topic Utilization in Understanding FICO® Scoring

Utilization

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:39:06 GMT

Does FICO count utilization as a whole or per card. I have 3 cards. Each listed below. I am wondering if I will get a point increase if the balance is paid off. $105/6000=2%$200/250=80%$250/320=78% Overall Utilization= 8%

Re: Utilization

MarineVietVet — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:28:49 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Does FICO count utilization as a whole or per card. I have 3 cards. Each listed below. I am wondering if I will get a point increase if the balance is paid off. $105/6000=2%$200/250=80%$250/320=78% Overall Utilization= 8%

It looks at overall util and per card.

(myfico)
7/09 TU-742 EQ- 779
8/09 TU-765 EQ- 783
9/09 EX pulled by lender 802

CC interest free as of 8/09
Time can heal all wounds and a low FICO.
"Hello my name is Sandy and I'm a recovering crediholic".

Re: Utilization

RobertEG — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:33:29 GMT

The answere is Both, and More!

LOL! Here is the way it works for revolving % util.

FICO scores, per their posts in their webnars, % util as follows:

Overvall % util is about half of this category. So that is primary. Get it under 10%, as you know.

The remaining half, with no sub-weighting disclsosed by brother FICO. They dont tell us the details of their scoring.

But it is clear that the % util of each indivd card is, somehow, summed and combined, but this is then combined with a look at

the percent of cards that report a zero balance against the total number of open cards.

FICO wont tell you how the ingredients of the soup are all mixed, for that is their business trade secret. But the guidelines are clear.

You have two low CL cards. FICO does not score on CL, only on % util of that CL.

Regardless of where you put your future payments, it wont change your overall % util, as your overall CL and overall balance will be the same.

But if you pay down the two low CL cards to zero, that will give you a % util on each of them as zero, and show less than half of your CCs reporting a balance. Having an overall % util of under 10%, a % util on each card of under 10%, and less than half of cards reporting a balance is % util nervana.

Low CL cards are a killer in FICO, and require deligent monitoring. Ditch the 70-80% util on those two low CL cards, preferably to zero, and I predict a substantial FICO gain.

I hope that helps.

Message Edited by RobertEG on 11-14-2009 10:20 PM

Message Edited by RobertEG on 11-14-2009 10:33 PM