Why a decrese when all my cards report 0 balance

[vtguy25]

So last month my cards reported with a little balance not much like 47 dollars and the other one showed up looking almost maxed because I paid it off the day after it reported being the first month I had the card I didn't know when it reported or the statement was cut.  So anyways this month I made sure both cards reported at 0 balance and the first card reported 0 and I had like a ten point bump and then I added a new credit account with a $2000 limit and I was bumped up another 6 points.  Well today my card that had a 47 balance reported at 0 and I had a 4 point decrease.  I know it isn't much but still annoying and wondering why it would do this?

[gdale6]

All revolvers at 0 score at 30% util level, you want 1 card reporting 1-9% of its CL to the CRAs every month to maximize your score.

[chrisw1968uk]

ok dumb question - if all 0 balance cards report at 30% - aren't you better carrying a 1-9% balance on all cards?? It's Friday and been a long week, so sorry if my brain won't allow me to work this one through lol 

[rolangunslinger]

According to what I have read here and other places, the best way to maximize scoring is to have all your cards except one report -0- balance with the one card reporting between 1 and 9% of the limit.

[DaveSignal]

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@gdale6 wrote:

All revolvers at 0 score at 30% util level, you want 1 card reporting 1-9% of its CL to the CRAs every month to maximize your score.

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I don't think it is quite that specific for everyone (where all 0 will match a specific util).  But the goal utilization point is absolutely true. Basically, there is a penalty for having a significant percentage of all revolving accounts reporting non-zero balances.  And there is a penalty for both total and individual utilization, the most severe penalties being "maxed out".  Add another penalty for showing no use of revolving credit (all cards at 0).

So, one sure-fire way to make sure you are scoring the highest when factoring in the above possibilities is to have one card showing a low balance that is lower than 10% utilization for that individual card.

[chrisw1968uk]

yes, i agree that is what the consensus is - but if you have card at say 4% and 5 cards at zero balance - (which reports at 30%??) - surely it would be better to have all 6 report at 4% than one at 4% and 5 at 30% ? i cant get my head around it reporting or being valued at 30% when it clearly isn't

[DaveSignal]

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@chrisw1968uk wrote:

yes, i agree that is what the consensus is - but if you have card at say 4% and 5 cards at zero balance - (which reports at 30%??) - surely it would be better to have all 6 report at 4% than one at 4% and 5 at 30% ? i cant get my head around it reporting or being valued at 30% when it clearly isn't

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no, you misunderstood gdales comment.  He was suggesting that having ALL cards at 0 will score the same as having a 30% utilization.  There IS a penalty for having ALL cards at 0, but the 30% idea is a generalization....  Having some of your cards at 0 will not cause these cards to be scored as 30%.... or have any penalty for that matter.

[chrisw1968uk]

Thanks for the clarification Dave - I appreciate it