Tips for getting a credit limit increase?

Question

Chase raised my limit to $4,000 on the terms that I spent $100/mo or kept an avg daily bal of $1,000. Normally, it's not a problem since I use this card for gas and pay it off monthly, but one month was the month my son was born.
- according to the monthly recap I spent $95
- according to THEM it was $51
- I looked at the bills and one transaction that occured during the billing cycle was forward to the following bill (which I had no way of knowing) - that would've brought the total to $97

My primary complaint is that due to the birth I charged about $600 worth of stuff (car insurance) since we were running low on cash. They dropped my limit w/o warning causing me to have over 65% of my limit used.

They ran a reg. request to raise my limit and it was denied because of the recent change in the limit. I've sent a few letters, but they keep telling to me (standard responses) to apply for an increase.

How can I get them to raise my limit?

I'm only asking for an 800 to offset the spending until I get it paid down.

My avg for the three months was $177 and my avg for the year (I didn't even start using it until March) was $123.

I know I didn't meet the terms (even though it was just a few dollars) - but I feel they should listen to my arguement and take into consideration the circumstances.

Lisa,

No, I'm not over my credit limit. Just trying to get the balance owed below 50% of my credit limit (I'd prefer below 30%).

Echo,

They pulled my credit one time, but I refuse to authorize anymore. I made my demands plain and simple - either can increase the rate on thier own or I will go back to using the card solely for gasoline puchases (unless I find a better rebate on gas purchases) and paying the balance in full each month - they'll never make another dime in finance charges again! That's a promise I'll take the bank.

Answer 1

I'd just shop for a new credit card entirely. They don't seem to be playing fair with you. And they obviously don't care about you or your business with them. Find a local credit union and see if they'll give you a credit card. At least you'll find some human people to speak with.

Answer 2

Doing things like that is pretty normal for Chase, they are a bit screwy. You are lucky they didn't rate jack you at the same time.
Hopefully they are not pulling your credit reports everytime you have called and requested them to raise limit back up.

That's one reason why it's always good to have more than one card.

If you can't pay it off and you have another card that will do a 0% balance transfer, use it to transfer from Chase.
If you don't, get another card from a different provider and transfer.

Don't close the chase but don't use it either, throw it into a drawer until they start treating you better.

Answer 3

Wow. I've never heard of a card that gives you a higher limit for keeping a balance on the card. That's ridiculous. It's sort of like forcing you to never pay it off.

All of my cards keep raising my limit whether I want it raised or not. I pay all of mine off at the end of every month. I have one that I'm up to $50,000 limit now and I've never even come close to spending anywhere near that. But every year, I get a nice note from them that because I'm such a great customer, they're giving me another $10,000 or something. I don't think I've ever had more than a couple thousand charged on that card at any time. They've never gotten a dime of interest out of me because I pay the whole thing off every month.

I'd look for a different credit card. I can't imagine having a card that forces me to keep a balance on the card.

Answer 4

Get a new credit card! Those terms are ridiculous. I have never even heard of being required to carry a balance or charge a certain amount.

And you are not over your limit, right? So you don't need an increase.

Answer 5

I have delt with chase before they are the worst out there.
Try with a differant credit card company. Or go through your local bank or credit union.