Community
Wiki Posts
Search

General over-the-limit question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 16, 2006 | 1:36 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SJU
Posts: 1,542
General over-the-limit question

If I want to charge $5000 on a credit card that has a $2500 limit, can I prepay the card in the amount of $2500 and make the charge or is the card physically limited to a certain number regardless of the negative balance?
chewy3 is offline  
Old Nov 16, 2006 | 1:42 pm
  #2  
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 28
The card itself doesn't have a limit. The bank can just deny you credit. If you over-pay it beforehand, there is no reason for them to deny you credit and your transaction should go through.
mishaniz is offline  
Old Nov 16, 2006 | 1:46 pm
  #3  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Programs: DL GM, AA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Plat
Posts: 12,171
Originally Posted by chewy3
If I want to charge $5000 on a credit card that has a $2500 limit, can I prepay the card in the amount of $2500 and make the charge or is the card physically limited to a certain number regardless of the negative balance?
Card providers all seem to be a bit different on this one. Call your customer service number and ask if it will work.
skofarrell is offline  
Old Nov 16, 2006 | 4:59 pm
  #4  
20 Countries Visited
2M
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: ELP
Programs: AA EXP/LT PLAT, Marriott Titanium/LT PLAT
Posts: 4,140
this all depend on the type of card you have...pre-paying will not help this issue since your card has a limit which is determined by computer....
anaggie is offline  
Old Nov 16, 2006 | 7:10 pm
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: BOS
Programs: CO Silver; DL FO; SPG Gold; HH Gold
Posts: 880
Originally Posted by anaggie
this all depend on the type of card you have...pre-paying will not help this issue since your card has a limit which is determined by computer....
I've never overpaid a card, but I've run into credit balances plenty of times on regular credit cards with a revolving limit. Never has my credit line utilization gone up from $0 until the credit balance was used up.

Of course, some banks will not let you overpay your card, or will only let you overpay it to some small amount.
karthik is offline  
Old Nov 16, 2006 | 8:20 pm
  #6  
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: EWR
Programs: AA PLT, CO GLD, UA 1P, Marriott SLVR, SPG GLD...
Posts: 257
Why don't you call in and ask for a credit increase? Tell them you have a big purchase coming up and you will cancel the card if they don't budge. Ususally works.
diapickle is offline  
Old Nov 17, 2006 | 4:39 pm
  #7  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
40 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,543
Originally Posted by chewy3
If I want to charge $5000 on a credit card that has a $2500 limit, can I prepay the card in the amount of $2500 and make the charge or is the card physically limited to a certain number regardless of the negative balance?
My parents did it long ago, it worked fine.

On the other hand, I ended up with a negative balance with Discover a while back and after a while a check showed up in the mail to zero it out.
Loren Pechtel is offline  
Old Nov 17, 2006 | 8:49 pm
  #8  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Alabama / Georgia
Programs: DL, HHonors, AA, US, Aloha Pass, BA, CO, HawaiianMiles, Chairman, Centurion, AXP, MR, MHC Gold
Posts: 3,467
It is now a violation of the MLR. However, not everyone follows the rules. Good luck
drbond is offline  
Old Nov 17, 2006 | 9:19 pm
  #9  
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: KIX, ITM, UKB, YVR
Programs: Star Alliance - AC
Posts: 2,356
Originally Posted by Loren Pechtel
My parents did it long ago, it worked fine.

On the other hand, I ended up with a negative balance with Discover a while back and after a while a check showed up in the mail to zero it out.
Me too.

When I was paying for my wedding, I prepaid by 20K and had no problems whatsoever.
Taiwaned is offline  
Old Nov 18, 2006 | 2:34 pm
  #10  
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: PHX
Posts: 3,794
It varies, and it's best you consult with the card issuer before doing anything.

This could also be seen as a prelude to fraud -- you overpay your account with a bad check, then charge your credit line + bad check. They might put a hold on the overpaid funds until they're sure they clear, especially if it's a new account.

There was someone on FT that ran into trouble with his US Airways Juniper card that way. He wanted to charge it to the max and pay it off several times during the billing cycle, but they put a hold on the paid funds because it was a new account.
alanh is offline  
Old Nov 18, 2006 | 8:37 pm
  #11  
Original Poster
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SJU
Posts: 1,542
I called cap one and the first person I talked to said that I couldn't do it. I called again to confirm and the guy said that I could but that I have to wait 10 days after the payment posts (which makes sense) - the 2nd person was from india so I'm not sure of its validity. I guess I'll call a 3rd time for a tie breaker
chewy3 is offline  
Old Nov 19, 2006 | 7:35 am
  #12  
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Ivory Towers
Programs: DL Plat, HH Diamond, Diners Club, Citi Chairman, AMEX Plat, Merrill+, SPG Gold, Marriott Slvr
Posts: 328
Originally Posted by chewy3
If I want to charge $5000 on a credit card that has a $2500 limit, can I prepay the card in the amount of $2500 and make the charge or is the card physically limited to a certain number regardless of the negative balance?
Given that you have the cash to pre-pay, it sounds like you have some financial strength.

If you can, get a card with a higher limit or demand that your existing card increase the limit. Sometimes you just need more credit. Banks understand that.
awake_at_midnight is offline  
Old Nov 19, 2006 | 10:55 am
  #13  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 39
Originally Posted by diapickle
Why don't you call in and ask for a credit increase? Tell them you have a big purchase coming up and you will cancel the card if they don't budge. Ususally works.
Yeah, if you pay on time they will be happy to increase your limit in like 2 seconds. Give them a call
bettyflyer is offline  
Old Dec 3, 2006 | 10:02 am
  #14  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: I am usually found in YYC or GIG
Programs: UAL Premex
Posts: 1,858
Gotta call your card company............

I have a Cap One MC with a $5K limit........prepaid it once to charge a $10K item.......not allowed because my limit was $5K. Man was I p/o'd........took them 3 weeks to issue me a cheque.

I also have a VISA AVION card with a $20K limit............prepaid it by $40-50K numerous times to execute larger transactions, no problem whatsoever.

Go figure........
Carioca Canuck is offline  
Old Dec 4, 2006 | 1:17 am
  #15  
20 Countries Visited
2M
50 Countries Visited
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold, Former UA 1K
Posts: 6,365
Originally Posted by chewy3
If I want to charge $5000 on a credit card that has a $2500 limit, can I prepay the card in the amount of $2500 and make the charge or is the card physically limited to a certain number regardless of the negative balance?
I think a lot of credit cards have a max 10% overpayment that they will allow.
Maybe you have already tried this, but call your CC company and ask them to raise your limit to $5k.
dvs7310 is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.