@Powertripper wrote:I'm currently at 14% TOTAL util. That 14% debt is on one card, making that cards' util 87%.
I currently have 5 different BT options.
While transferring the balance to the best BT card seems simple enough, I would be in the same boat--a high util on another card.
Seeing as I have some other options, I'm trying to obviously save money but at the same time improve Fico scores if possible..
So what I'm wondering is, do INDIVIDUAL cc util's come into play with the Fico scoring or is just overall utilization?
I do know that at 90% util on a credit card is considered maxed out.
Spreading the balance over 3 or 4 cc's is such a pain--some are 0% for 12, 15, 21 months-some with fees some not---figuring out the amortization on each card to fit your pay off plan before standard rates apply is tiresome, plus keeping in mind the util of each card.
Am I onto something by diveying up the balance between cards or should I just transfer to one card?
Thanks for any insight.
Do what makes sense financially and don't worry about FICO.
Both aggregate and individual utilization is tracked, but we don't have enough data that I've seen to really determine how it really factors into the algorithm in terms of ratio: certainly one high utilization tradeline is way different than a bunch of them scorewise so you'll be OK.. Not sure on the maxxed out tradeline breakpoint either, could be breakpoint at 80% or maybe 85%. Hoping to get a good test on that later as I personally haven't seen datapoints between 73% and 93%.
Thanks Revelate......so while speciifcs of individual util are not known, they do play a factor.
And of course $ 1st , Fico 2nd 
Since data of individual cc util is not known, one can only pressume that the algorithim is the same as that of the total util--just probably not weighted the same--17% on 5 cards is better than 87% on one, yet the total util of 14% remains the same.
@Powertripper wrote:Thanks Revelate......so while speciifcs of individual util are not known, they do play a factor.
And of course $ 1st , Fico 2nd
Since data of individual cc util is not known, one can only pressume that the algorithim is the same as that of the total util--just probably not weighted the same--17% on 5 cards is better than 87% on one, yet the total util of 14% remains the same.
Unfortunately there's a third calculation for revolving utilization which breaks that: number of revolving accounts with a balance.
I can state at least under FICO 04 when I maxxed out my Amex BCP twice, I dropped 14 points explicitly both times and recovered as soon as it was paid, with no other balances reporting. 660 -> 646 -> 660 -> 646 -> 660.
I never did the all tradelines report a balance bit, but I'm not so sure given that presumably my 14 and 27% aggregate utilization in those tests probably counted somewhat, that all tradelines reporting a balance wouldn't have been a worse penalty at the same utilization lines. I lost something like 7 points at 5/9 cards reporting even under Beacon 5 though I've lost that data somewhere in the ether apparently.
Something else for folks to test I guess.
@CH-7-Mission-Accomplished wrote:FICO expert John Ulheizmer has stated that indvidual card utilization DOES NOT matter. He is quoted as saying, "FICO isn't stupid!"
It only matters if one card is at or greater than 90%
FICO does not like to see too many cards with a balance on them.
You would be better off showing one card with 87% utilization than spllitting that up so you have 17% over four or five cards. Your overall utilization is the same and your number of cards with a balance is minimized. This is the best scenario.
He's said some known wrong / contradictory things lately. How does one card being at or greater than 90% mattering equate to individual card utilization not mattering?
Expert is a matter of opinion at this point, either way someone needs to stringently test the breakpoints from a known file which to my knowledge hasn't been done on a FICO 8 model, so guess I'll step up on that since I don't really have a use for my credit report within the next year after mortgage anyway.
Go go SDFCU $250 secured card! 
