TheNewWorldMan wrote:This just goes to show why you shouldn't sockdrawer a CC. Keep a miniscule balance on it, yes. I have a CapOne card with a $2 balance now, and an Orchard with $9. My BofA balance is down to $29. My motto is, "y'all pretend to give me a real credit limit, and I'll pretend to use your card."
LOLOL.. I love it. However, you now owe me a new monitor since I just spewed Diet Coke all over mine. 
On a side note... congratulations on your credit score improvement! 
It's nice to see your bluntness being voiced on the positive side of things now!!
Congrats!!!!
TheNewWorldMan wrote:This just goes to show why you shouldn't sockdrawer a CC. Keep a miniscule balance on it, yes. I have a CapOne card with a $2 balance now, and an Orchard with $9. My BofA balance is down to $29. My motto is, "y'all pretend to give me a real credit limit, and I'll pretend to use your card."
MidnightVoice wrote:One of my green bits on my TU report (things that good)
You've shown recent use of credit cards.
Your FICO score evaluates your mix of credit cards, installment loans and mortgages. People who demonstrate responsible use of different types of credit are generally less risky to lenders. You helped your FICO score by showing recent use of a credit card.
You have too many credit accounts with balances.
8 accounts
FICO High Achievers [?] have an average of 3 credit accounts carrying a balance.- Your FICO score considers the number of accounts you have with balances. For credit cards, even if you pay them off in full each month, your credit report may still show a balance on those cards. The total balance on your last statement is generally the amount that is shown on your credit report.
- What to do about this: You should consider reducing the number of your accounts that carry a balance and keeping your balances low.
So this is like a compound question.
I keep balanced on these cards because I have 1 bill going to each card. I am doing this because I am afraid of them being closed due to inactivity.
What should I do?
Should I drop a bunch of my newer credit cards? I opened like 3 this year 1 is a discover card with a 3k credit line and the other 2 are $500 each, opened like 1-3 months ago each
Personally I would lock away a few with zero balances and use the others, keeping utilization very low. Every 5 months unlock the unused cards, zero out the used cards and lock them away 
heatherjo811 wrote:I need some clarification here.My credit scores were all over 800. I have only a mortgage with a balance. I have an Amex which I charge everything to and pay off every month. My Amex reports the balance on the bill regardless of whether I pay it in full or not... I always pay it off in full every month. Over the past year I started paying in advance so my balances would be small (under $100). My credit score improved when I started doing this.Also, I have had a mastercard for 15 years which I have hardly used over the past few years. I read on the forum that it's better to have some small balances so I charged gas for around $30 last month on it. My Transunion score dropped 14 points because I had another card with a balance. Nothing has changed on my credit over the past few years. I have one modest mortgage and use my Amex. No late payments, no car loan, no student loans, no other credit cards, no collections, no other loans.... nothing.Can someone please explain why everyone keeps saying it's better to have a small balance on your credit cards.... yet when I did it my score dropped from 816 to 796?When I called TU they basically told me I was being ridiculous because either way my score was good. Now I don't know if I should keep using the other cards or put them away again.
What is the limit on your Mastercard? Is the limit being reported? What kind of card is it?
And honestly.. there is no difference between 796 and 816.