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I remember reading about this too…IIRC, there was a way that mortgage lenders could force an updated score through an immediate pull. I forget what this process is called.
You can also contact CCC to change due date, thus changing closing and reporting dates.
Yeah, just call in and ask for a mid cycle update. I've done it before with Barclays and they did it no questions asked. Don't know about other lenders, though.
One term that's used in the mortgage industry is "rapid rescoring".
I don't think it's available at the consumer level, unless a specific CC company will accommodate you.