Hi folks. Here's a potentially useful datapoint.
Until moments ago, I had a recurring charge billed to my Discover card. The charge hits on the 5th of the month; the Discover statement cuts on the 7th.
Reviewing today's EQ report, I learned that while the charge does not show on the statement (the statement shows a zero balance), Discover does report the charge to the bureau (i.e. - Discover reports that I owe a balance). Which ticks me off a little.
Needless to say, I've moved that charge against a different card, 'cause I try to maintain AZE3 or better.
FWIW ...
@expatCanuck wrote:Hi folks. Here's a possibly useful datapoint.
Until moments ago, I had a recurring charge billed to my Discover card. The charge hits on the 5th of the month; the Discover statement cuts on the 7th.
Reviewing today's EQ report, I learned that while the charge does not show on the statement (the statement shows a zero balance), Discover does report the charge to the bureau (i.e. - Discover reports that I owe a balance). Which ticks me off a little.
Needless to say, I've moved that charge against a different card, 'cause I try to maintain AZE3 or better.
FWIW ...
Thanks for the info! I've noticed that Disco is a little squirrely with its reporting when there are charges (recurring or otherwise) around the report/cut date for me. Fortunately for me, it's my first year with them, so I'm pounding them for the double cash back and I do want it to report (though sometimes as much as it does report...). Your confirmation let's me know it's not just me. 
I wouldn't say that Disco is reporting 'off cycle'. It's reporting on or about the 7th each month. What I am saying is that Disco is not reporting the Statement balance. I suspect that the statement cuts, the charge subsequently posts, and then Disco reports -- a series of unfortunate events.
I believe that is likely the exact sequence of events, and is a great point for those who decide to do something like AZEO if Discover is one of their "zero" cards.
As for reporting off-cycle, I've mentioned it a few times (still bitter LOL) but when I first opened my account my first statement close date was about 7 weeks out. I opted in for a large balance transfer when I applied, but my approval was only for a fraction of that amount so I assumed the BT request would be discarded. My SL was only $2,500 so I was using the card like mad to try to force a large CLI and started making mid-cycle payments from week one. 2 or 3 weeks into the account being opened, they decided to partially fulfill the balance transfer almost to my remaining credit limit, and reported the account to the credit bureaus on the day of the month that my statement closes (even though there was no statement the first month), with the balance being 90+% of the credit line! Needless to say, I learned my lesson to never ask for a BT during the application process and at least I got a $3,000 CLI about 60 days in (but only another $4,000 in the 2 1/2 years since).
Yeah, you are bitter -- I read that story just a week or so ago.
@expatCanuck wrote:Yeah, you are bitter -- I read that story just a week or so ago.
I am. Let Discover drop your TU FICO 08 to 690 and see how you feel.
Fair question.
Yeah, I enjoy the game. But the purpose of my original post (as noted) is to let people know of this behavior, so they can act accordingly in case it matters.
Personally, I find the situation troubling because an issuer should bloody well be reporting to the bureaus the same friendly thing that they're reporting to cardholders. In other words, if you tell a consumer that he/she doesn't owe anything for a billing period, that's what should be reported to the bureaus. And the underlying IT systems should be built accordingly.