Can you transfer credit limits from one Capital One card to another?

Capital One Credit Limit Transfers: A Tale of Frustration and Reconsideration

Ugh, I’m so annoyed! I hit a wall trying to manage my Capital One credit cards. I’ve got two cards with them, one with a higher limit that I rarely use, and another that I use regularly, but which has a lower limit that’s constantly bumping up against my spending. My brilliant (I thought) plan? Transfer some of the available credit from the higher-limit card to the one I actually use. Seems logical, right? Apparently not in Capital One land.

After navigating their website, which, let me tell you, isn’t exactly designed for intuitive use, I finally found a way to contact customer service. The representative was polite enough, but delivered the bad news: Capital One doesn’t allow credit limit transfers between their own cards. What?! Seriously? They’ll happily accept balance transfers from other institutions, racking up those sweet transfer fees, but moving credit internally is a hard no.

This feels incredibly restrictive and, frankly, a little manipulative. I understand that credit limit management is about responsible lending and all that, but this feels less about responsible lending and more about limiting customer flexibility. Why should I be penalized for wanting to consolidate my available credit within their own ecosystem? It’s not like I’m asking for a credit increase, just a reshuffling of what I already have.

To illustrate my point, let’s say Card A has a $10,000 limit and I’m using $1,000 of it. Card B has a $2,000 limit, and I’m using $1,500. Logically, I should be able to move, say, $3,000 from Card A to Card B, giving me a $7,000 limit on A and a $5,000 limit on B. My total available credit remains the same ($12,000), but my spending power on my frequently used card is significantly improved. Simple, right? Apparently not for Capital One.

This experience has seriously made me reconsider my relationship with them. I’ve been a loyal customer for years, always paying my bills on time and maintaining a good credit score. Yet, they seem unwilling to offer a basic service that many other credit card companies provide. According to a 2021 U.S. News & World Report article, several major credit card issuers, including Discover and American Express, do allow for credit line transfers between their own cards (though, of course, it’s always best to confirm with the issuer directly as policies can change). Knowing this makes Capital One’s stance even more frustrating.

I’m now actively exploring other credit card options. I want a financial institution that values my business and offers the flexibility I need. This whole credit limit transfer debacle feels like a dealbreaker. It’s not just about the convenience; it’s about the principle. It’s about feeling like my bank is working with me, not against me. And right now, Capital One feels decidedly on the opposing side.