Utilization question

[proudnavymom]

Can someone help me determine which of my accounts factor into my utilization?  I have a charged off cc with Cortrust Bank for $528, falls off 9/2016, is reporting a $250 credit limit;  First National Credit Card reports a 0 balance--falls off 9/2016 This one has been sold, but is not being reported by the CA--was reported one time but after DVing LHR they removed it, so I don't think this is factoring into my utilization, but it is reporting a $250 credit limit;  I have 2 First Premier Bank accounts that have been charged off--one is reporting a balance of $621--falls off 9/2016 and is reporting a credit limit of $350;  and the other one is reporting a balance of $592--falls off in 8/2016 and is reporting a credit limit of $300.     I currently have a Capital One Secured with a credit line of $1001; Navy Federal Credit Union with a $5000 credit line; Emblem with a $250 credit line; and a personal loan with NFCU for $14,000 to pay off what I owed the IRS.  None of these have ever been late and I usually pay them off every month except for the NFCU installment loan.  I was assuming the charged off credit cards were factoring into my utilization because they are reporting a credit limit, so I usually pay off my Capital One, NFCU, and Emblem credit cards every month because I assumed the utilization on the charged off account s were killing my utilization.  I have noticed if I leave a little balance on some of my current credit cards, my credit score seems to be increase, but when I pay them all off  my credit score seems to remain the same or go down a few points.  I am not sure which way to go to get the best results.  I have tried to get a PFD on all the charged off credit cards, but all my attempts have been refused.  Thanks for any help you can give me.   

[Elcid89]

Utilization is calculated on open accounts. Your closed accounts would not factor into that.

[proudnavymom]

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@Elcid89 wrote:

Utilization is calculated on open accounts. Your closed accounts would not factor into that.

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I thought that if a charged off account was reporting a credit limit it factored into your utilization.  Not true?

[Elcid89]

Untrue. Utilization ignores closed accounts. You take the hit (if any) with closed accounts from any negatives that are on the TL.

[Shogun]

OC accounts include util, open or closed. CAs don't factor into util unless there us some hinky reporting, ie factoring company listing

[proudnavymom]

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@Elcid89 wrote:

Untrue. Utilization ignores closed accounts. You take the hit (if any) with closed accounts from any negatives that are on the TL.

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Oh, I see...well thanks for the clarification.  That changes the way I need to do things then---so of my open credit cards I need to pay all off but one and leave <9% on one and just experiment with what percentage gives me the best increase--correct?  And does the 9% refer to the credit limit on the one card or the combined credit limit on all open credit cards?  Sorry for all the questions, but I am just trying to get a clearer understanding of this utilization thing!

[proudnavymom]

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@Shogun wrote:
OC accounts include util, open or closed. CAs don't factor into util unless there us some hinky reporting, ie factoring company listing

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Oh, o.k.  well that's what I thought I had read on here before so that is why I was trying to pay in full all of my open credit cards because the balance on the closed credit cards are above the credit limit, so I figured I was over the optimal percentage to report each month.  I guess I will just have to experiment with my open credit cards and see which way gives me the best results. 

[Elcid89]

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@proudnavymom wrote:

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@Elcid89 wrote:

Untrue. Utilization ignores closed accounts. You take the hit (if any) with closed accounts from any negatives that are on the TL.

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Oh, I see...well thanks for the clarification.  That changes the way I need to do things then---so of my open credit cards I need to pay all off but one and leave <9% on one and just experiment with what percentage gives me the best increase--correct?  And does the 9% refer to the credit limit on the one card or the combined credit limit on all open credit cards?  Sorry for all the questions, but I am just trying to get a clearer understanding of this utilization thing!

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Across all revolving accounts.

For example, you have three hypothetical credit cards, each with a $10,000 limit.

You want to keep your overall utilization below 9% of $30,000, and you want no one card to be over 9% as well, to maximize FICO. You'll still take the hits from the negatives if you can't get rid of them though, and those carry much more weight than utilization does.

[guiness56]

ALL OC revolving accounts, open, closed, good, bad, factor into your utilzation.  If you have a closed CC that was CO'd that reports a balance and CL, that is factored in. 

Utilization is one of the biggest factors in your score. 

If it is 30 or 60 day lates those have little to no impact after 2 years.  Anything 90 days plus will affect you for 7 years,