Fico score went from 798 to 783 over course of over a year / does past high balances matter?

[folks19]

My EX FICO score was at 798 18 months ago before applying for some cards with 0% APR. Then it went down by a lot because I took advantage of no interest (with the money sitting in a savings account ready to use to pay off the cards), but I didn't care because I wanted to garden to get under 5/24. (Just apped for Int Unlimited and got approved.) But here's my question: My score now, 18 months later (before applying for the Ink) is only only at 783 even though I had paid off all my cards (with leaving a small balance under 5% for AZEO), and even though I didn't apply for any card during that time (so 0 HPs), and considering that my profile aged by 18 months. (Then: 2.5 years AoOA, 1 year AAoA. Now: 4+ years AoOA, 2.5 years AAoA, APX.) Does the fact that I have recent high balances on my report (even though they are paid off now) affect my score now? What else can be the reason?

This is all concerning my EX FICO score via the Experian app.

[JoeRockhead]

Utilization doesn't have a memory. When did you pay off the balances? What kind of hit(s) did you take for the Chase inquiry on the Ink (could have been 2 HPs)?

[SouthJamaica]

---

@folks19 wrote:

My EX FICO score was at 798 18 months ago before applying for some cards with 0% APR. Then it went down by a lot because I took advantage of no interest (with the money sitting in a savings account ready to use to pay off the cards), but I didn't care because I wanted to garden to get under 5/24. (Just apped for Int Unlimited and got approved.) But here's my question: My score now, 18 months later (before applying for the Ink) is only only at 783 even though I had paid off all my cards (with leaving a small balance under 5% for AZEO), and even though I didn't apply for any card during that time (so 0 HPs), and considering that my profile aged by 18 months. (Then: 2.5 years AoOA, 1 year AAoA. Now: 4+ years AoOA, 2.5 years AAoA, APX.) Does the fact that I have recent high balances on my report (even though they are paid off now) affect my score now? What else can be the reason?

This is all concerning my EX FICO score via the Experian app.

---

No, balances from a previous reporting period wouldn't be affecting your scores today. I think your calculation of the average age of accounts is off. When you applied for those cards with 0% APR you lowered your average age of accounts. In view of that, it's not possible that your AAoA increased by 18 months over the past 18 months.

[folks19]

---

@JoeRockhead wrote:

Utilization doesn't have a memory. When did you pay off the balances? What kind of hit(s) did you take for the Chase inquiry on the Ink (could have been 2 HPs)?

---

They were all paid between April - July, and the balance was reported a while ago. I'm talking about before the HP from Chase, but it was 3 points (down to 780) after applying. It was 1 HP.

[folks19]

---

@SouthJamaica wrote:

---

@folks19 wrote:

My EX FICO score was at 798 18 months ago before applying for some cards with 0% APR. Then it went down by a lot because I took advantage of no interest (with the money sitting in a savings account ready to use to pay off the cards), but I didn't care because I wanted to garden to get under 5/24. (Just apped for Int Unlimited and got approved.) But here's my question: My score now, 18 months later (before applying for the Ink) is only only at 783 even though I had paid off all my cards (with leaving a small balance under 5% for AZEO), and even though I didn't apply for any card during that time (so 0 HPs), and considering that my profile aged by 18 months. (Then: 2.5 years AoOA, 1 year AAoA. Now: 4+ years AoOA, 2.5 years AAoA, APX.) Does the fact that I have recent high balances on my report (even though they are paid off now) affect my score now? What else can be the reason?

This is all concerning my EX FICO score via the Experian app.

---

No, balances from a previous reporting period wouldn't be affecting your scores today. I think your calculation of the average age of accounts is off. When you applied for those cards with 0% APR you lowered your average age of accounts. In view of that, it's not possible that your AAoA increased by 18 months over the past 18 months.

---

The AAoA and score I mentioned was AFTER applying AND the cards reporting (but before jacking the balance). The numebrs were APX. but the point still stands: My profilt aged a lot compared to what it was (overall and average), but my score actually went down a bit over the period of time.

[SouthJamaica]

---

@folks19 wrote:

---

@SouthJamaica wrote:

---

@folks19 wrote:

My EX FICO score was at 798 18 months ago before applying for some cards with 0% APR. Then it went down by a lot because I took advantage of no interest (with the money sitting in a savings account ready to use to pay off the cards), but I didn't care because I wanted to garden to get under 5/24. (Just apped for Int Unlimited and got approved.) But here's my question: My score now, 18 months later (before applying for the Ink) is only only at 783 even though I had paid off all my cards (with leaving a small balance under 5% for AZEO), and even though I didn't apply for any card during that time (so 0 HPs), and considering that my profile aged by 18 months. (Then: 2.5 years AoOA, 1 year AAoA. Now: 4+ years AoOA, 2.5 years AAoA, APX.) Does the fact that I have recent high balances on my report (even though they are paid off now) affect my score now? What else can be the reason?

This is all concerning my EX FICO score via the Experian app.

---

No, balances from a previous reporting period wouldn't be affecting your scores today. I think your calculation of the average age of accounts is off. When you applied for those cards with 0% APR you lowered your average age of accounts. In view of that, it's not possible that your AAoA increased by 18 months over the past 18 months.

---

The AAoA and score I mentioned was AFTER applying AND the cards reporting (but before jacking the balance). The numebrs were APX. but the point still stands: My profilt aged a lot compared to what it was (overall and average), but my score actually went down a bit over the period of time.

---

Here's what you wrote in your original post: "My EX FICO Score was at 798 18 months ago before applying for some cards with 0% APR".

[folks19]

---

@SouthJamaica wrote:

---

@folks19 wrote:

---

@SouthJamaica wrote:

---

@folks19 wrote:

My EX FICO score was at 798 18 months ago before applying for some cards with 0% APR. Then it went down by a lot because I took advantage of no interest (with the money sitting in a savings account ready to use to pay off the cards), but I didn't care because I wanted to garden to get under 5/24. (Just apped for Int Unlimited and got approved.) But here's my question: My score now, 18 months later (before applying for the Ink) is only only at 783 even though I had paid off all my cards (with leaving a small balance under 5% for AZEO), and even though I didn't apply for any card during that time (so 0 HPs), and considering that my profile aged by 18 months. (Then: 2.5 years AoOA, 1 year AAoA. Now: 4+ years AoOA, 2.5 years AAoA, APX.) Does the fact that I have recent high balances on my report (even though they are paid off now) affect my score now? What else can be the reason?

This is all concerning my EX FICO score via the Experian app.

---

No, balances from a previous reporting period wouldn't be affecting your scores today. I think your calculation of the average age of accounts is off. When you applied for those cards with 0% APR you lowered your average age of accounts. In view of that, it's not possible that your AAoA increased by 18 months over the past 18 months.

---

The AAoA and score I mentioned was AFTER applying AND the cards reporting (but before jacking the balance). The numebrs were APX. but the point still stands: My profilt aged a lot compared to what it was (overall and average), but my score actually went down a bit over the period of time.

---

Here's what you wrote in your original post: "My EX FICO Score was at 798 18 months ago before applying for some cards with 0% APR".

---

@SouthJamaica My bad. However, my score didn't change after appying and the cards posting. I got both cards with no HP. It was only 2 - 3 months later that my score tanked when I put a few large charges on the cards and the balance was reported.

(The 2 cards I applied for are the the Amex BCE - no HP for existing card holders, and GM card from Marcus - SP preapproval and freezing my reports before accepting. Don't know if this trick sill works.)