6PT decrease with TU in only 8 days and small changes to accounts

[AzCreditGuy]

03/13/23  TU 797

Total Balance across all cards was $321 with a total credit limit of $129,650. 

UTI on all cards is way under 1% 

B of A $155

Barclays $0

Cap 1 $24

Citizens $45

Discov $18

Us Bank $0

Wells (AU) $31

Wells $48

03/21/23  TU 791

Total Balance across all cards was $334 with a total credit limit of $129,650. 

UTI on all cards is way under 1% 

B of A $155

Barclays $13

Cap 1 $24

Citizens $45

Discov $18

Us Bank $0

Wells (AU) $31

Wells $48

You cant tell me because barclays now has a $13 balance I lost 6 pts? 

[GZG]

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@AzCreditGuy wrote:

You cant tell me because barclays now has a $13 balance I lost 6 pts? 

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probably too many/too high of a percentage of cards with balances, not enough cards reporting 0 balance

get more cards to report 0 balance and your points will come back most likely

[AzCreditGuy]

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@GZG wrote:

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@AzCreditGuy wrote:

You cant tell me because barclays now has a $13 balance I lost 6 pts? 

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probably too many/too high of a percentage of cards with balances, not enough cards reporting 0 balance

get more cards to report 0 balance and your points will come back most likely

Hmm I think I may have been confused about this code, since I got hit with the Not Enough percentage of cards with balances.

I can never do AZEO due to me having 2 AU cards and I have been hit zero balances on AU cards as well...

I have left the balances roll over and I put autopay on some cards due to everychanging amts that some charge, I didnt want to deal with making payments or miss payments, so I just set as pay off the statement balance.

I guess what is the optimal cards to have balances, so one doesnt get hit with the not enough cards with balances? 

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[RobynJ]

Looks like you went from 6 cards with a balance to 7 with a balance. I am not an expert but I would put my money on this being the reason.

[SouthJamaica]

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@AzCreditGuy wrote:

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@GZG wrote:

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@AzCreditGuy wrote:

You cant tell me because barclays now has a $13 balance I lost 6 pts? 

---

probably too many/too high of a percentage of cards with balances, not enough cards reporting 0 balance

get more cards to report 0 balance and your points will come back most likely

Hmm I think I may have been confused about this code, since I got hit with the Not Enough percentage of cards with balances.

I can never do AZEO due to me having 2 AU cards and I have been hit zero balances on AU cards as well...

I have left the balances roll over and I put autopay on some cards due to everychanging amts that some charge, I didnt want to deal with making payments or miss payments, so I just set as pay off the statement balance.

I guess what is the optimal cards to have balances, so one doesnt get hit with the not enough cards with balances? 

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The absolute optimal best ratio is to have 75% or more with zero balances, except that there should be at least one card that does report a balance.  In most scoring models with most bureaus 67% is good enough, but in a few 75% is better.

If you're serious about micromanaging you should ditch the authorized user cards.

[AzCreditGuy]

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@SouthJamaica wrote:

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@AzCreditGuy wrote:

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@GZG wrote:

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@AzCreditGuy wrote:

You cant tell me because barclays now has a $13 balance I lost 6 pts? 

---

probably too many/too high of a percentage of cards with balances, not enough cards reporting 0 balance

get more cards to report 0 balance and your points will come back most likely

Hmm I think I may have been confused about this code, since I got hit with the Not Enough percentage of cards with balances.

I can never do AZEO due to me having 2 AU cards and I have been hit zero balances on AU cards as well...

I have left the balances roll over and I put autopay on some cards due to everychanging amts that some charge, I didnt want to deal with making payments or miss payments, so I just set as pay off the statement balance.

I guess what is the optimal cards to have balances, so one doesnt get hit with the not enough cards with balances? 

---

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The absolute optimal best ratio is to have 75% or more with zero balances, except that there should be at least one card that does report a balance.  In most scoring models with most bureaus 67% is good enough, but in a few 75% is better.

If you're serious about micromanaging you should ditch the authorized user cards.

Ok I am going to have some fun, I will take it down to 2 cards to zero for the 1st and than 4 for the 15th to see how the credit reacts 

They helped in my credit rebuild and they were such a $%tch to get back on to my profile, had to legal letters to Experian and TU just to get them back on....I may end ditching 1 to get that removed and only show 1 AU for Ex and EQ as they show 2 now. 

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[Thomas_Thumb]

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@AzCreditGuy wrote:

03/13/23  TU 797

Total Balance across all cards was $321 with a total credit limit of $129,650. 

UTI on all cards is way under 1% 

B of A $155

Barclays $0

Cap 1 $24

Citizens $45

Discov $18

Us Bank $0

Wells (AU) $31

Wells $48

03/21/23  TU 791

Total Balance across all cards was $334 with a total credit limit of $129,650. 

UTI on all cards is way under 1% 

B of A $155

Barclays $13

Cap 1 $24

Citizens $45

Discov $18

Us Bank $0

Wells (AU) $31

Wells $48

You cant tell me because barclays now has a $13 balance I lost 6 pts? 

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You went from 5 of 7 accounts to 6 of 7 accounts with balances (excluding the AU). As a result you lost points associated with "the too many accounts with balances" metric.

Even at 5 of 7 reporting you are likely losing some points on TU. EX does not penalize much, if any, for accounts with balances.

I don't experience any penalty with up to and including 3 of 6 of cards with balances but see a trivial drop on TU and EQ starting at 4 of 6 (67%).

Given you have 7 cards, you likely can report small balances on 1, 2 or 3 cards without any penalty on Fico 8 EQ/TU/EX. Perhaps no penalty on EX even with 4-6 accounts reporting balances. The older Fico models currently used for mortgages penalize more severely for too many accounts with balances.

Frankly, I don't worry about score fluctuations associated with # accounts with balances. Simply reduce  qty reporting to boost score before applying for new credit.

[AzCreditGuy]

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@Thomas_Thumb wrote:

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@AzCreditGuy wrote:

03/13/23  TU 797

Total Balance across all cards was $321 with a total credit limit of $129,650. 

UTI on all cards is way under 1% 

B of A $155

Barclays $0

Cap 1 $24

Citizens $45

Discov $18

Us Bank $0

Wells (AU) $31

Wells $48

03/21/23  TU 791

Total Balance across all cards was $334 with a total credit limit of $129,650. 

UTI on all cards is way under 1% 

B of A $155

Barclays $13

Cap 1 $24

Citizens $45

Discov $18

Us Bank $0

Wells (AU) $31

Wells $48

You cant tell me because barclays now has a $13 balance I lost 6 pts? 

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You went from 5 of 7 accounts to 6 of 7 accounts with balances (excluding the AU). As a result you lost points associated with "the too many accounts with balances" metric.

Even at 5 of 7 reporting you are likely losing some points on TU. EX does not penalize much, if any, for accounts with balances.

I don't experience and penalty with up to and including 3 of 6 of cards with balances but see a trivial drop on TU and EQ starting at 4 of 6 (67%).

Given you have 7 cards, you likely can report small balances on 1, 2 or 3 cards without any penalty on Fico 8 EQ/TU/EX. Perhaps no penalty on EX even with 4-6 accounts reporting balances. The older Fico models currently used for mortgages penalize more severely for too many accounts with balances.

Frankly, I don't worry about score fluctuations associated with # accounts with balances. Simply reduce  qty reporting to boost score before applying for new credit.

These are small balances, they are used to pay off my current bills that range from $20 to $155, being the highest. EX is at 801 EQ and TU drops are 4 to 6 pts...These fluctuations and "the too many accounts with balances" metric are BS in my OP, they make it seem if I am carrying large balances...

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[SouthJamaica]

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@AzCreditGuy wrote:

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...........

These are small balances, they are used to pay off my current bills that range from $20 to $155, being the highest. EX is at 801 EQ and TU drops are 4 to 6 pts...These fluctuations and "the too many accounts with balances" metric are BS in my OP, they make it seem if I am carrying large balances...

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To paraphrase Shakespeare,  'We come to understand FICO, not to praise it.'