Understanding FICO® Scoring

[codedoctor]

Would a change in FICO that was not accompanied by a credit alert indicate a rebucketing?

[Jazzzy]

Hi...let me clarify in my own mind...

Are you asking about if you get a Score Watch alert that your FICO changed, but there was nothing that prompted the alert...?

If that is the case...no. It doesn't mean rebucketing. I get those all the time. I have tied some of my alerts that aren't accompanied with specific things (like new accounts or new inquiries, etc.) to whether or not I have two credit cards showing small balances vs. three. My score bounces up or down a few points. Having a credit card not show a balance, however, is not an alertable event through ScoreWatch. That doesn't mean that it doesn't affect your FICO.

I know...my explanation is about as clear as mud. Is that what you meant?

[codedoctor]

Thank you once again. Yes, that is exactly what I meant. And I now see what a newbie question it was. Though at the time...

[Jazzzy]

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codedoctor wrote:
Thank you once again. Yes, that is exactly what I meant. And I now see what a newbie question it was. Though at the time...

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Nope...it's not a newbie question. Score Watch is not exactly an intuitive thing to figure out at times. It took me a while to learn that.

I got an alert once where I gained a couple of points. That small increase came when it alerted me to an inquiry. The "reason" given for my point increase was that I had had an inquiry. Well...didn't think so. That's when I figured out that Score Watch is simply computerized and you have to take the "reasons" or lack of reasons with a grain of salt.