Amex $5k/6mo CC growth w/o IV

This is another "thing" with Amex that can be a good plan/strategy. To avoid IV at $35k+, one can go with steady/respectable increases of $5k every 6 months. I took my BCE along the following path:

$10k (SL) -> $30k (3X CLI) -> $35k -> $40k -> $45k -> $50k -> $55k -> $59.9k -> $60k -> $62.7k

All of my increases were requested just over 180 days since the previous. As you can see, the majority of my growth came at the $5k/6mo pace. I'll be attempting $65k in August and will report back the result.

$65k attempt unsuccessful, countered with $62,700 which I declined.

I'd imagine I've hit a ceiling with respect to income and/or assets since that's a field they consider. I just raised my reported assets with them by about 40% as I hadn't touched it in a couple of years and it has changed. Income just increased a few percent, but I haven't updated that yet with Amex. I'll give it a couple of months and try again and see if the offer I just received is the same or increases.

@BrutalBodyShots thanks for sharing. Could your dti be a factor as well? I think they ask about housing cost though I’m not sure of how that impacts you.

My DTI fluctuates between 11% and 14% at any given time depending on what my reported CC balances are. That's including my only loan (mortgage).

@BrutalBodyShots it worked like a charm for me. Thanks for sharing. I just went from $40k to $45k in less than 5seconds with no IV. I don’t know if they ask later but, as for now it went through. I was definitely hesitant to apply at over $40k because of the IV.

Kkboom wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 4:53 pm @BrutalBodyShots it worked like a charm for me. Thanks for sharing. I just went from $40k to $45k in less than 5seconds with no IV. I don’t know if they ask later but, as for now it went through. I was definitely hesitant to apply at over $40k because of the IV.

I was totally going to leave mine at $35K without reading this. I think I’ll continue to push it up slowly.

Kkboom wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 4:53 pm @BrutalBodyShots it worked like a charm for me. Thanks for sharing. I just went from $40k to $45k in less than 5seconds with no IV. I don’t know if they ask later but, as for now it went through. I was definitely hesitant to apply at over $40k because of the IV.

Nice work, @Kkboom ! They will not ask later. You will not see anything for IV. Mark your calendar for 180 days and you'll be golden for $50k without IV. As long as one sticks to $5k/6mo above $35k I have not heard of IV prompts, until their ceiling is reached. Also keep in mind that if you do ask for too much and get an IV prompt all you have to do is click the back button on your browser and you can lower your requested amount. For example, 180 days from now you could request $55k and would get an IV prompt. Click the back button. Then say you ask for for $51k, you'll see another IV prompt. Click the back button and then ask for $50k and you'll see an instant approval without IV.

JNA1 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 6:11 pm I was totally going to leave mine at $35K without reading this. I think I’ll continue to push it up slowly.

Right on @JNA1, slow and steady wins the race with Amex CLIs. I think since $35k is the first point that many see IV prompted (usually from trying to cross it, such as $30k --> $40k) the assumption is then that the ceiling has been reached. I guess the best way to look at it is that it has been reached at that time based on the age of the account, but the ceiling just happens to increase $5k every 6 months from that point under most circumstances.

Update: My last CLI on this account was from $60k --> $62.7k, so it appears I hit a ceiling and completed my $5k/6mo run which lasted 2-3 years.