Does anyone intentionally leave a small balance on all their cards each month and then just pay them off after they report? Wondering if you have seen significant score growth doing that?
I have been following the "All Zero Except One" (AZEO) method since May with some very minor score growth. In May I noticed after having no balance on any of my cards for the 1st time in many years that I got a negative factor on my 3 bureau report for lack of use of my revolving credit.
Well in August I decided to switch up the one card I always have a balance report on. I left a balance on one of my other cards though. I guess my timing was off because after paying that card to 0 all 3 bureaus took a dip after it reported. Although the amount I dipped wasn't enormous it was disappointing as my Equifax score was 3 points away from 700 prior to the dip. I was on the cusp of having 700's in all 3 bureaus for my first time ever. Also with the dip I basically lost all the small progress I had made doing AZEO, so I'm back to square one. Now I'm wondering if having small balances of $2-10 on my cards when they report would be more effective going forward?
@M_Smart007 wrote:Yes, having all your TL's report at "ZERO" gives you a FICO scoring penalty,
I usually have some kind of 0% Balance transfer going at all times.
Then ..I don't have to worry about implementing "AZEO" .. just my 2 centavo's.
Thank you so much for all the information! I appreciate it!
