@Booner72 wrote:@ Hauling - You do such a great job of taking the time to explain things so clearly and nicely. I really appreciated all of that when you helped me get started. I just wanted to give you kudos for this!
@OP - I was wigged out to the hilt trying to get all my accounts to report zero, except one to report 1-9%. I have a hugely long thread about in "understanding your score" if you care to take a gander. What ended up happening is my score got where it needed to be because I got my overall utility way down. I didn't have to fine tooth/tweek this method of 1-9%. I think I have such a "dirty" credit file that I'm about maxed out at where I will be until the bad stuff is gone, which will be a LOOONG time.
Good Luck! What is it you're trying to do again? Mortgage?
Could you link me to that thread? I'd like to read it 
And no, not applying for a mortgage or anything serious. I'm 23 and only now starting to learn the ins and outs of how credit works (not sure if I'm a late starter or not) and I'd like to learn as much as possible and also get my credit history going on the right track so when I do need to apply for car and home loans I'll be in good shape!
All I've got right now are 5 credit cards, and a few student loans in deferment.
Glad to help! And MVV has it right about optimum reporting.
I've read claims that someone did better with 4% than 1% reporting or something, but I'm not convinced. Usually, there was something else going on that was responsible for the score.
Make your life simple: pick one card, ideally one whose statement posts every month on the same date, pay it off early except for $10, let that post, and then pay it off. (Don't forget that part!) Pay the others off in full (=PIF), so that they report $0. That results in optimum FICO scores.
However, there's no real point in doing this unless you're getting ready to app for something and you want to tweak your scores. The reason that most of us do this is because we're hooked on optimized scores, and it's painful to see them drop due to multiple cards reporting balances. Another point is that it takes a month or so to get everything reporting in this way, and if something comes up unexpectedly where you might want to app, you might not have optimized scores and reports. But unless it's a mortgage or auto loan, it's probably not that score sensitive, so you really don't have to do this.
My reason for paying early (besides liking the higher scores): I have massive adult ADHD, and all my negatives were late payments. By making my internal due date the statement date instead of the true due date, I add a 2-3 week cushion to prevent future lates. 
@haulingthescoreup wrote:Glad to help! And MVV has it right about optimum reporting.
I've read claims that someone did better with 4% than 1% reporting or something, but I'm not convinced. Usually, there was something else going on that was responsible for the score.
Make your life simple: pick one card, ideally one whose statement posts every month on the same date, pay it off early except for $10, let that post, and then pay it off. (Don't forget that part!) Pay the others off in full (=PIF), so that they report $0. That results in optimum FICO scores.
However, there's no real point in doing this unless you're getting ready to app for something and you want to tweak your scores. The reason that most of us do this is because we're hooked on optimized scores, and it's painful to see them drop due to multiple cards reporting balances. Another point is that it takes a month or so to get everything reporting in this way, and if something comes up unexpectedly where you might want to app, you might not have optimized scores and reports. But unless it's a mortgage or auto loan, it's probably not that score sensitive, so you really don't have to do this.
My reason for paying early (besides liking the higher scores): I have massive adult ADHD, and all my negatives were late payments. By making my internal due date the statement date instead of the true due date, I add a 2-3 week cushion to prevent future lates.
I'd like to keep my score as high as possible (for self satisfaction ), especially since the only thing I need to manage at the moment is credit cards. I'd like to get into good habits with them now so that in the future I do things like habitually pay a few days before the statement date instead of the true due date.
However, I don't want to buy a FICO every month for 9+ months (1-9%) to truly find my own personal optimum so I'll probably just pay whatever I can that pay period so that it falls somewhere in the 1-9% range. I feel as though I've finally got a complete understanding of how this one tiny aspect of your score works. Time to move on to something else!
Ok I lied. Hauling (or anyone) could you help me understand my Citi dates.
Previous Statement Balance date was 07/19/11
Previous payment due date was 08/15/11
Last Statement Balance - 08/17/11
Payment Due Sept. 15, 2011
Next Statement Sept. 19, 2011
Current Balance: $1800/4000 and I'm in the introductory 0% APR period
Minimum Payment: $28
My understanding:
Short Version - Assuming I make no charges from now until 9/19
I have until 9/15 to pay $28 (to avoid a late fee) and, if payments went through instantly (I know they don't, but for the sake of argument and simplicity), until 11:59PM 9/18 to pay an additional $1412 (leaves a balance of $360/4000) to get a 9%UTL reported.
Also, let's assume the following:
As of 09/19/11 my balance is $0/4000
Next Due date is 10/15/11
Next Statement date is 10/17/11
Any dollar that I spend after 9/19 will not be due on 10/15 but, if unpaid, will be reported on 10/17?
Long Version - this was the initial post, but I decided to give a short version so you wouldn't get as annoyed
So, after re-reading one of your previous posts several times I am still a little confused. Here's what I know (or think I know).
The balance on my card right now (8/17) is $1800. If I don't pay $1800 by 09/15 I will pay interest and if I don't pay at least the minimum I will be late. When will Citi report my balance? Do some banks report your balance after your due date? (To me it looks like any charges that I accrue from 8/17 to 9/18 will be reported on 9/19).
OH.. I THINK I GET IT! I think I was getting confused because I've been carrying a balance and not starting from 0 every period.
All unpaid charges up to 8/17 are due on 9/15. What gets reported on 9/19 is whatever I charge and don't pay from 8/17-9/18 PLUS any balance carried over from the previous period.
As of 8/17 my balance is $1800, I am still in the introductory 0% APR period, and my minimum due 9/15 is $28. So if I make no charges between now and 9/19 and pay only the minimum, Citi will report a balance of $1772 (-$28 PLUS my old $1800 balance)?
Sorry if it's hard to follow. I literally typed out my entire thought process.
