transunion score dropped 20 pts after amex reporting

[Anonymous]

My transunion fico score just dropped 20 points after amex charge card reported. I thought charge cards do not factor into utilization? this is a new amex acct with added age (reporting open in 95)

amex reported as Open Accnt - does not say revolving. how is it factoring in?

$175 balance cost me 20 pts

does anyone know why?  my equifax and experian scores were not affected.

[Anonymous]

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specultr wrote:

You might have been rebucketed with the new aging of your accounts.

Can you post your scores pre- and post-Amex; # of accounts; and ages?

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scores pre-amex reporting  Trans: 796   eq: 804   ex: 816

post amex: trans: 776  eq: 804  ex: 816

transunion says high credit usage. my utilization is 5%

number of accounts: 5 all open around  95 and 97 at the exception of one account opened 7/08

total  4 revolving and one installment

Message Edited by Max09 on 09-25-2008 05:29 PM

Message Edited by Max09 on 09-25-2008 05:29 PM

[Anonymous]

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specultr wrote:

With scores that high, you have to already be in the highest bucket. I think it's from the inquiry. I wouldn't be surprised if you get the points back very quickly.

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the amex reporting came three and half months post inquiry. I checked my scores on 9/10 and amex hasn't reported yet. Transunion was 796 on september 9th.  it looks like with transunion a charge card is factored into the utilization but not with equifax or experian.

Message Edited by Max09 on 09-25-2008 05:59 PM

[Anonymous]

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specultr wrote:

You're right. Amex inquiries are on EXP, so TU couldn't be affected by that. I would normally say it's from a new acct, but since it's aged back 10+ years, that doesn't make sense. Did your util change from a lower percent to 5%? TU is strange anyways. You stumped me, but I still think you'll get the points back soon.

Message Edited by specultr on 09-25-2008 06:07 PM

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Yes, my util went from 1% to 5% but that is not much.  I mean 5% util is not a lot.  do you think i'm stuck having to pay before statement closing date so it reports zero balance?  otherwise it will look like I maxed out the card since there is no limit reported. right now it shows highest balance $175 and current balance $175. 

Message Edited by Max09 on 09-25-2008 06:27 PM

[Anonymous]

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[Anonymous]

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specultr wrote:

My scores are a little lower than yours. My FICOs change by 7-9 points when I let post a $200 balance on one of the cards that usually has a zero balance. At your nosebleed levels, I bet that it doesn't take much to drop the score as FICO wants to bring us to the median score.

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 lesson learned. transunion definitely take into account your charge cards when calculating your utilization. all my other revolving accounts reported zero balance (I paid before statement closing date) . the only balance i had reporting was the amex charge card. They must be using an older fico maybe?

[Anonymous]

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