Is requesting an increase in a credit card limit treated the same as an application for new credit for FICO?

Question

I know that applying for a new card will reduce my FICO, and that increasing credit limits (while keeping debt amounts constant) will increase my score - but this would not be the case if requesting the increase in credit limit is treated as a new credit card application?

Answer 1

Depends. Some banks do a hard pull on your reports and check your scores which is called a hard pull. Sometimes they do a soft pull. A hard pull is a new inquiry on your report just like a new application and has to be authorized by you. A soft pull isn't a new inquiry and can be done by your card companies periodically. Soft pull is like account maintainance. Chase always does a hard pull as far as I know for CLI. When you request your CLI, ask them to do a soft pull and not a hard pull and see if they will do that. I tried this with RBS, they dont do soft pulls. Capital One and HSBC did and increased my credit without a hard pull. Cards that offer automatic CLIs tend to do it via soft pulls. As long as it is not a hard pull, it wont count against your FICO scores. Read the difference in the following article.

http://credit-free-report.blogspot.com/2...

Answer 2

When you ask for an increase in your credit limit, your lender performs what's called a periodic review. Which is actually an inquiry with the credit reporting agency. These inquiries created as a result of the periodic reviews are not supposed to be factored into your credit score. More information here:

http://www.badcreditfixup.com/what-deter...

Answer 3

No it isn't....

FYI: One application for new credit won't necessarily cause your credit score to drop....Also, if this is a CapitalOne card you are talking about, they will deny the limit increase anyway as they've frozen credit limits for several years now.

Answer 4

Actually, one of few best ways to increase your FICO score is by having more than one account.

And yes, by having another credit card is good way to increase one's credit limits.

Just, know that having another credit card is like having extra responsibility.

If you can handle paying off both credit card score, than you should go for it.

Answer 5

no

Answer 6

getting a new credit cards improves your credit score more than if you just call your existing credit card company and ask them to raise your credit limit. a website to get great information about all the different credit cards and compare them before applying is cardlister.com

here is the link

http://www.cardlister.com/