Your credit card issuer may have to pull your credit report when they consider a credit increase request. This may result in a hard credit inquiry on your credit report. Hard inquiries can impact your credit score.
No, requesting a credit line increase will not lower your credit score. In fact, it may even help to improve your score by increasing your available credit and lowering your credit utilization ratio. Make sure to request an increase only when you are certain that you can handle the new credit limit.
Bottom line
Regardless of whether your credit card issuer performs a hard or soft credit check (or both), when you ask for a higher credit limit, the impact those inquiries have on your credit score is typically negligible in the long run.
Be sure to ask yourself how requesting a credit limit will affect your credit score. If a card issuer conducts a hard inquiry before giving you a credit limit increase, it could temporarily lower your score. That said, a credit limit increase can also improve your credit by lowering your credit utilization ratio.
The typical increase amount ranges from 10% to 25% of your current limit. Anything greater may trigger a hard inquiry on your credit. If your issuer denies the request, you may be able to make a counteroffer. Depending on the bank, you may not even have the opportunity to request a specific amount.
Higher limit means more total debt
A rule to remember: if you aren't sure if you'll be able to use that extra credit responsibly, you're likely better off skipping a request to increase the credit limit on your credit card account or should not accept the pre-approved offer for a credit limit increase.
If the credit increase is not automatic and you actively request it, expect your lender to conduct a hard credit inquiry. While this could temporarily lower your score by a few points, likely no more than 10, the effect is generally short-lived.
Capital One may automatically increase your credit limit if you use your credit card responsibly. Some Capital One cards, especially those geared toward consumers establishing or building credit, offer the opportunity for an increase after six months of on-time payments.
There's no such thing as “too many” hard credit inquiries, but multiple applications for new credit accounts within a short time frame may point to a risky borrower. Rate shopping for a particular loan, however, may be treated as a single inquiry and have minimal impact on your creditworthiness.
Going over your credit limit usually does not immediately impact your credit, particularly if you pay down your balance to keep the account in good standing. However, an account that remains over its limit for a period of time could be declared delinquent, and the issuer could close the account.
If you request a credit limit increase and your credit card issuer uses a hard inquiry to review your credit, it could temporarily lower your credit scores. If an issuer proactively raises a cardholder's credit limit, it may involve a soft inquiry, which doesn't affect credit scores.
Increasing your credit limit could lower your credit utilization ratio. If your spending habits stay the same, you could boost your credit score if you continue to make your monthly payments on time. But if you drastically increase your spending with your increased credit limit, you could hurt your credit score.
There are some differences around how the various data elements on a credit report factor into the score calculations. Although credit scoring models vary, generally, credit scores from 660 to 724 are considered good; 725 to 759 are considered very good; and 760 and up are considered excellent.
You may face the temptation to overspend as you have a higher credit limit, and you may end up spending beyond your budget and means. Having a greater credit limit increases the likelihood of maintaining outstanding balances, which can lead to accruing interest charges if these balances are not fully paid each month.
A FICO® Score of 650 places you within a population of consumers whose credit may be seen as Fair. Your 650 FICO® Score is lower than the average U.S. credit score. Statistically speaking, 28% of consumers with credit scores in the Fair range are likely to become seriously delinquent in the future.
You may be a good candidate for a credit limit increase if you've recently received a raise or changed to a job with a higher salary. You might also qualify if you have a history of making full, on-time payments to your account, as this sort of behavior demonstrates that you are a responsible borrower.
Although a credit limit increase is generally good for your credit, requesting one could temporarily ding your score. That's because credit card issuers will sometimes perform a hard pull on your credit to verify you meet their standards for the higher limit.
Overpaying does not raise your credit limit.
An overpayment will not help boost your credit limit, not even temporarily. Your credit limit remains the same — you'll just have a negative balance that will be applied toward your next statement.
A higher income generally leads to a higher credit limit, but there isn't a specific credit limit you'll receive based on your income. A credit card's credit limit can depend on many factors, including: Your income, employment status and DTI ratio. Your credit history and credit score.
Pay your bills on time.
Late payments or missing payments can lower your score more than any other factor. Making regular, on-time payments is one of the best ways to bring it back up.
It's a good idea to pay off your credit card balance in full whenever you're able. Carrying a monthly credit card balance can cost you in interest and increase your credit utilization rate, which is one factor used to calculate your credit scores.
The best time to pay your credit card bill is before your due date to avoid late fees and negative entries on your credit reports. And if you can swing it, pay your entire balance before the due date to avoid interest charges altogether.