Agree with the above comment.
I don't really understand the necessity to OCD about paying cards before statements cut... etc... because at the end of the day it only really matters if you are applying for something and need those extra points here or there that a 0 balance MIGHT give you.
For the record my UTI is under 30%... I had multiple cards at 0 balance last month and put some spend on them this month to the tune of 30-60% of their respective limits... and my scores didn't move.
I don't think it matters as long as you actually use them every so often, which you said you are.
@uncredited wrote:Currently I only have 2 cards, so I have one (Citi) reporting and one (Disco) reporting 0 to avoid "all with balance." However, it has been months since I let disco report anything (it does see use, I just pay before statement down to negative.) I've been trying to keep it this way while I've been in an app cycle, but with Chase rejecting an app, and not being sure which month I will or will not be apping for something, I'm trying to hold that 1 reporting, 1 zero to keep things clean while I may app at any month, but also don't know how long Disco always reporting 0 may be ok versus being a negative somehow.
Should I be making an effort to let it report a positive statement balance, even if it could mean both cards reporting something during a month I might app for something?
It doesn't matter.
@uncredited wrote:Well I'm not sure monthly what I'll be apping when. I apped Chase in July and was denied with prequal, so I'm sort of waiting for fnbo or amex to offer pre, could be next month, could be November... Who knows. Thus indefinitely grooming.
But yes, the card definitely gets use. Real use not token gum pack use. I just pay before statement to not end up with all cards reporting due to running the prequels monthly now.
I just wasn't sure if the card ALWAYS reporting as zero will have some negative effect either on reports, on other apps, or with disco itself despite good use and that I really need to make sure it reports sometimes or not.
Nah.
@uncredited wrote:Currently I only have 2 cards, so I have one (Citi) reporting and one (Disco) reporting 0 to avoid "all with balance." However, it has been months since I let disco report anything (it does see use, I just pay before statement down to negative.) I've been trying to keep it this way while I've been in an app cycle, but with Chase rejecting an app, and not being sure which month I will or will not be apping for something, I'm trying to hold that 1 reporting, 1 zero to keep things clean while I may app at any month, but also don't know how long Disco always reporting 0 may be ok versus being a negative somehow.
Should I be making an effort to let it report a positive statement balance, even if it could mean both cards reporting something during a month I might app for something?
There's no need for it ever to report a balance.
I have a number of cards which I've had for years, use plenty, and always pay off before statement date.
@uncredited wrote:Wow, after all this, by pure chance I ended up accientally letting Disco report a balance (Most charges take 4-5 days to post, somehow in this one instance a pending charge from a price adjustment from the day before the statement posted WITH the statement. UGH!)
With both cards reporting currently, so far only TU updated but they dropped me 14 points for having 2/2 cards reporting. I'm probably not apping for anything September so it probably doesn't matter, but that's a little heartbreaking to see the score drop harder than an inquiry just because one of two cards isn't reporting 0 this month. I might not be willing to look at EX if they drop me hard, that was already low enough with the wasted Chase inquiry!
Yea so you've just experienced the opposite of the all-zero penalty: the all-reporting penalty. Same thing basically. Since you only have 2 cards and both are reporting a balance, you got punished. Hence why the "conventional wisdom" (so to speak) is to have at least 3 revolving accounts. That way you can best utilize AZEO, and also if you run into an issue where 2 out of 3 cards report, you won't be dinged as badly.