Can you request a credit limit increase too often?

Ugh, credit cards, right? So, can you ask for a credit limit increase too often? The short answer is yeah, probably. I mean, there’s no magic number written in stone, no official “You’ve asked three times this year, GO TO JAIL,” kind of thing. But seriously, repeatedly begging for more credit? That’s not a good look.

I remember once, I was really trying to boost my credit score – I was planning a huge trip to Italy, you know, the kind where you eat pasta every day and pretend you speak fluent Italian? Anyway, I got a little… enthusiastic about requesting limit increases. Three times in six months! I thought, more credit = better score, right? Wrong. Turns out, each time they pulled my credit report (a “hard inquiry,” they call it – sounds ominous, doesn’t it?), it dinged me a little. My score took a small but noticeable hit. So much for that dream pasta-fueled Roman holiday! It felt like I was punished for my ambition.

The thing is, banks and credit card companies see a bunch of credit inquiries close together, and they kind of freak out. They’re thinking, “Whoa, this person’s desperate for cash! Are they about to go bankrupt?” It’s not exactly what you want them thinking when you’re, you know, asking for more money. It makes you seem… risky. And risky people don’t get the best credit terms, believe me!

So, how often is too often? There’s no magic number, but I’d say, try to space your requests out – maybe once a year, or even longer, unless something major changes in your financial situation, like getting a significant raise or paying off a huge chunk of debt. Otherwise, you might be sabotaging yourself. It’s frustrating, I know, but playing it cool and smart is the better strategy in the long run. Trust me on this one, my Italian vacation was postponed because of my impatient credit requests. Learned that lesson the hard way!