topic Re: Strange data point. Very confused in Understanding FICO® Scoring

Strange data point. Very confused

SRT4kid93 — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 16:02:39 GMT

So I recently did some testing on utilization both aggregate and individual.

I allowed one of my cards to report 46% individual which was 16/17% aggregate and my score lost 7 points .

i then allowed that same card to report 55%. But I did not lose any additional points for going over the 50% threshold.

can anyone explain why I didn't lose any more points even after going over 50%

Re: Strange data point. Very confused

Thomas_Thumb — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 17:13:38 GMT

Yes, crossing a threshold does not necessitate a point loss. The impact or lack thereof is dependent on your profile.

I have a well aged file. When I had an open mortgage my scores were very stable. I could report balances on up to 6 of 6 cards with no point loss and spiked a reported card UT to 75% with no point loss. Now that my mortgage is closed my score does drop when 3 of 5 cards or more report balances. My score has also become more sensitive to changes in card and aggregate UT.

Bottom line - Not all profiles react equally. Some profiles (especially clean, thin, young files with new accounts) may experience a score penalty crossing a UT "threshold" where a thicker, well aged profile would not.

The situation is not unlike AZE1. Many profiles see a score benefit using this technique. Others see no score drop reporting AZE2, AZE3 or AZE4.

Re: Strange data point. Very confused

Realist — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 11:54:41 GMT

As @Thomas_Thumb mentioned, your credit profile depth is going to determine the hurt, if any at all.

Someone that is relatively light in credit profile, is going to feel most every movement, but someone that is built out isn't going to feel much at all. Utilization of one card, barely makes a dent if at all, where as opposed to many, will provide more of an impact.

I've given this example a half dozen times here on the boards already.

Buy a new car, the average MPG gauge bounces wildly until time sets in. Floor it, it drops to nothing. Feather it, it coasts to very high numbers. But only with enough time, does it learn your true MPG average, and works to lock it in. The longer that time, the more accurate the read. After years, you could lead foot for a number of miles, and your average MPG wouldn't flinch. You could feather it, and it wouldn't flinch. Because it's built around a solid set of data, many years in the making. Small discrepencies matter less, and less. I do abuse my score at times, and my score barely moves in a negative way.

That's not to say you can't derail that benefit. Be responsible, and your credit will remain beneficial for you.