@Anonymous wrote:
i am an authorized user of someone else's account.. I just received a notice that my FICO score dropped due to the balance increase on their card. The card is paid as agreed, but the balance increase is apparently affecting my score?
Now I see. Being an AU means that not only do you inherit the entire history of the account but if there are any changes (both good and bad) that will also reflect on your reports. That is one of the drawbacks about being an AU. You have absolutely no control over the management of the account.
So when the reported balance on this account went up that also increased your utilization which in turn lowered your score. One way to make sure this doesn't happen again is to ask the owner of the account to make sure either (1) The account is paid to zero before the statement posts each month or (2) try and have the utilization down to <9% of the credit limit before the statement posts. Either one of these tactics should help you.
Also remember that scoring has no memory. If the balance goes back back down next month your score should gain back points it lost last month by the higher utilization.
From a BK years ago to:
EX - 3/11 pulled by lender- 835, EQ - 2/11-816, TU - 2/11-782
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem".
