Effects on credit score

Anonymous · ‎02-25-2014

Just a short story that might surprise some people (it suprised me) about how a credit score can change.

December 2013: AAoA ~3yrs, no inquiries in the last 12 months. TU score 762 (discover)

As of January 2014, I had 2 new TU inquiries (one denial, one approval) and, as you might expect, my score dropped a bit. TU score 736 (discover)

As of February 2014, nothing has changed since January except all accounts are now a month older. TU score 762 (discover)

So.. Why would my score jump back up absolutely nothing changed except the slight increase in AAoA?

Utilization was the same (<1%)

All three of my new accounts were reporting (according to CK) at the time of the 736 score (according to Discover).

No inquiries fell off

Edit: In fact, between the 736 in January and the 762 in February, I added an account (Barclays Arrival), which I believe is an inquiry on TU. It is not yet reporting though.. so that's another thing you would expect to decrease my score, rather than increase it.

Anonymous · ‎02-25-2014

@Anonymous wrote:
Just a short story that might surprise some people (it suprised me) about how a credit score can change.

December 2013: AAoA ~3yrs, no inquiries in the last 12 months. TU score 762 (discover)
As of January 2014, I had 2 new TU inquiries (one denial, one approval) and, as you might expect, my score dropped a bit. TU score 736 (discover)
As of February 2014, nothing has changed since January except all accounts are now a month older. TU score 762 (discover)

So.. Why would my score jump back up absolutely nothing changed except the slight increase in AAoA?
Utilization was the same (<1%)
All three of my new accounts were reporting (according to CK) at the time of the 736 score (according to Discover).
No inquiries fell off

Edit: In fact, between the 736 in January and the 762 in February, I added an account (Barclays Arrival), which I believe is an inquiry on TU. It is not yet reporting though.. so that's another thing you would expect to decrease my score, rather than increase it.

Just wondering aloud..........with your 736 score, although your utl was the same were more cards actually reporting than when your 762 reported. I know my EQ takes a hit when 3 or more TLs report a balance even thought the total utl is the same percentage.

Anonymous · ‎02-25-2014

I would guess some utilization angle, maybe as mentioned the proportion of accounts with balances.

The TU score reported on your Discover statement reflects what was on your report a week or so earlier, so there may be a timing or updating issue.

Also, you could check out the rebucketing angle mentioned in various threads.