Utilization Sweet Spot

[wfreeman3]

They have a special right now.  2 months for $1.  You just have to cancel it before the 2 months are up or they will change you the yearly fee.  Gives you lots of time to play in the meantime.

http://www.privacyguard.com

[Anonymous]

thanks...i just enrolled and learned something that could be very important if true...on myfico it has my credit limit listed for hsbc and my score was 50 points higher..on privacyguard it had N/A listed for my hsbc card and my score was down 50 points...for the other 2 CRA the credit limit was listed and scores reflected in line with my 90% utilization but, it appears I am penalized if the CCC does not report my limit.  At least that's how privacyguard is calculating this....

[haulingthescoreup]

for the util sweet spot with me, on:
1 mortgage
1 HELOC, confirmed as counting as installment, not revolving
1 student loan, since paid off
5 CC's (before last Saturday's spree)

Best results on TU FICO were with one CC reporting a balance, and it under 1%, thus overall util WAY under 1%, and total of 4 of 8 TL's reporting a balance. The other two were fine with two CC's with balances.

I think this might be linked to my score bucket, which is the old farts score bucket (my oldest account is 18 years on EQ and TU; 20 years on EX.) I think you can get away with more accounts reporting when your history is shorter. This is why I picked up some more cards. TU especially was too twitchy with extra cards with balances.

[marty56]

I have one CC out of 3 that is reporting a balance.  It is showing at just over 50% util (for BT).  I am waiting for the CR to be updated to show below 50% and it will be at 20% in 2months.