@0x47 wrote:
I am comparing EQ score reports from 04/04/13 ($11,291 / $49,000 = 23%) and 05/05/13 ($11,497 / $49,000 = 26%), both pulled through Score Watch. The latter %util is wrong but that's what SW tells me. It should be 24%.
On the 04/04/13 report my "low credit usage" (23%) was helping my score. On the 05/05/13 report my "high credit usage" (26% which should really be 24%) is listed as hurting my score.
Nothing else changed in the report save that (1) my oldest card is 8yr11mo old with an AAoA still just over 4 years, (2) my youngest card hit 6mo old, and (3) balances increased by $206. Obviously #3 could contribute to a FICO score drop, and #2 might have caused me to be rebucketed maybe.
I figure that before all else I should at least try to figure out the %util bug with myFICO customer service.
It wouldn't be a bug...the formula is the same for everyone otherwise everyone would see a change in util when all else is equal.
I'd narrow everything out and I would look for the following:
1) I would make sure I was comparing exactly the same TLs (or any new or dropped TLs between Apr+May)
2) I would make sure the balances add up.
3) I would check the CLs. In the past couple of months I received a CLD on a seldom-used CC which impacted util.
4) I would look for any CC that hadn't updated in a while and/or see if I had any newly active alerts via SW. Look based on the reported date. Cards that hadn't been active in months are excluded from util, but it's based on the reported date.
5) I would look for any added or removed dispute comments. Even if you didn't dispute it's not uncommon for a CC to add a comment like that after questioning an acct. Accounts with a dispute comment showing are removed from util calcs.
6) I would look to see if any of my CCs reached $0 in the past month. If so, I would look to see if there is a closed comment showing (you'd also know if a CC of yours is closed I suppose). These are removed from util calcs.
7) I would look to see if you had any special accounts (e.g. WorldPoints or Signature) that could be playing into util changes.
8) I would look to see if you had any CLIs that could have bumped the CL so high that the TL would be excluded from util calcs (this usually happens with limits above $25k, YMMV on the CRA and FICO).
9) I would look to see if any TLs updated to change the account type.
10) I would redo the calcs and consider non-CC accounts into util. For example, a couple of posters said recently their SL CU lender changed their loan to report as a LOC which would impact util. There are some verified examples in these forums of CAs reporting in a way where the TL factors into util. Be open to the odd and unexplained.
Finally 11) I would put both reports into a spreadsheet and recheck the util that way. Then I would add or remove TLs to see if you can't replicate your report's util and that may aid in finding the account in question.
You're in a good spot to check this with your FICO reports. Better than relying on SW alerts or other 3rd-party reports.
The switch in the positive and negative util percentages may or may not be related to rebucketing. I always tell everyone to assume that it is not unless you cannot prove why your score dropped. I've lost double-digit points on small util changes like yours. It's very plausible the drop was due to the score alone. The switch in the pos/neg could be a threshold at 25%. Who knows. You can always drop util to where it was before and see if anything changes. Also changing a $0 balance to a balance of $1 or greater can have a significant impact on your FICO in some situations. More non-$0 balances you have the worst it gets, even if the balances are uber-low.
Starting Score: EQ 732 October 2007; Current Score: EQ 839; TU 865, July 2022;
. Since last month DID show 23% when it was really 23.04%, you might be right 
.