Please Read: Need Advise: How to use your credit cards

[Dino76]

Hello,

I have a Visa (7000) and a Deptpartment Card (9000) that I have not used in 4 months - both with a zero balance.  Should  I buy something small - 100  bucks or so and let it post on my credit report, then pay it off the follow month or should I pay it before it is posted on my credit reports.  Which way is better to raise you credit score.

I got a 756 EX and 754 TU.  Trying to get those extra points to move into the 760+ range.

thanks

[apandabear]

Any slight increase you can get from playing with your Util by letting a small balance (1-6%) report on one card, will be lost if you don't do that each month.

You'd have to use one or both cards each month and let a small balance report to see any potential benefit from it.

Charging and paying off (by itself) doesn't help your FICO. But you might be able to get a couple points if you let a small balance report on just one card.

I'm sure there are others that would be interested to hear what your FICO does with a small balance.

PS .. you did mean 756 EQ right?

[Dino76]

Thanks!  Yes, I did meant Equifax and not EX. 

[mtrsprt]

@ 6 months without activity on a credit account, most CCC's start looking into your file often, to see if any oher activity has been made.  Throw gas on them or something.   Having one cut your limit in half, or closing the account on you, is one thing you do NOT want......

[Shogun]

It's good to keep some activity going occasionally so they don't close the acct.