Credit card limit increase - Virgin 12mo 0% purchases/balance xfers

j19

I have just got a Virgin 0% card. The credit limit is £7k. I wish to fit as much as the balance of a car I am paying for in 8 weeks onto it.

When would be the best time to ask for the limit increase? Straight away, after using a bit?

If the latter, any usage patterns I should follow to increase my chances?

TFD_2

If you've just got it, then very little chance they'll increase immediately. After 6 months is most likely, but you'll be out of the 0% transfer period then, so not much help.

CannyJock

Does no harm to ask for an increase when you activate it so long as there's no additional credit report search made. I've had limits increased on activation before - few notable instances with RBS backed cards. Once it's activated and you start using it then yeah, 6 months is most cards' standard policy.

TFD_2

CannyJock wrote: »

Does no harm to ask for an increase when you activate it so long as there's no additional credit report search made. I've had limits increased on activation before - few notable instances with RBS backed cards. Once it's activated and you start using it then yeah, 6 months is most cards' standard policy.

I agree, nothing to lose, but MBNA are quite generous with limits anyay and will generally offer initially whatever they are happy with.