I've had the card for about 2.5 years now.

Actually... a guy on another forum I moderate knows everything when it comes to credit. I'll ask him.

That, and I still have my Home Depot card

That'* contrary to what I've been told and learned.

By having all of that unused credit available to you you're a potential credit risk. If you have 60,000 in available unused unsecured credit, then get a mortgage for 100K at a great rate, then go out and max out that 60k of available credit, what happened to your credit score? How about your debt to equity ratio? Think about it. It makes sense that it WOULD have an ill effect on your credit score.

Mark, I have no reason to doubt what you are saying, however based on my recent dealing with a line of credit extension, my financial advisor told me that I have 80% of my LOC used, which is hurting my credit score (at the time it was 705), by increasing the limit, and not exceeding 80% borrowed, my credit score would go up. I also was advised to close 3 unused and paid off retail accounts, which would also raise my score.

For the record I have $12500 credit limit on my VISA, and a max $21000 line of credit. I have buying power.

Stupid buying power.... :P

Actually I think both instances may be correct. I've also heard about having too much credit makes you a risk, but I think the difference is in how many cards you have, not how much of a limit. If you have a lot of cards that makes it risky. But card companies probably will not give really high limits to people that aren't paying regularly, so I imagine those of us that have high limits, our credit is actually better since it spreads out the percentage of debt if you have a balance.

I'm going to ask my mom this evening. She'* a loan officer at a credit union, and has been in banking management for about thirty years. I'm sure she would have the answer, and if not... somebody within her credit union would.