topic Re: Single Card Vs Aggregate Util in Understanding FICO® Scoring

Single Card Vs Aggregate Util

Caught750 — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 11:27:51 GMT

The question is, what kinda damage am I looking at if I allow one card to report say 31% Util while aggregate Util stays at maybe 4%?

More specifically my Altitude Reserve currently has a $9k limit, of about $93k TCL. My reference above is to allowing my AR to report, perhaps, a $3k balance while keeping overall utilization low.

Re: Single Card Vs Aggregate Util

Anonymous — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 11:53:30 GMT

It depends on what it normally reports. Without knowing that, we don’t know what the magnitude of the difference is, but going by knowledge that’s been shared here, probably 5-6 points per threshold that you cross since aggregate is staying in the lowest tier. It’s only momentary though - once it’s baxk at its normal balance your points return. Long as you aren’t apping for anything during the period of higher UTI, don’t sweat it.

Re: Single Card Vs Aggregate Util

Caught750 — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 12:02:46 GMT

Very fair, currently sub 8.9 aggregate and sub 28.9 per card with less than half reporting. I’m still hopeful that the SL on AR will be raised but was curious about what to expect for a month or two while it gets nearly all spend. Sadly, I won’t be able to ask for a HP CLI until summer 2020.

Re: Single Card Vs Aggregate Util

Anonymous — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 12:08:21 GMT

If you’re only crossing one threshold on one card with the others and your aggregate remaining the same, the impact will be negligible especially with the roll call of cards and limits in your dig. Shouldn’t be an issue at all

Re: Single Card Vs Aggregate Util

Caught750 — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 12:10:43 GMT

Perfect, thank you! I know they can be slow to process CLIs at activation so I’m patiently optimistic. Like I said though, also wanna be well informed.

As far as roll call, it’s definitely been a wild year!

Re: Single Card Vs Aggregate Util

SouthJamaica — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 13:04:20 GMT

@Caught750 wrote:
The question is, what kinda damage am I looking at if I allow one card to report say 31% Util while aggregate Util stays at maybe 4%?

More specifically my Altitude Reserve currently has a $9k limit, of about $93k TCL. My reference above is to allowing my AR to report, perhaps, a $3k balance while keeping overall utilization low.

The difference between 31% and 29% is significant... it usually costs me a couple of points to have one that's at 30% or higher.

Today, however, I dropped my only +30% card down to 7% and it only added a point in EX FICO 8. So who knows?

But I would definitely advise you to go the extra mile and try to get it down to 28% (to leave room for interest or whatever).

Re: Single Card Vs Aggregate Util

Caught750 — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 13:27:56 GMT

SJ, please define a couple? 5 or 6, 10 to 12? I know it’s not “you lose 5 points for that” specific but I don’t want to micromanage especially since they have several dates if you’re doing that.

Also, I have absolutely no intentions on carrying the balance and paying interest. It’s simply a question of scoring impact from letting it report.

Re: Single Card Vs Aggregate Util

Caught750 — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 14:54:00 GMT

I suppose I’ll just set an alert for $2,500 and not go over it

Re: Single Card Vs Aggregate Util

SouthJamaica — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 20:35:28 GMT

@Caught750 wrote:
SJ, please define a couple? 5 or 6, 10 to 12? I know it’s not “you lose 5 points for that” specific but I don’t want to micromanage especially since they have several dates if you’re doing that.

Also, I have absolutely no intentions on carrying the balance and paying interest. It’s simply a question of scoring impact from letting it report.

2 to 4, but it's not that predictable; I just gained 1 point today when I went from 49% to 4% on my only > 30% card. I would have expected 4 or 5 points out of it.

Re: Single Card Vs Aggregate Util

Caught750 — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 21:07:10 GMT

I could handle 2 to 4, I just don’t wanna see a 10 point drop. That’s crazy that you only got 1 point back. I don’t plan to app for anything for a little while (like a year)

Re: Single Card Vs Aggregate Util

SouthJamaica — Sun, 31 Mar 2019 00:56:20 GMT

@Caught750 wrote:
I could handle 2 to 4, I just don’t wanna see a 10 point drop. That’s crazy that you only got 1 point back. I don’t plan to app for anything for a little while (like a year)

Every profile is different.

Re: Single Card Vs Aggregate Util

Anonymous — Sun, 31 Mar 2019 04:33:24 GMT

@Caught750 wrote:
The question is, what kinda damage am I looking at if I allow one card to report say 31% Util while aggregate Util stays at maybe 4%?

My guess would be 0-5 points, depending on your profile.

Re: Single Card Vs Aggregate Util

Anonymous — Sun, 31 Mar 2019 12:16:57 GMT

@Caught750 wrote:
I could handle 2 to 4, I just don’t wanna see a 10 point drop. That’s crazy that you only got 1 point back. I don’t plan to app for anything for a little while (like a year)

Can you explain a little more? If you won't be applying for anything for the next year, why would a 10-point drop be a problem? Especially since you can fix that problem at the end of your gardening phase by implementing AZEO with a small positive balance.

Re: Single Card Vs Aggregate Util

Caught750 — Sun, 31 Mar 2019 12:27:44 GMT

It’s more of a psychological thing, I think. I fought hard to get my scores up so I don’t wanna see em drop again. I know it’s an easy fix and if I find it worth going over on Util I will. Just a mental game.

Re: Single Card Vs Aggregate Util

Anonymous — Sun, 31 Mar 2019 13:12:13 GMT

I can appreciate that line of thinking - same boat I’m in. I don’t want to see drops for any reason, and even $300-500 CLIs are still a small victory that I value.

Re: Single Card Vs Aggregate Util

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 01:54:26 GMT

@Caught750 wrote:
It’s more of a psychological thing, I think. I fought hard to get my scores up so I don’t wanna see em drop again. I know it’s an easy fix and if I find it worth going over on Util I will. Just a mental game.

I can understand where you're coming from with that, as I'm that way as well the majority of the time. Coming from a place of low 600's a few years back makes me want to see nothing less than an 850. Recenty though, I'm OK with not micromanaging AZEO and/or worrying about my reported balances much, unless I'm doing testing of course. Scores in the 830-840 are more than adequate and I'm just 30 days/AZEO away from pinning them again if I'd like.

Re: Single Card Vs Aggregate Util

Caught750 — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 02:06:57 GMT

Agreed, I’ve relaxed a lot as I’ve gotten close to the 700s. At 750 or so I won’t worry about 5-15 points. I’ve allowed balances to report naturally, and on 2-4 cards/month, with no consequence so far. Each card has stayed under 28.9% and aggregate has stayed at about 4%.

The thing is, right now, I want to focus on 2 cards. I want to use Altitude and CSP heavily (PIF after statement). BBVA will see isolated spend for the 0% until next year. Altitude and CSP fit my spend very well and offer the rewards I find most useful. CSP would stay under 28.9 and aggregate would stay about the same. The issues is, however, that if USB doesn’t increase my Altitude SL I may exceed 28.9 on that using it naturally.

Knowing that I can pay it off quickly and get the points back is helpful for sure! I can also start EEing EX (for some reason only TU and EX get any use fo me) in May for a few points and then by August I’ll be well over 710.

I just don’t want a set back before my scores start climbing.

Re: Single Card Vs Aggregate Util

Anonymous — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 03:39:13 GMT

@Caught750 wrote:
At 750 or so I won’t worry about 5-15 points.

I hope that's the case for you. I told myself that a lot... "once I get to X, I'll be good..." Every time I got to X, X then increased The sticks get moved and you start with a new set of downs. The dangling carrot never seems to get any closer. That was my experience anyway, all the way up to 850. Then, at 850, it was something I felt I needed to maintain. Not anymore, though. I don't have the patience and desire to micromanage like I used to. I hope when you get to 750 you can ease off the gas pedal.

Re: Single Card Vs Aggregate Util

Caught750 — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 11:24:55 GMT

Yea I can see that being an issue for me as well. Nothing short of perfection is good enough. I do view a ridiculously good score as something to be used because what’s the point otherwise but I can see myself getting really mad if I had an 850 and it dropped.

Re: Single Card Vs Aggregate Util

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 02:58:47 GMT

Yeah, I've often thought about doing some bonus-chasing, as it's something I've never done and I have the scores that would allow me to grab a bunch of SUBs and still stay in a comfortable place... but I just don't want to reset that AoYA clock which will be hitting 2 years in 4 weeks.