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I don't know why this confuses me but it does.....
Okay, let me get this straight. Today is Aug 24, 2009. Utilization under 10% for CC(cap1). Statement date covers July 4, 2009 thru Aug 3, 2009. Payment Due Date is Aug 28, 2009. When is the ideal time to PIF so that it posts but I don't get charged interest? Would this be anytime after Aug 3 when a new statement would start, but before Aug 28 the due date? Or does it somehow coincide with the end of the month? Have a cap1 card and Orchard Bank card. Thank you to anyone who can help me
@Anonymous wrote:I don't know why this confuses me but it does.....
Okay, let me get this straight. Today is Aug 24, 2009. Utilization under 10% for CC(cap1). Statement date covers July 4, 2009 thru Aug 3, 2009. Payment Due Date is Aug 28, 2009. When is the ideal time to PIF so that it posts but I don't get charged interest? Would this be anytime after Aug 3 when a new statement would start, but before Aug 28 the due date? Or does it somehow coincide with the end of the month? Have a cap1 card and Orchard Bank card. Thank you to anyone who can help me
You would need your payment to post by August 28th. As long as you PIF by the "due date" you will not pay any interest on purchases. If you took cash advances, you will pay interest from the day you took the cash.
Just now, when you need to pay depends on when the current balance was on there.
Were the current charges on there when your last statement cut? If so, PIF ASAP so that you meet the 'due date' deadline for your payment that's due right now and are starting with a clean slate.
Once you're paid down to 0, either hold off on using the card until after your next statement cuts (which is when most - though not all, and Orchard may be one of the oddies - cc's report to the CRAs) before using it, or else charge something and PIF as soon as it posts to your account for a few more days, but then do stop using it about a week before your statement date to ensure that everything's posted and been PIFed.
Once that 0 balance is reported (and you should then have 0 min. pmt. due as well, at that point), you can start using the card more normally, but your target for PIFing if you want to keep a 0 balance reporting is that statement date - PIF a week or so before it and try to avoid using the card until after the statement cuts.
If you need the card to report a small balance at some point for score maxing, then follow first steps above to get that first 0 balance reported, use as normal but pay down below 9% before the statement date, let that 9% report, then PIF the remainder immediately afterward to avoid paying interest or accidentally missing your payment due date.
However, with only 2 cards to work with, you might want to check via a post over on Understanding FICO Scoring on whether or not it's best to have both reporting 0 consistently, or one 0 and the other <9% for max scores.
Hope this helps.
If you need the card to report a small balance at some point for score maxing, then follow first steps above to get that first 0 balance reported, use as normal but pay down below 9% before the statement date, let that 9% report, then PIF the remainder immediately afterward to avoid paying interest or accidentally missing your payment due date.
Yes, I want card to post the <10% amt but avoid finance charges. I have been paying it off in full everymonth anyway, just want to make sure Im timing it right. I have pretty much been paying withing 10 days of DUE date.
You have absolutely clarified it for me, thank you. Have the 2 cards, cap1 5000 limit, orchard only 500. Got both post BK in 07. Also have car payment, automatically deducted from bank. Looking at houses now, so want to maximize score best I can. will have to see if even feasible. Thanks again.
Just remember that CapOne reports to the CRA's on the statement date (this is the norm for most cards); and Orchard does it's own little dance and reports to the CRA's the last business day of the month.
Make sure your balance on the date they report to the CRA's is what you want to show up on your CR's. Then pay the balance in full by the due date. That way you can choose to PIF for all cards but still have one account reporting a small balance.