@pipeguy wrote:
If the high utility is the only reason for the score drop, and you paid the amount in full, then in fact its a one month "ding" that'll recover on your next statement. If you are not seeking new approvals in the next month, which you'd probably get with a 743 score anyway, it's a non-factor.
Not directly speaking to the OP here, but I think or at least see, too many folks worrying about their exact score on a daily basis. My scores bounce around all the time, yet they stay above 750 ish (EX EQ) and 785 ish (775 to 800) on TU.
My thought is credit is there to use, scoring is a risk factor value and if I carry a higher balance on a card or two over a few months, it does not affect anything as far as my ability to get credit or my APR rates (et al) once you get into prime scores-rates-cards. Truth in advertising: 0% BT or intro promos, I use a bunch and at times those cards will go over 50-60% utility for a month or two or three - I don't care if my scores get dinged because I know they'll recover well in advance before I need additional credit in the future - it's there to use.
Thanks for putting this in my head, this is a good point to keep in mind. The panic alarms go off when I see an email from Experian saying there's been a major change in my score, but at the end of the day, it's not that important. Never had particularly low scores, been in the 700-710 range for a few years, but I have been looking forward to seeing the benefits of getting out of across the board 50-60% utilization and being able to PIF every month for a while now so it's probably a touch of credit paranoia. Seeing a high score helps me want to keep using credit responsibly.
