What Will Help My Score More

[Mellon]

I'm thinking about getting added as an AU on my Aunts credit cards... she has had credit for over 25 years..(assuming that they report to the big 3) NOw she does carry balances on these cards util ranging from 0 to 60%(NEVER LATE in payments) If i'm added as an AU will the age help my score or will the utilization hurt my scores? Is it possible that its a non-factor?

[Anonymous]

if she keeps her balance reporting @ between 0-9%, the age and the util will HELP you. If she has a 60% util, it will more than likely hurt you. And yes, they do factor in the util of au ccs

[Anonymous]

The % of your score affected by each factor -

-30% affects Utilization. It is best to have several accounts with low balances distributed then it is to have fewer accounts maxed out. To figure utilization: Balance (divided) by Credit Limit = percentage. Lower than 10% recommended per account, this is one of the fastest means for increasing the over all credit score.

-15% affects Established History. The longer you maintain open accounts with creditors the better. When first starting out of course this is not easy; but this is where getting added as an Authorized User to another persons established credit comes in best. Remember that the contributor must have an account that has long history; clean payment record; high credit limit; and low balance. Also need to check with the creditor to insure that they have a policy to report authorized user accounts to all three major credit reporting agencies.

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/fico/board/message?board.id=ficoscoring&thread.id=2654

When FICO 08 is available and creditors begin using it, AU accounts will not affect score.

How old is your oldest account now?

Do you have revolving credit on your report now?

If so, what is your util?

[Mellon]

Here are my accounts

Target $500    util 78%

BB Rewardzone.. $600.....52%

Orchard..$800.......89%

Macy's..$2100......23%

Crown..$1500....0%

Dell.......$2000..37%

In the last week I have been approved  for(no Util)

Kays.....$2000

Jareds..$2800

Amex Delta Gold......$2000

Walmart.$500

5 CO (all out of SOL)

3 Capt 1 CO (1 is paid)

2 Providian

[Anonymous]

You need to figure your total util with and without the AU cards.

If it increases or doesn't decrease your util significantly, IMO I wouldn't add them.

Util counts for more in scoring then age.

What would more than likely help your score more than adding AU is getting your util below 9% and carrying a balance(small) on less than half your cards.

[Mellon]

Thanks sidewinder.. I'm gonna work on my utilization over the next three months to get the boost i need. Pulled FICO on EX  and i'm at 662...i dying to break into the 700 range..even if its just one bureau