How Will Paying Off CC vs. Installment Loans Affect Score?

[gem0648]

agreed on paying CC debt down first. unless of course you have an high installment loan balance at 25% interest rate.  It all depends on the APR for the CC and loan, if their within say 5% of ea other, pay down the CC, then work on the installment loan(s).  As has been said in prev posts, this is the best way to raise your FICO score faster.

[hoodun]

My score went up 121 points(to 723) when I paid down my CC debt from 50% to <20%. The only account that I have listed as an installment is a Discover Card (not sure why it is installment, but it helps), which is at 50%. I have 0 late payments on abut 8 cards. 6 of which are real crappy low limit high interst cards than I am now getting rid of after being approved for some good cards (Bank of America, US Bank). 

I was a bit shocked at the difference paying down my CC Debt made. I think there is more to a FICO score than we will ever know. My utilization was at 50% for the past four months. I'm thinkg this is taken into consideration, the time the utlization is high, and bringing it down when high for a long period can make a drastic difference. ...There are alot of factors it seems.