EQ up 12...but exactly how?

[01mommy]

Hey all!  I know you can't give me definites, but I'm trying to figure out what could be happening with my SW alert/report...

I signed up 4/2 and was told SW checks every 7 days...well, this week I got a report that there was no score change.  Fine.  Then today, I get an alert that I'm up 12pts, which is puzzling because:

1. I did have some disputes but they were all confirmed before the first SW report, so even if they aren't calculated in the score, it shouldn't matter.

2. I paid both CCs down to $0 and 2% (from close to 90%) before they reported between the 9th and 11th...if this caused the alert, am I unrealistic about expecting it to be a more significant jump?

3. A 90 day late turns 2 this month...could this aging give me the small bump?

I'm grateful for every point, don't get me wrong, but it's bugging me that I can't attribute this to anything at the moment.  BTW, I'm totally signing up for USAA CMS, but I can't join until my dad does, so hopefully I can do that this week.  Thanks guys!

[llecs]

Anyone can join USAA, regardless of past service/non-service. Anybody can go on their website, register, and subscribe to the USAA CMS. The only limitations are certain credit products, insurance, and other financial products. But USAA CMS is excluded.

[01mommy]

I tried joining online and was directed to customer service...she said even though my dad's a vet, in order for me to join, he's gotta be a member...they specifically ask for affiliation when I tried last week...are you saying their CMS is available to non-members?

[llecs]

Right. I never had the opportunity to serve but registered with no issue. Navigate around without joining until you find the CMS link. Then register for it and it'll prompt you to join USAA. Create a username and password and you are on your way.

[Revelate]

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@llecs wrote:

Right. I never had the opportunity to serve but registered with no issue. Navigate around without joining until you find the CMS link. Then register for it and it'll prompt you to join USAA. Create a username and password and you are on your way.

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+1.  You can create an account online for their generic bank / financial services that are available as a "limited" member... and CMS is included in those.  Later on that can get matched up with your father's account to access the full suite of products they offer.

[01mommy]

Got it...I just had to say neither parent served.  So apparently the only change was my CC utilization...but 12pts seems like a low boost to me .  Is it likely I'll see a boost every month utilization is low or is this a one shot deal?

[llecs]

If both updated, then that's it. Though you can get a gradual boost as the CCs age, regardless of util. If you look in your FICO report or any lender report, if util is the top negative, then you stand to see larger gains as util improved. If low on the list, or not showing at all as a negative, then less you'd get as util drops.