Citibank raise limit w/o inquiry?

I think you have to wait for serveral months until their website gives you a automatic cl increasement. It happens for me every 3 months.

 

Ohno, go to the citi website, log in, and put your cursor over "manage my account" - you will see a link for "credit line increase." Click on that, and it will go to the increase page. If there is a form to fill out, do not fill it out, just leave. If you are offered an increase, it will say "congratulations!!" and tell you the amount of the increase you are being offered. Click on "accept" and you get the increase with no inquiry.

Be careful if you get anything else - some people cannot do this - yet.

Citi likes lots of usage, carry a little bit of a balance, make big payments, every now and then pay it off. That gets auto increases.

 

I finally called the retention number that I received on the board, and complained about being a customer for so long without receiving an increase or any other offer for that matter.

I received a balance transfer offer and the rep. is looking into increasing the limit. I specifically asked if this would entail them pulling a credit report. She told me, "No ma'am, this would be treated as a soft inquiry".

I know Citibank's policy is to pull hard's, so I am going to check my credit report today and see whether it was soft or hard and post.

The number I called was 800-444-2568.

 

How long have you had your card?

 

I have had the card for 8 years. They wouldn't budge on the line increase, but they converted my card to a Dividend Platinum Select card.

I can't wait until CHOD!!!

 

Just checked my report, she lied. There is a hard inquiry.

Time for me to call CSC.

 

I just tried this, and got an IMMEDIATE rejection notice. This is what it said:

Credit Line Increase Request

XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-5403


We regret that we cannot increase your credit line at this time. Your request was processed by a credit scoring system, which assigns a numerical value to various items on your Citi card account(s) as well as your credit record on file with us. The credit scoring result did not meet our requirements because:


Your payments were low on one or more of your accounts with us


Your credit report reflects one or more of your account balances with other creditors is high when compared to the available credit

...The notice goes on to say that they used info from credit reports to make this decision, they will send me a written notice, and that I can get free reports for 60 days, blah, blah...standard FCRA stuff

The payment is "low" because I haven't been charging to them lately (interest rate too high) Also, I have a Platinum Select (over 5 years now) with a pathetic $800 limit! So, the balance is $0. I use another card almost exclusively (thus message #2), and I am only using about 2/3 of the available credit.

Citibank pulls soft inq on Equifax for me about every other month. I assume if I ever meet their 'criteria' they'll let me know. They still aren't getting out of my sock drawer without lowering the interest rate, but what's with this cl? I got the card in college, which explains why the limit was so low to start, but now I've graduated and am paid well.

 

Someone please clarify for me. What is the difference between a hard and a soft relating to the information obtained by the third party.

If you get the same info with a soft as you do a hard, then why do they pull a hard? Surely they already have your name and address?

 

Same here!!!!! I received the card in college, never once an increase.

Now the reason for no increase is you have something reporting negative on your report.

Why is it that they can't take the 8 years of never being late and the fact that the negative is EXTREMELY old into consideration? I am just ranting.

The rep's comments were, your income is EXCELLENT (with emphasis), so once that falls off your report you shouldn't have any problems. AAAUUUUGGGHHH!!!

Just venting.

 

Soft is basically an AR (account review) where they look at your report without pulling it as if it is new credit you are applying for.

Hard is when you apply for new credit and they pull a credit report. This has the potential to lower your credit score.

 

EXCEPT WHEN YOUR GEORGE!!!

They decided my 1/2 BDD was a limit increase...so I have to WAIT (maybe 6 months after combining the 2 accounts)!!!

 

Does anyone know exactly what information is on a soft inquiry and a hard inquiry. I have asked several times but have never got the answer.I would like to know how much information they get on a soft inquiry and why they would need to pull the hard inquiry. Please answwer