Credit Card Utilization Questions

[Anonymous]

I have two credit cards - 

Cap1 Ventureone - $3,500 CL 

Cap1 Platinum - $1,000 CL 

Never had a late payment on either, but both are essentially maxed out right now. Can finally make a large payment, but not quite everything. Here are the options I am looking at: 

Platinum - 20% Util

Venture1 - 17% Util 

or 

Platinum - 10% Util 

Venture1 - 20% Util 

or 

Platinum - 0% 

Venture1 - 22% 

Not sure if you guys can say based on this information, but any idea what would be the best in terms of scoring based on these utilizations? 

Thanks in advance. 

[Kree]

Thresholds of import here are 8.9% and 28.9%

Paying a card to 10% is no better than paying it to 28.9%  (for individual scoring, it is better for aggrigate utilization, but if you are paying the same total amount off that doesn't matter.  (also paying extra down matters for interest paid, but that is a seperate issue.))

I would recommend paying one down to 8.9% or below.  Zero would be better I think. I know with 3 cards, having 2 at Zero gives 10-15 points. With 2 cards, not sure if less points, or no points.

As long as the other is below 28.9% you are maximizing within the parameters provided.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the reply. Makes sense and is very useful. 

[Zolomon]

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@Kree

I would recommend paying one down to 8.9% or below.  Zero would be better I think. I know with 3 cards, having 2 at Zero gives 10-15 points. With 2 cards, not sure if less points, or no points.

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This goes in sync with your 3rd option: 0% on the Platinum and 22% on the Venture1. If you are able to aquire one more credit card, you could use the AZEO (All zero except one) method with 3 cards to maximize points.