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-14 points for utilization going from 1% to 0%

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FicoGuy2019
Established Contributor

Re: -14 points for utilization going from 1% to 0%

I just got the alert from MyFico and it said "Balance Alert Change" from 6.00 to 0.00 caused 14 point decrease.

 

Already knew this but nice to have it confirmed from that and experian.

Message 11 of 25
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: -14 points for utilization going from 1% to 0%


@FicoGuy2019 wrote:

I just got the alert from MyFico and it said "Balance Alert Change" from 6.00 to 0.00 caused 14 point decrease.

 


Just an FYI, the alert system doesn't work the way you worded it above.  The alert is for the balance change yes, but it did not say that the alert reason caused the 14 point decrease.  Any time you receive an alert you are provided with a new score at that time, but the new score may be influenced by other factors outside of the alert reason.  In this case I'm quite sure that the alert reason and score change in fact are directly related, but it's important to understand going forward that the alert is not saying that the score change is because of it. 

Message 12 of 25
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: -14 points for utilization going from 1% to 0%

Very very true, this just happens to be one of those cases where they actually do correlate, does happen every now and again..lol... not very often though.
Message 13 of 25
FicoGuy2019
Established Contributor

Re: -14 points for utilization going from 1% to 0%

Correct.  Definitely understand that and yes, this time it does coorelate...thankfully.  

Message 14 of 25
HeavenOhio
Senior Contributor

Re: -14 points for utilization going from 1% to 0%

There's correlation, but there isn't direct causation.

 

The alert is for the zero balance. But the zero balance in and of itself didn't cause the score change.

Message 15 of 25
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: -14 points for utilization going from 1% to 0%

I'm not really following you above.  A reported $0 balance if it brings one to AZ (no revolving credit use) can cause a score change (drop) as we all know. 

Message 16 of 25
HeavenOhio
Senior Contributor

Re: -14 points for utilization going from 1% to 0%

The alert is for the zero balance on one card. It says nothing about "all cards at zero," which is the actual cause of the score change.

Message 17 of 25
FicoGuy2019
Established Contributor

Re: -14 points for utilization going from 1% to 0%

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Message 18 of 25
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: -14 points for utilization going from 1% to 0%


@HeavenOhio wrote:

The alert is for the zero balance on one card. It says nothing about "all cards at zero," which is the actual cause of the score change.


I guess that's sort of semantics, as I thought it was more or less a given we were talking AZ based on what the OP said.

Message 19 of 25
FicoGuy2019
Established Contributor

Re: -14 points for utilization going from 1% to 0%


@FicoGuy2019 wrote:

Do charge cards report the same?  My current amex doesn't report a limit like the other cards but it does show "revolver" as the other cards and this reports the soonest of all my cards(Friday). I will plan on carrying a small balance.  The statement closing date is the 11th and I have always paid before closing so it reports a 0 balance, so unfortunuately, that's the reason I don't know.  Usage shows a % but with the Amex it shows "-" which I am assuming is because it's 0?  Although, the other cards actually shows 0% (or whatever the utilization is) under usage.

 

amex.jpg


 

Amex reported like clockwork since my statement closed on the 11th.  So to answer this question, since my Amex Zync is NPSL it reported a balance but it shows no credit limit and no usage like my other cards do....so it doesn't calculate it in my total utilization and still shows it's zero and I still have the reason code "No credit card activity".  I am now assuming that we can't use charge cards with NPSL to calculate in to utilization?

 

My new Amex Cash Magnet closes on Sunday (14th) but I don't know how long it will take Amex to report the new card on my reports.  Maybe  I should leave a balance on it, just in case it reports on my reports on the 15th/16th?

 

Edit:  Now that I think about, I guess if the CM does report, I won't really find out the answer about getting all of the points back since I'll have a new card reporting which may or may not affect my score as well.  So, if the CM doesn't report this week, it's a good thing because I will have another card reporting at the beginning of May before next Amex statement closing....if it does, oh well.

Message 20 of 25
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