I was reading a post where Timothy stated that when one's UTL is tops 80%, it's costing you between 50 and 100 points. Does that seem right?
Also, I have two CCs that are in a DMP which I'm paying down (40% and 65% UTL). Are those outstanding balances being added to my aggregate CL that is used to determine my UTL? Such that, even if my three active accounts where PIF, I'd still have a 55% UTL?
The last time I used the FICO simulator, the only thing that could raise my scores over the next 12 to 24 months was bringing down my UTL. Even if I paid them off to zero in 3 months, the score jump isn't even that much.
I believe I'm in the mid to low 500s, due to a tax lien and an unpaid judgment (both of which I'm working out settlements for that should get them removed -- tax lien because I qualified for Tax Payer Amnesty during the time in which the back taxes were due, and by getting the OC to file dimissal of lawsuit paperwork), but I want to have the UTL reduced as much as possible such that I can get CLIs in the next two months.
Thoughts?
