Got hit hard for 99% utilization

[Anonymous]

So I am in Europe on vacation. I just learned that my Experian and Equifax got hit for 36 and 26 points for my wife spending on her USAA credit card.  She spent $498 out of her $500 CL just before we left.  I plan on paying that card down immediatley.  What kind of a payment will help me get my scores back up?  PIF or just down to the 30% utilization?  First time I got it so hard on my scores and I am a little down about it.  Any advice from anyone would greatly be appreciated.  Thanks and enjoy what remains of your day.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

So I am in Europe on vacation. I just learned that my Experian and Equifax got hit for 36 and 26 points for my wife spending on her USAA credit card.  She spent $498 out of her $500 CL just before we left.  I plan on paying that card down immediatley.  What kind of a payment will help me get my scores back up?  PIF or just down to the 30% utilization?  First time I got it so hard on my scores and I am a little down about it.  Any advice from anyone would greatly be appreciated.  Thanks and enjoy what remains of your day.

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Don't let it bother you.  Your CS doesn't remember UTIL scores.  So once you pay it down you will bounce right back up.  I would recommend paying it down to $45 or less so that way it is less than 9%.

[Dalmus]

Don't worry about it.  Once you pay it down, the score will bounce back up immediately.  What was it reporting at the last statement cycle?  $0 or...?   Pay it back to where it was, and you'll get all those points back.

[daihashi]

Yeah... Don't worry about it, utilization has no memory. Is this card secured or unsecured? In either case, if your concerned with always maintaining the best score, then with a card like that your best off making a payment everytime you know you've spent >$50. Its simply too easy to go over 10% until when the credit limit is so small.

[Thomas_Thumb]

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@Anonymous wrote:

So I am in Europe on vacation. I just learned that my Experian and Equifax got hit for 36 and 26 points for my wife spending on her USAA credit card.  She spent $498 out of her $500 CL just before we left.  I plan on paying that card down immediatley.  What kind of a payment will help me get my scores back up?  PIF or just down to the 30% utilization?  First time I got it so hard on my scores and I am a little down about it.  Any advice from anyone would greatly be appreciated.  Thanks and enjoy what remains of your day.

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No worries if you are not looking to get new credit next month.

From a cost perspective it is always best to PIF to avoid interest payments. From a score perspective, paying it down to under 30% one month and then PIF the next is reasonable.