Ok... Quick background. Last summer when my credit sucked I asked 1st USA for a credit limit increase (was $1000). They refused, so I said to go ahead and cancel the card... Unfortunately they called my bluff and did just that. I called back the next day and had it reinstated, however, they dropped my CL limit down to $750, so I guess that's what I get for playing with fire! Now my scores have improved, to EQ 682, EX 686, and my utilization is down from 70% to 1%. (my account history with 1stUSA is perfect) Will 1st USA give me a CL increase without a hard? What about with a hard? Anyone's experience?
I don't know about First USA. It might be worth a call, ask them if they can do a soft inquiry or none at all. I had a similar situation with AT&T Universal, except I didn't cancel the card. They pulled my report and reduced my limit from $2500 to $500. At least they didn't cancel me. It's worked its way back up (I might have called once, the rest were automatic). I'm now at $9600 on that account. It's almost my lowest limit. When I get some other things cleared up, I'll work on them.
FirstUSA is very good with CLI. I have yet to make a credit line increase request since they automatically do it without asking. Just wait and let them do it.
When I signed up, I was a student and input my student info & income. They won't let me change that without a HARD inquiry. In the 4 years that I've had my 1stUSA BankOne card, I have NEVER gotten a CL increase. I think it might be because they still think I'm making $12k a year.
I don't know if FirstUSA will combine cards or not. If they do, why not apply for a new card, combine and ask them to keep the history date on the new card because you've been a customer for 4 years.
