Higher Credit Limits Could Mean Higher Credit Card Debt

Credit limits are essential to the credit card industry, as they determine the maximum amount of money a cardholder can borrow from the issuing bank. These limits vary widely depending on various factors, including the cardholder's credit history, income, and other financial obligations. Credit limits can provide consumers financial flexibility but pose risks if not managed responsibly. In this article, we will explore the ins and outs of credit limits, from how they are determined to best practices for using them wisely.

What is a credit limit?

A credit limit is the maximum amount a consumer can charge on a revolving credit account, like a credit card. Each time you use a credit card for a purchase, it subtracts from your credit limit. The remaining total is referred to as your available credit balance.

Understanding the difference between credit limits and available credit balances is important. Your available credit changes frequently – as you make charges, it goes down, and as you make payments, it goes up.

By contrast, a credit limit is stable unless the credit card company decides to change it based on numerous factors.

How are credit limits determined?

Have you ever wondered how credit card companies decide whether you will have a $1,000 credit limit or a $10,000 limit on a new credit card? Maybe you earn a high income but usually receive a lower credit limit – or you don’t earn a huge amount of money but always receive a high credit limit when you apply for new credit cards.

When a credit card issuer approves your application, the company determines your credit limit – the maximum amount you’re allowed to charge – on the new card. If you charge over that limit, you may have to pay a fee or repay the over-the-limit amount immediately.

But what if your new credit card offers a lower credit limit than you think you deserve, or you want to take steps to start receiving a higher credit limit on your credit cards?

Credit score

Creditors look at your credit score and other factors to determine whether to approve or deny your credit card application. However, your credit score can also affect the credit limit you receive when approved for a credit card, according to the major credit bureau, Experian.

The better your credit score, the better your chances of the credit card issuer offering you a higher credit limit. "In general, many lenders find scores above 670 as indicating good creditworthiness," according to FICO, which calculates credit scores based on various aspects of your credit information. "Typically, the higher your score, the lower the risk and the more likely creditors are to lend to you."

Income and expenses

Just because you earn six figures annually doesn’t mean you will automatically receive a high credit card limit from the credit card company. Earning $10,000 a month may look good on paper, but even that high salary may not be enough to guarantee a generous credit limit if your monthly expenses eat up most of your income.

Fortunately, you have some control over your monthly income and expenses. If you’re barely scraping by, ask for a raise, more hours, or a promotion. Maybe secure a higher-paying job.

For all those expenses, consider what you can eliminate to decrease monthly costs. You could pause or cancel streaming or other subscriptions, for example. When your car is eventually paid off, hang on to it for a few more years instead of purchasing a new vehicle with hefty car payments.

Debt-to-income ratio

According to Experian, credit card companies weigh your debt-to-income ratio when deciding whether to approve or deny your credit card application. Generally, if your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is more than 40%, that can indicate to the credit card company or another lender that you could have trouble paying all your other debts and the credit card’s monthly payment.

Here’s an example of how to calculate your debt-to-income ratio. Let’s say you earn $6,000 a month, and your mortgage balance, credit card debt, auto, or other loan payments come to around $4,000 a month. Your DTI ($4,000 ÷ $6,000 = 66%) is 66%, a high ratio that could prompt a credit card issuer to deny your application.

Even if the credit card company approves your application, a high DTI typically affects the card’s credit limit amount. To start receiving higher credit limits, or possibly even increasing the credit limits on the cards you have now, pay off as much debt as possible so your  DTI is lower, making you seem like a better risk to credit card issuers.

Credit utilization rate

Your credit utilization rate – the ratio of revolving debt to your available credit – accounts for around 30% of your credit score, which also plays a big part in whether credit card companies approve your application. But that rate also factors into the amount of your credit limit.

That’s because credit card issuers want to make sure you can make timely payments, and the more recurring debt you have, the greater the chance of you missing a payment. With a high credit card utilization ratio, you also look like a candidate for getting into debt over your head, making late payments, or missing payments.

To improve your credit utilization ratio, start chipping away at your debts, hitting one at a time harder than the rest so you can make significant progress and stay motivated to pay off the remaining debt.

The economy

Economic conditions that are completely out of your control also affect your limits. Creditors increase limits and offer higher limits on new cards when the economy is good. Then, they decrease limits and offer lower limits on new cards when times are tough.

During the pandemic, credit card limits were decreased, especially on inactive or hardly used cards. The theory is that if you weren’t using your card regularly before an economic downturn, you’d only run up a balance because you were in dire financial straits.

Your history as a customer

When it comes to existing accounts and credit limits, if you keep your account in good standing, the creditor may increase your limit without your knowledge. A bank or credit card company may do so if you are a good customer who pays your bills on time and uses the account responsibly.

Sometimes, they may also ask you if you want your credit limit increased. You can decide to accept the offer and get a higher limit or decline it and keep your limit where it is.

Conversely, you could face a limit cut if you’ve had issues with your account. Credit card companies are not legally required to give you advance notice when they cut your limit.

The size of your cash deposit

With secured cards, the size of your cash deposit determines your credit limit because it acts as collateral for the lender. So, the sum of your deposit becomes your available credit limit.

However, a creditor may increase your credit limit of their own volition should you continue making on-time payments. Otherwise, adding to your security deposit would be a way to increase your credit limit.

How credit limits impact your credit score

Credit utilization plays a very important role in consumer credit scoring models. Both your overall credit utilization and utilization per card affect your credit scores. Experts recommend keeping your credit utilization ratio – your total debt divided by your total credit limit – under 30% overall and per card.

For example, let’s say you currently have three credit cards with a total credit limit of $15,000 combined. Each card also has a credit limit of $5,000. If your balance between all three credit cards is $4,500, you are in the correct 30% ratio. However, your credit score may suffer if only one of your cards retains the total $4,500 balance while the other two remain unused.

Then again, increasing credit limits can help you improve your credit score. How? When your credit limit increases, your credit utilization conversely lessens. So, getting a credit limit increase may be a good idea to improve your score as long as you can manage the debt.

For example, if you have a credit limit of $1,000 and your balance is $500, your credit utilization ratio would be 50%. Now, assume you get a $700 credit limit increase. This will cause your credit utilization to drop from 50% to 29%. As a result, your credit score will jump up a few points.

Can a credit card lower your limit?

How to raise your credit limit

The first remedy sounds too basic to work: Call your credit card issuer and ask for your limit restored.

That being said, you want to ensure you’re in the right position to approve the request. Asking for an increase at the right time can improve your chances.

This is more likely to work if you’ve had your card for a long time and have a good payment history. Like any other business, you’d be considered a good customer – businesses don’t want to lose customers.

You might not get your limit back to what it was, but you might get halfway there. That’s still pretty good for one phone call.

Other than that, you can try opening another card. Credit limits vary by issuer, so while Chase has been known to slash credit limits recently, others might be more patient.

However, the problem isn’t your credit limit. If you need that limit to make ends meet, you need professional help now.

You’ll bump up against that limit very soon if you use credit cards to make ends meet. Instead, call Debt.com and speak with a credit counselor who can help you cut your monthly payments.

When should you raise your credit limit?

A credit limit can increase spending flexibility while lowering credit utilization ratios, but it should only be considered at the appropriate time.

So, when is the right time? Ask yourself these questions...

Why do I want a higher credit limit?

If you’re considering asking for a higher credit limit on a credit card, it’s a good idea to check in with yourself on your reasons for wanting a higher credit limit and your ability to manage credit card debt.

Do you want to lower your credit utilization rate, the ratio of overall revolving credit debt to available credit? A higher credit limit can help. However, you could also achieve a lower credit utilization ratio by paying down your current credit card debt.

How much of a credit limit increase should I request?

Asking your credit card issuer to raise your limit from $3,000 to $6,000 is probablyn’t wise. Such a request could set off alarm bells, warning the credit card company of your household's desperate financial times.

Ask for a smaller, realistic increase instead. Some credit card companies may allow you to specify an amount, while others will choose the amount you qualify for.

How will a hard inquiry affect my credit score?

When you ask for a credit limit increase, your credit card company will pull your credit report to check your credit score, payment history, and credit utilization rate. That action is known as a “hard inquiry,” and it may lower your score a few points for a short period but won’t affect your score long-term.

However, if you’ve applied for several credit cards or loans in a short period recently, another hard inquiry could have more of an impact on lowering your score.

Has my credit score improved since I opened the card?

One good reason to ask for a credit limit increase is if your credit score has improved since you applied for the credit card.

For example, if your FICO score was in the “good” (670-739) range a few years ago when you opened the card, and your score is now in the “exceptional” (800+) range, you probably have a better chance of receiving a credit limit increase.

However, factors also could influence approval. For instance, if a few of your credit cards are maxed out, that could work against approval for an increased credit limit.

How well do I manage credit card debt?

Do you want the increase to purchase an expensive appliance or travel? If so, be honest about your ability to manage debt before opening the door to managing more credit card debt.

Should I go online or pick up the phone?

Depending on the credit card company, you may be able to apply for a credit limit increase online. However, if you call your credit card company to request with a representative, you’ll have a better opportunity to make your case.

It’s a lot easier to reject a request online than when you’re talking on the phone with a person. Even if you anticipate a long hold time, consider getting on the phone to ask for a higher credit limit.

Can I be nice for 30 minutes?

As cranky and tired as you may be struggling with debt, ensure you’re courteous, kind, and patient with the person answering the phone when you request your credit limit increase. Chances are, a lot of irritable, anxious, and rude people call him or her all day long.

You’ll have a better chance of winning a receptive ear if you politely make your case and recognize that these are stressful times for everyone, including the credit card company representative.

The risk of higher credit limits

There are plenty of benefits with higher credit limits, but hardly anyone ever considers the downsides. A credit limit increase may not be in your best interest if your debt weighs you down. If you’re living paycheck-to-paycheck and using credit to cover daily expenses, a higher limit means you can fall deeper into debt.

And yes, your credit score may increase because of the increase, but this is only a temporary fix. Once new charges push you over 30% utilization again, your credit score will take a nosedive. And if you cannot keep up with your payments, the damage will worsen.

So, if you do not have a healthy spending budget, you will run up your credit balances and fall deeper down the debt rabbit hole. And the deeper it gets, the harder it becomes to crawl back out.

Credit limit FAQ

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2021/03/free-weekly-credit-reports-during-covid-extended-until-april-2022