Update: They have changed the wording and it now says sometimes they will do a hard pull.
- In many cases, line increases requested through this online process or by calling 1-866-659-6801 will not require an additional credit bureau check (also known as a consumer report review). In certain circumstances, we may need to obtain your consumer report from the credit bureaus to validate credit information. Requests made via any other forms or telephone number will result in a consumer report review.
U.S. Bank allows you to request a credit limit increase online. Previously some of the time they would do a hard pull and other times they would do a soft pull. Now as long as you use that link or call 1-866-659-680 no hard pull (or credit bureau check as they call it) will be done.
For most people this isn’t a big deal, but I’m a big fan of card issuers making this type of information clearer for consumers and anything that results in less hard pulls is a good thing in my mind. You can view the credit limit increase policy of each of the card issuers by clicking here.
Hat tip to Keith S
This is still requiring a hard pull. Tried to reallocate some of my excessive CL from one card to a new one, which they only gave me $2k CL on. CS is apparently unable to do this, so they had to submit a CLI request, which resulted in a hard pull from TransUnion. Very annoying to have two hard pulls to get a usable CL on a new card.
I did a CLI request 1 day after I got my card since I only got $5000 limit. It was a hard pull for me
yea.. the online thing is only if you recieve a mailer. always says cant find my info. nthis card is phone increase only for most people.
Previously, I have received a couple of automatic credit line increases for my Cash Plus. AFIK, None of them required a hard pull.
Recently, I received a snail mail credit line increase offer for my Cash Plus Visa. I ordered it online as instructed. Nothing in the letter nor on the referenced website mentioned a hard pull. It did not mention a pull of any kind.
A few days later, I got an alert from TU indicating a HP attempt by US bank on my locked TU account. A week later, a snail mail arrived indicating my application for the CLI was on hold until the matter was resolved. After discussing it with US Bank underwriting team, I unlocked my TU and USBANK did a hard pull. Shortly after that, the requested CLI occurred. about 47% increase.
They changed it back to a “may result in a hard inquiry” wording again.
Today I spoke with two separate team leads in US bank underwriting dept to try to clear this up. The way it was explained to me is if you make a request with cardmember services using the number on the back of your card, it is intitially a soft pull. In some instances, the request would need to go to the underwriting dept and once this happens, underwriters will ALWAYS do a hard pull. They did not say if they would inform the customer prior to proceeding if a hard pull is required, nor were they exactly forthcoming about other factors that trigger the “need” to do a hard pull. I was also informed they randomly pull between the 3 bureaus so if you have credit freeze, you need to temporarily unfreeze all three. My recommendation is always go into with expectation that it would most likely end up being a hard pull and you would probably want to be strategic about the request (do it when you have least inquiries on reports, balances are paid down, and ask for a substantial CLI to justify that hard pull).
INCORRECT INFO !!!!
I recently requested an online CLI with US Bank and it was a hard pull.
I’ve also called 1-800-659-6801 and it too was a hard pull.
Both requests were within the last year.
Thanks for the data point. (We’d already noted in the beginning of the post in an update that they now do hard pulls.)
This appears to no longer be true. The website you link to reads:
In many cases, line increases requested through this online process or by calling 1-866-659-6801 will not require an additional credit bureau check (also known as a consumer report review). In certain circumstances, we may need to obtain your consumer report from the credit bureaus to validate credit information. Requests made via any other forms or telephone number will result in a consumer report review.
Thanks.
Just received snail mail form USB about my flexperks visa I signed up for last olympics promo, they increased my credit limit to 11K without me asking. Have a gold amex flexperks too, havent used either really since hitting the required spend on both.
Don’t think this is anything new. I believe the website shown in the screenshot is only meant for those who have a pre-approved CLI offer on their account. Usually they send out an email or snail mail to invite you to apply for a CLI and you would be directed to this website.
If you initiate the CLI request on your own on the regular website, there will still be a hard pull.
yup. this is accurate. just like others have said. i think doc was misinformed. this is not a new thing. the landing page is for people who get an invitation. i did this last year and it went thru as indicated.
there is no bank out there that will CLI with no HP for everyone just because you use a link or call a number. it always depends on the user and their status and amount youre requesting. its ALWAYS YMMV and sometimes will require a HP.
Discover will only do a SP, if they want to do a HP they will ask your permission and you can just decline.