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What happens if I spend more than my credit limit?

Author

Sophia Koch

Updated on February 13, 2026

If you make too many over-limit charges, your credit card issuer could close your credit account. Here are the most common consequences associated with spending over your credit limit: Your credit card could be declined. You could pay an over-limit fee.

Does spending over credit limit affect score?

Although it’s possible to go over your credit card’s limit, it’s not recommended when you want to create and preserve excellent credit scores. Exceeding that limit affects your credit utilization ratio, which measures how much of your available revolving credit you’re using.

Is it bad to spend your whole credit limit?

You can technically use your entire credit limit, but that doesn’t mean you should. Your credit limit tells you exactly how much money your credit card issuer will let you use without paying a penalty. You can use as much of your limit as you want – but that doesn’t mean you should max out your card.

Can I use my credit card if I’m over my limit?

You can use the ‘over limit’ facility anytime you cross the credit limit of your card in a billing cycle. However, exceeding the limit will affect your credit score. Hence, you must use such a facility only in the case of emergencies.

Can I put extra money in my credit card?

Usually, you use the custom amount option when you want to pay more than the minimum but less than the full balance. Many card companies limit you to paying no more than the full balance, but some do allow you to overpay. If this happens, you’ll wind up sending more money to the credit card company than you owe them.

What happens to your credit when you go over your credit limit?

Impact of Going Over Your Credit Limit . Your credit score could be impacted if your credit card balance is over the limit when your creditor reports your account to the credit bureau, which is typically on your account statement closing date. An over-the-limit credit card balance increases your credit utilization and could lower your credit score.

Can a person spend more than their credit limit?

Maybe not. Can You Spend More Than Your Credit Limit? When you opened your credit card account, you were granted a credit limit based on your income, savings and other factors. Your credit limit is the maximum amount of credit you’re allowed to use at one time. So why would you ever go over? Often, it’s simply by mistake.

What’s the maximum amount you can spend on a credit card?

Every credit card comes with its own credit limit, and lenders generally determine these limits based on credit scores and other indicators of creditworthiness. Your credit limit might be $500, $1,000, $5,000 or more-but no matter what kind of credit limit you have, spending beyond your credit limit is generally a bad idea.

What happens if you go over your AmEx credit limit?

There is no over-limit fee charged and most AMEX credit cards can go over their limit. The amount that you can go over your limit is judged on a case by case basis factoring in things like the size of the credit limit, previous spending habits and repayment history.