Score Drop due to Account activity

[Anonymous]

So at the end of January, I paid off all but about 2 of my credit accounts.

After a few months, I didn't want to chance any being closed due to inactivity, so I charged small balances and then immediately paid them off.

Apparently, not quick enough because one of them got reported to Equifax has having activity (per myFico credit alerts) a couple days ago. The alert was "an account previously inactive for 3 months is now showing activity". Then today, my Equifax score dropped 21 points. The reason given "recent missed payment (not likely) or derogatory item on my credit report".

Can charging a small amount to show activity on a card result in that much of a score drop, or is it possible there is something else that  newly got added to my report and I should do a pull now to check?

[pizza1]

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@Anonymous wrote:

So at the end of January, I paid off all but about 2 of my credit accounts.

After a few months, I didn't want to chance any being closed due to inactivity, so I charged small balances and then immediately paid them off.

Apparently, not quick enough because one of them got reported to Equifax has having activity (per myFico credit alerts) a couple days ago. The alert was "an account previously inactive for 3 months is now showing activity". Then today, my Equifax score dropped 21 points. The reason given "recent missed payment (not likely) or derogatory item on my credit report".

Can charging a small amount to show activity on a card result in that much of a score drop, or is it possible there is something else that  newly got added to my report and I should do a pull now to check?

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not just after that short amount of time i would think, and not for using your cards again. I would pull your reports just to make sure nothing fishy is going on, and make sure noone has report a late payment or derog.

[Scupra]

Sounds like something else happened. Simply using your card, unless a large balance reports, won't hurt your score.

[CraigHwk]

I recently used a card that was unused for 10 months and got the same alert.  My score went up two points though.  

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I will pull and check.

[TheGardner]

Yeah sounds like a derogatory mark hit. I have had the same alert on inactive accounts no point drop.

[Anonymous]

Found it. Some bogus chargeoff account. Will be disputing shortly.