Yesterday, I stopped by the local Robinsons-May department store to pay my bill. I used the customer service courtesy telephone to verify the amount to be paid. The automated system is very efficient and asked... Would you like a credit limit increase??? If so press "1". Well this was music to my ears as I have not applied for credit since December when I obtained my Bloomingdales card. Also, Robinsons-May was one of two surviving credit card accounts from my BK and is my oldest tradeline. I pushed "1" and a nanosecond later the automated system asked if a $500 increase from $1800 to $2300 was satisfactory. I said yes and was told that the increase is a done deal. If I had wanted more of an increase, I would have had to speak to a rep and that would have meant a hard inquiry. For the record, I never paid much attention to my credit limit on this card in the past. If my memory serves me correctly, I started with a $200 limit in 1978 when I was 18. Over time it was boosted to $600 by 1998 when I did my Chap 7 BK. Around June 2001, I called and the rep increased me to $1800 without an inquiry. Now July 2002, I am at $2300. Best regards, Jim P.S. - It was fun to apply for and receive credit. Even though I have plenty of credit and don't need the additional $500.
Congrats. That must have been a nice suprise. Even if you don't need the limit increase and don't think that you'll ever use it certainly is a nice feeling that people are willing to trust you with owing more.
