FICO score dropped 16 points out of nowhere!

[RLD]

I've exhaustively checked everything and everywhere but cannot figure out why my score dropped 16 points just today.

There's been no change on TransUnion or Equifax, only Experian has gone down. 16 points is a hell of a hit when I'm currently only 780 and trying my **bleep**est to get it higher.

What could pssibly have happened? Can I contact Experian? Even on their website I cannot find mention of any reasoning as to why it dropped.

All my accounts are paid in full and on time religiously!

Thanks in advance.

[Rebuild2019]

I think there is a penalty if you paid all of your cards. One has to report with a balance. Do you have at lease one reporting a small balance?

[FlaDude]

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@Rebuild2019 wrote:

I think there is a penalty if you paid all of your cards. One has to report with a balance. Do you have at lease one reporting a small balance?

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Known as All Zero Except One (AZEO), a search on that acronym here will turn up lots of results.

[RLD]

I started my credit building journey about a year and a half ago and during that time I've never ever kept a balance. Always paid everything off in full. Since then, my score has done nothing but climb, with the exception of a couple dips which were just new card pulls.

Why would one single reporting agency all of a sudden decide it was time to hit me with this penalty for not having a balance?

I was also told that keeping a balance will not increase the rate at which positive credit is gained.

[FicoMike0]

Ditto @FlaDude 

There is a all zero penalty. Search azeo. You don't have to carry a balance, it just has to report. Balances are usually reported when your account posts. All utilization scoring is based on reported balance.

As to why it's only one bureau, do you have a way to pull the other two scores at the same time? I just checked my ex score, has today's date, I checked eq, here on myfico, it says 2/18/25. I have no idea what my eq score is today, It will probably update on 3/18/25.