36 point drop when CC balances=0

[MarcusCrassus]

I have just noticed a recent pattern on my TU FICO score (reported by Discover). In January my statement balances on all of my CCs were 0 and my TU FICO score dropped from 805 to 783. It went up to 819 in February when I had a small balance on one credit card (I usually pay off my CCs before the statement cuts). This month my statement balances on all of my CCs were 0 again and my score dropped to exactly 783 again. I understand that the credit scoring model wants to see that you can handle credit by showing a balance on at least one card but a 30+ point swing seems rather large. 

[NRB525]

Thanks for sharing, and no, it's not unusual to hear reports here of 30 - 40 point drops for zero cards reporting.

How many cards are you managing and paying prior to statement cut?

How many credit cards do you have?

[MarcusCrassus]

Thanks. I have 5 CCs total (2 get the most use), generally allow no more than 1 card to have a small balance when the statements of all CCs cut, and PIF every month.

[NRB525]

Many folks here do that, pay before statement prints to only allow one to report.

I don't   20 of 25 cards report balances now, and that percentage of cards is down right now. Those 5 cards that are zero last statement (or brand new in the case of Citi HHonors) are on a path to report something on the next statement. Scores today are EQ 772 TU 774 and EX 760. There's a fair amount of movement around these scores, what with 25 updates at least on each bureau each month, but consistenly in that area for now.

With 5 cards that implies you aren't on any apping trend, so have you tried letting the cards report balances, as they are active, not only to see what the score does, but also to avoid the "no card with a balance" trap?