an approval.
Whoever originally suggested (found in the archives) this tactic of asking for a credit line increase before activating the card was spot on with their recommendation. Worked like a charm for me.
It is rather funny that Amex was willing to give me a card with a $10k credit line based on my filling out an online application and a phone call, while Citi wouldn't even take 2 distinct forms of proof of address and a signed handwritten note, mailed in.
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Author: dystopia
Joined: 14 Feb 2005
Posts: 1
Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 12:14 pm
Post subject: Re: max credit limit w/ 0% APR
radicimo wrote:
They refused to process the application because I did not provide a telephone bill for a landline or a utility bill.
I do not have a landline and therefore used my cell number (instead of "home phone number") when applying for the Citi Div Plat MC via the citicard website. The application sailed through - got the card a couple of weeks later. Not sure this info helps radicimo at this point, but I hope this helps someone else in the future.
View our latest credit card ratings!
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