Pay my balance off every month - but score still sometimes goes down

[Anonymous]

Hi,  What am I doing wrong ?????  I pay my credit card off every month, I never let the balance get more than 25% of what I am allowed, and I just had a 10 point drop in my score because I have a $328 balance on a credit card which is only due on the 8th of February 2009 !  Come on, that is just not fair, I am so ultra responsible !

[203bravo]

The problem is, per your statement, your account is posting 25% usage.  It does matter that you pay your account in full every month since your file is only a snap shot of time on the date they report.

The secrete to playing their game is to find out when they report to the CRB and pay you bill a day or 2 before that.  This will have them reporting a smaller or 0 balance, but keep it under 10%.

It's not so bad when we learn the rules of their game   geesh.

[PayYouNever]

203Bravo is exactly right, if you use your card and pay it off, you're probably getting reported when you have a balance. Just call up the CCC and ask when they report, they CSR will happily tell you, and then make sure your PIF is 2 days before that. Then wait three business days later before using the card again. I was able to do this with AMEX, Orchard and BofA. I effectively brought my REPORTED utilization down to 15%, when in actuality I was carrying balances of close to 65%... they play games with you, you play games with them and get over!

[203bravo]

here! here!  well said.

[Lil_Me]

I second that 203bravo! I had to learn this the hard way. I am currently trying to purchase a home and I use my cards for gas during the week and lunch and I make sure I pay the balance down to a small amount or 0 balance.

[gdale6]

Time to retire this old thread. Feel free to start a new one.