Is this normal?

[mipema]

The following are my FICO scores from September of last year which is the first time I've pulled them. 

TU: 706 EQ: 693 EX: 705 - 9/24/07
TU: 706 EQ: 690 EX: 705 - 1/15/08
TU: 706 EQ: 693 EX: 705 - 1/22/08
TU: 701 EQ: 693(2/14/08) EX: 705 - 2/13/08
TU: 702 EQ: 693 EX: 705 - 3/21/08

Since then,

• WAMU raised my CL by 50% from 2k to 3k (No inquiry)
• I've converted a 10k Delta Amex Skymiles to a Blue cash (No inquiry)
• Had an inquiry for a mortgage (TU, EX, and EQ)
• Hard pull to double the CL on my bank issued Visa to 10k (TU)
• Had HSBC close my $750 MC account b/c of inactivity - BOO!!!! I HATE HSBC
• Opened a 3k Discover More (TU)
• Opened a 2k Citi Platinum Select MC - Just opened this week and have not received the card (Not sure who they pulled from - yet)
• Possibly some others I may be forgetting, but nothing bad - I know C(r)ap1 increased my CL, but I can't recall if that was prior to 9/07.

And, finally...

• About to apply for a mortgage in the next week

My scores have not budged.  No baddies for 38 months.  I generally PIF every month, so it's quite rare that I ever carry a balance if at all.  Am I doing something wrong, or is it normal to have scores which don't budge?  Thanks for the anticipated replies.

Message Edited by mipema on 03-28-2008 03:36 PM

[MidnightVoice]

My scores (780s) have hardly budged for months (about 5) even though I have had new credit (auto, Amex, B&N AU).  The exception was yesterday when I got an 11 point drop for one inq (reducing Heloc APR), which is rather ironic.

[Anonymous]

My understanding from reading these boards is that the CRAs like to see you carry a balance of 1 - 9% on fewer than half of your cards, as opposed to 0 balances on all. This shows wise credit management. So, instead of PIF-ing all cards, why not try letting one or two of your cards carry a balance of about 1%. Once the balance hits your CR (usually shortly after statement drop), PIF to avoid interest charges. That might help nudge up your scores.

Other than that, I dunno. Personally I'm a bit jealous you haven't seen a hit from the inquiries - share your secret! 

[Anonymous]

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desifink wrote:

My understanding from reading these boards is that the CRAs like to see you carry a balance of 1 - 9% on fewer than half of your cards, as opposed to 0 balances on all.

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Just to clarify:  CRAs don't care what you do.  All they do is store the information and generate reports when requested.  FICO is the one that cares; that's the scoring formula used to generate a score based on data from a CRA report.

[Anonymous]

Something I've never understood is why completely identical reports from 2 different CRAs produce different FICO scores when they are supposed to use the same scoring model.

[Anonymous]

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FretlessMayhem wrote:
Something I've never understood is why completely identical reports from 2 different CRAs produce different FICO scores when they are supposed to use the same scoring model.

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They don't use the same scoring model.  Each CRA uses a different version of FICO tweaked ever so slightly to their specifications.

TU hates too many accounts with balances and not having a mortgage, while EQ hate new accounts.

Just a couple of examples.

[MidnightVoice]

cheddar wrote:

while EQ hate new accounts.

Semms to hate the Inqs more than the new accounts, at least for me

[mipema]

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desifink wrote:

My understanding from reading these boards is that the CRAs like to see you carry a balance of 1 - 9% on fewer than half of your cards, as opposed to 0 balances on all. This shows wise credit management. So, instead of PIF-ing all cards, why not try letting one or two of your cards carry a balance of about 1%. Once the balance hits your CR (usually shortly after statement drop), PIF to avoid interest charges. That might help nudge up your scores.

Other than that, I dunno. Personally I'm a bit jealous you haven't seen a hit from the inquiries - share your secret! 

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So basically, as far a FICO is concerned, it is a bad idea to have paid my Macy's visa today, (which is due sometime around the middle of May), as when this reports it will have done so with a zero balance?

I too, am a bit shocked that I haven't seen a significant drop, if for no other reason the opening of new accounts, which is why I asked if this is normal behavior.  I was wondering if my credit file is split or somehow "messed up".

[Anonymous]

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MidnightVoice wrote:

cheddar wrote:

while EQ hate new accounts.

Semms to hate the Inqs more than the new accounts, at least for me

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Well, my EQ has 8 of each (inqs and new accounts), so I'm not sure which it hates more!

[MidnightVoice]

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cheddar wrote:

Well, my EQ has 8 of each (inqs and new accounts), so I'm not sure which it hates more!

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8 new accounts - I have had 8 new accounts in the last 7 years!