Will a Chase credit limit increase use a soft pull?

Requesting a credit limit increase can hurt your score, but only in the short term. If you ask for a higher credit limit, most issuers will do a hard “pull,” or “hard inquiry,” of your credit history. A hard inquiry will temporarily lower your credit score. Bank of America, Barclays, Chase, U.S. Bank and USAA will conduct a hard inquiry if you request a credit limit increase. American Express, Capital One and Wells Fargo will not. Citi will notify you when you call if they will generate a hard inquiry or a soft inquiry, which does not affect your score. Discover typically uses soft inquiries, but if you don’t accept the credit limit offered and request a higher limit, it will then be a hard inquiry.… read full answer

Hard inquiries will lower your credit score by a few points, but can only affect your score for one year. After two years, hard inquires completely drop off of your credit report. The other thing you need to watch out for is overspending. Requesting a credit limit increase could really wind up hurting your credit score if you use the extra spending power to rack up debt you can’t afford to repay.

Still, the potential negatives that come with requesting a credit limit increase can be managed and are often outweighed by the benefits of having a higher credit limit. The boost in your credit limit could also raise your credit score as long as your spending stays at the same level. The additional credit would lower your utilization, which is the ratio of your balance compared to your credit limit. Ideally, this number should be less than 30 percent for each card. Keeping utilization low tells issuers you’re responsible and aren’t just desperate to max out your card.

Some issuers also extend automatic credit limit increases to eligible cardholders. These increases may occur periodically and do not generate a hard inquiry. To give yourself the best odds of receiving an automatic increase, make all of your monthly payments on time, preferably in full. And give it some time. Issuers tend not to extend automatic increases until you’ve had a card for at least six months. Similarly, if you recently received an increase on an existing account, expect to wait at least six to 12 months before you’re considered for another increase, assuming you manage your account responsibly in the meantime.

Chase will automatically increase the credit limit for eligible credit card accounts based on periodic account reviews that typically begin six months after an account is opened. Automatic credit limit increases are done at Chase's discretion, and there's no guarantee when one will occur.

How to Get an Automatic Credit Limit Increase From Chase… read full answer

You don't have to do anything for Chase to review your account for an automatic increase. However, taking the following steps will boost the odds of getting Chase to automatically increase your credit limit:

• Pay the bill on time for at least the first six months that you have the card.
• Keep your credit utilization below 30%.
• Update your account profile if your income has gone up since you applied for the card.

How a Chase Automatic Credit Limit Increase Affects Your Credit Score

A Chase automatic credit limit increase requires a soft pull of your credit, which does not affect your credit score.

Chase may offer you the option to decline the automatic credit limit increase amount and request a higher increase. If you decline and ask for a higher amount, Chase will conduct a hard pull on your credit report, but they cannot do so without your permission.

A hard pull may lead to a slight decrease in your credit score, but your score should bounce back after a few consecutive months of timely payments. You can keep track of your progress with free daily credit score updates from WalletHub.

You can get a Chase credit limit increase by requesting it over the phone, by calling (800) 432-3117. You cannot request a credit limit increase from Chase online right now, but this option has been available in the past. When you call, you simply have to provide some information about your income, debts, other open credit accounts, and anything else Chase happens to ask for more information on. Chase may either approve you immediately or notify you of its decision within a few weeks (via mail and/or email). If you’re approved for a higher limit, the change will take effect right away and should show up on your next statement.… read full answer

To qualify for a Chase credit limit increase, you generally need to pay your bill on time for at least six consecutive months and otherwise manage your finances responsibly. You should also strive to use only a small portion – 30% or less – of your current credit limit. Making sure your income is up to date on your Chase.com account could help, too.

Here’s how to get a Chase credit limit increase:

• By Phone: Call Chase customer service at (800) 432-3117. Enter the last four digits of your card number, followed by your zip code. Press “0” to speak with a customer service representative.
• Automatic Increase: Chase may offer you a higher limit if you use your account responsibly. To check, sign into your Chase.com account, click on the menu icon at the top left of the page, and select “Your offers.”
• Online: Chase currently does not allow you to request a higher credit limit online. In the past, you could log into your account on Chase’s credit limit increase page, fill out the form and get an instant decision.

Just so you know, requesting a Chase credit line increase will result in a hard inquiry on your credit report. That means it could lead to a slight, temporary dip in your credit score. But that shouldn’t really matter unless you’re planning to apply for a mortgage or car loan in the next few months.

It’s also worth noting that if you don’t get the decision you’re looking for, you can always apply for a new credit card from a different issuer. The issuer’s desire for new business could lead it to be more generous than Chase.