Payment question?

[Anonymous]

I am rebuilding my credit had lot s of baddies taken off, have a former car loan in 2006 I paid off in over a year, now just got 2 cap one credit cars, one for 300 the other for 500,now I have read to use one card and leave other at 0 bal, to increase my score, on the one I am using I have a recent 149.00 charge, should I pay it off in full or should I say pay most and leave a small balance, I am doing this just to increase my sore as I can pay it in full???

[Tazman81]

Its believed for most the FICO scoring gods like to see between 1% and 9% on your credit cards.  So, I would pay off the amount to get you in that range (and you may have to play around with it each month to see what's best for your score).  Then once the statement hits showing that small balance, I would make a another payment to bring it to zero and then repeat.  You may want to use both cards at least once every 3 months or so, to make sure it doesn't get deactivated because of inactivity.

Oh, and are in you the credit steps program for each card?  If so, I think one of the requirements is that you use the card at least once during the month in order to get your increases.  So, maybe do a small purchase on each card and pay it off immediately.

[Anonymous]

I am in the steps program I have to use it once within the first 90 days which I have.

[marty56]

You should always PIF to avoid intrest charges.  If you want a small balance to report, then make a payment before the statement drop date.  If you don;t know the statement drop date, then make a parent online as soon as a balance shows up.  Most CCCs won;t let you make a payment unitl there is a balance and some may even limit the number of online payments you can make over time.