Why my score drop?

[payingoffdebt001]

UPDATE: I ADDED A P.S.  at the end....

Why do you think my score dropped?

Using myfico I compared Jan 23rd report from Today and had a slight drop by 8points. 

Reduced credit ratio:  went from 70% to 59%

One balance differece - it went from 550 to 0 balance.

All other cards are the same balances

Firestone increased my limit by 200 and its showing on this recent report

No new inquiries

My oldest account aged by 1 month and so did my last recent late payment (over3yrs) my Avg Age stayed the same at 1yr

UNDERSTANDING YOUR credit score no longer shows item under HELPING YOUR SCORE the item that said "your collection is old".  My collection is stil there but this Positive remark is not showing up this time around and there is zero change to the collection  - I checked all dates and everything listed on it.

I'm feeling its the Understanding your Credit score remark that is not showing up that did this.  I was expecting to see a nice increase and was left puzzled.

[llecs]

Was the score today from a purchased FICO report, or was it from an alert (e.g. via SW)?

[payingoffdebt001]

Yes, both from here Myfico and the recent TU that I am comparing against the one done a few days ago was today.  No scorewatch.  Just full credit report w/myfico score.

[llecs]

So, two TU FICO reports were pulled days apart with an 8 point drop, right?

Eight points is nothing in the scheme of things, but I can appreciate the quest for knowledge. I would have looked into this too.

If I had that, I would lay both FICO reports side by side. I would look at the obvious suspects and start with the Credit At-A-Glance page and see if anything was different, other than that one CC balance you mentioned. Make sure you have the same number of accounts, same inquiries, same accounts reporting a balance, TLs with a negative indicator, red flags, balances, etc. Any changes can produce a score change. Now I don't see how a balance decrease would impact this in this way, so I'd keep that to the side.

Next I would look at the Account page. Look at the balances and make sure nothing else changed like balances or dates on any negative account. Make sure the red flags, if any, are the same.

Finally, I would look in each individual TL, especially the CC ones. I would make sure the stati are exactly the same, comments are exactly the same, dates are the same by one month (wild shifts in reporting dates can result in a score change...depends on the reporting). Finally, I would look within each CC TL to make sure there wasn't a CLD.

ETA...did anything else change in the pos/neg reasons?

[payingoffdebt001]

Thanks llecs, yes both TU fico through MYFICO and only days apart.  I checked because I paid off my AMAZON card and because my Firstone increased my limit so I was hoping to see a raise in score, even if slightly.  

I did do that side by side, piece by piece and the most recent had so many positives compared to the last. Except the Comment change that is no longer showing under. WHATS HELPING MY FICO SCORE I had 2 items there where now it only shows 1.   Not sure how ti got impacted but must lie there.   

just paid of several cards to zero trying raise my score - but did leave about 3  cards with 10% balances which have not reported yet. 

[llecs]

Do you have any major baddies reporting? Like CAs, PRs, COs, 90+ or worse lates?

[payingoffdebt001]

Yes, one 6yr old collection that stayed the same..reporting dates are exact and no change.  1 paid charge off - exact dates, no change.  I have a Santander that has ALWAYS been a nightmare and figured they just UPDATED as usual, but not this time. Its old but they still like to poke at me now and then by changing things on me - so I was so sure ti was them..but not that I can see today, exact everyting even with them.  

[payingoffdebt001]

PS.

My utilitzation will go from about 90% to 27% so I'm really hoping to see a good score boost if no other changes happen.   Currently this recent score drop was me going from 90% to about 57%, and no significant changes other than what I noted up above.  Although I did see an increase I'm just prayin for paitence and trying to wait until all new balances report. 

I would imagine going from 90% to 27% has to give a decent in crease.  I now need around a 22 point increase instead to get my middle score to 640:  Before this recent score drop I only needed 14.  Sure hope to be pleasantly surprised when its all said and done!