topic Re: Testing the 1%-9% UTL theory in Understanding FICO® Scoring

Testing the 1%-9% UTL theory

dodfire — Fri, 17 May 2013 02:33:07 GMT

So the past couple of months I have been playing with the UTL on my revolving accounts.

EQ just updated and my UTL last month 9% this month UTL 2%

***NO CHANGE IN SCORE***

Re: Testing the 1%-9% UTL theory

ezdoesit — Fri, 17 May 2013 02:37:54 GMT

I thought I far as scoring goes it's 0-15,16-29 etc

Re: Testing the 1%-9% UTL theory

Anonymous — Fri, 17 May 2013 02:44:25 GMT

I would give it a few days. EQ scores seem to be lagging.

Maybe it needs to be a bit higher. Some have a sweet spot at 4%.

Re: Testing the 1%-9% UTL theory

dodfire — Fri, 17 May 2013 02:46:44 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I would give it a few days. EQ scores seem to be lagging.

Maybe it needs to be a bit higher. Some have a sweet spot at 4%.

So when the balance is updated on EQ the score is not updated at the same time??

4% you say? I might try to hit that mark next month and see what happens.

Re: Testing the 1%-9% UTL theory

Anonymous — Fri, 17 May 2013 02:56:30 GMT

I went from 0% to 3% and dropped a point.

Maybe because the balance was on a new card?

Re: Testing the 1%-9% UTL theory

Anonymous — Fri, 17 May 2013 03:09:38 GMT

@dodfire wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
I would give it a few days. EQ scores seem to be lagging.

Maybe it needs to be a bit higher. Some have a sweet spot at 4%.
So when the balance is updated on EQ the score is not updated at the same time??

4% you say? I might try to hit that mark next month and see what happens.

It should be but for some reason it hasn't. Over on rebuilding I have read many posts where they don't get a bump in score for a few days after something significant happening.

The good thing with utilization is FICO has no memory of it and you can tinker around with it.

Re: Testing the 1%-9% UTL theory

Anonymous — Fri, 17 May 2013 03:09:12 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I went from 0% to 3% and dropped a point.

Maybe because the balance was on a new card?

Is it your only card with a balance?

Re: Testing the 1%-9% UTL theory

Anonymous — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:02:46 GMT

Yes, I had all zeros and thought I'd try to leave a small balance on just one card.

Re: Testing the 1%-9% UTL theory

Anonymous — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:38:11 GMT

I hear this works best for the ones rebuilding. Maybe not the case for those not.

At any rate, you could always try a different % and see what happens. FICO generally doesn't like to all CC with no balance.

Re: Testing the 1%-9% UTL theory

Anonymous — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:04:21 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I hear this works best for the ones rebuilding. Maybe not the case for those not.

At any rate, you could always try a different % and see what happens. FICO generally doesn't like to all CC with no balance.

generally true, but its very dependent on your profile. For my profile, highest score is attained at zero balance. i lose less points going from less than 1%, to 1%, 2-5%, to 10%, than i do from 0% to less than 1%. I know the guy tracking his score when his balance changes over at "Otherboard" lost points going from les than 1% to no balance.

Re: Testing the 1%-9% UTL theory

Anonymous — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:13:13 GMT

Yea, I understand that. That's why I said it works best for those rebuilding to give the quickest score bump. Everything is dependent on your profile but utilization is the one thing you can play around with and see where you get the best score.

Re: Testing the 1%-9% UTL theory

dodfire — Sat, 18 May 2013 04:31:53 GMT

Ok so as I stated originally dropping 9% to 2% ~~had~~ did not change my score at all.

Today, my reports updated again with the 2 installment loans that I paid off.

3 Installments down to 1 and again no change in score.

I thought that it might just be equifax so I went ahead and purchased TU...also no score change on TU.

I am at a loss as to how to increase my score now. This sux!!

Re: Testing the 1%-9% UTL theory

Anonymous — Sat, 18 May 2013 06:15:18 GMT

The installment loans will not have very much of an impact at all when paid off. They only really help for credit mix and you still have one open.

I know the 9% or under helps a lot for rebuilding to get the quickest boost.

You might try a midrange % like 3 or 4. Other than that I am not sure. I know 0 probably wouldn't be much help.

Re: Testing the 1%-9% UTL theory

DaveSignal — Sat, 18 May 2013 08:33:20 GMT

I can see my score move whenever my util changes. It absolutely works for me. This must have something to do with the particular credit profile of OP. Maybe there are not enough revolving accounts... or something along those lines.

Re: Testing the 1%-9% UTL theory

dodfire — Sat, 18 May 2013 09:10:14 GMT

@DaveSignal wrote:
I can see my score move whenever my util changes. It absolutely works for me. This must have something to do with the particular credit profile of OP. Maybe there are not enough revolving accounts... or something along those lines.

I dont think that would be the case......I have 12 revolving lines.

Re: Testing the 1%-9% UTL theory

dodfire — Fri, 24 May 2013 05:11:35 GMT

UPDATE***

MyFICO was about 1 week behind.

All cards updated and 2 installment accounts PIF updated on my report. Per my previous posts (no score change).

About 7 days later I get a notice of score change and pull a new report to see an increase of 10 points.

Im not sure why the score would not change at the same time of balance changes or account status.

Anyways, just putting this information out there for others that might have questions about it.

Re: Testing the 1%-9% UTL theory

CreditJunkie917 — Fri, 24 May 2013 09:57:07 GMT

I got a 51 pt boost on EX fako when my nfcu card hit dropping my uti down to 8%. Experian update the other day, and I'm down to 4%. No change yet, but hopefully in a couple of days, I'll see something.