Just some newbie questions about scoring.

[aquastell]

I have a new (one and only) secured CAP ONE card.  I had been charging a regular little bill to it, and have it set up to auto PIF on time, so it is going well.  But the end of May, 2 days before payday, I had to charge a thing that took my utilization percentage way up to like 75% for 2 days  This was mid cycle of the card, and I PIF as soon as I got paid.  It never even "came due" because I PIF before the statement cut.  Yet my credit reports are all showing this "High Balance" amount as what it was for those 2 days.

But even though it shows as a "High Balance" on my credit reports, since it never came due, would this actually affect my credit score?  I am wondering because I "thought" I pulled that stunt in such a way that it wouldn't impact my utilization or my FICO and I pulled my scores this month for the first time.  

Now I have read in the forums that FICO does not have memory with regard to utilization.  So being back down to my regular 10-ish%  utilization should report to FICO NEXT MONTH, right?  

And now what, exactly, is the impact of having that momentary high balance reflected on my credit reports?   Is it a seriously bad thing for that to be on there?  I don't think that particular thing, ever goes away, does it?  

ALSO.  I got all three of MyFICO credit scores.  EX.  TU.  EQ.  So now I got an email from MyFICO asking me about checking my OTHER FICO score??? Why you should check both of your FICO® scores...  "BOTH?  What the heck is that about?  I know that there are several variations of the FICO score for auto and mortgage and moon pies, but what the heck are they asking me here???

[user5387]

I wouldn't worry about "High Balance", if your utilization calculation seems to be okay.

[aquastell]

---

@user5387 wrote:

I wouldn't worry about "High Balance", if your utilization calculation seems to be okay.

---

Oh.  I am beyond worrying about it.  I am actually obsessing about it now.  Not that anything can be done about it  It is what it is.  But I just wonder what the FICO repercussions are since it bothered to report.  I want to get this right.  When I filed bankruptcy I did NOT have any credit card debt in there.  It was only medical and a vehicle loan that I was "gifted" in a divorce.  I had ONE secured card at that time as well.  PIF every month.  They were forced to close it when I filed BK.  I was sad.  Having to start all over, I want to get this right.  All of the discharged debts are completely OFF my credit reports.  Every one of them.  Apparenty they aged off.  It's so cool.  Except for the BK itself still reporting, I really do have a clean slate.  

[physicist82]

---

@aquastell wrote:

I have a new (one and only) secured CAP ONE card.  I had been charging a regular little bill to it, and have it set up to auto PIF on time, so it is going well.  But the end of May, 2 days before payday, I had to charge a thing that took my utilization percentage way up to like 75% for 2 days  This was mid cycle of the card, and I PIF as soon as I got paid.  It never even "came due" because I PIF before the statement cut.  Yet my credit reports are all showing this "High Balance" amount as what it was for those 2 days.

But even though it shows as a "High Balance" on my credit reports, since it never came due, would this actually affect my credit score?  I am wondering because I "thought" I pulled that stunt in such a way that it wouldn't impact my utilization or my FICO and I pulled my scores this month for the first time.  

Now I have read in the forums that FICO does not have memory with regard to utilization.  So being back down to my regular 10-ish%  utilization should report to FICO NEXT MONTH, right?  

And now what, exactly, is the impact of having that momentary high balance reflected on my credit reports?   Is it a seriously bad thing for that to be on there?  I don't think that particular thing, ever goes away, does it?  

ALSO.  I got all three of MyFICO credit scores.  EX.  TU.  EQ.  So now I got an email from MyFICO asking me about checking my OTHER FICO score??? Why you should check both of your FICO® scores...  "BOTH?  What the heck is that about?  I know that there are several variations of the FICO score for auto and mortgage and moon pies, but what the heck are they asking me here???

---

So on your CR did it say 0 balance but had the high balance as that amount? If so, I don't think that will hurt you but I have also never seen any talk on here about the high balance category. That means every credit card reports each month what the current balance is, what the limit is, and what the high balance was for the month. Considering so many people on here charge lots and PIF to get rewards points I don't see how that would be a neg thing. 

On the other hand if your balance posted as that amount then:

I would check your Cap1 statement date. Its usually a few days after your due date. It is very possible that you happened to charge that amount at the same time the statement was cutting and paying it off was after the statement cut date. When you payed it off do you remember if it said statement balance or current balance? Maybe go into the statement area of Cap1 and click on the activity since last statement button and see if your charge and payment are there or not. If the charge is there then it was after the statement cut and I don't know why Cap1 reported so soon after already reporting. If the charge is not there but your payment is then you charged it before the statement cut and that is why it is shown on your CR. If that is the case then just make sure to note your statement date and make sure you pay down to your desired utilization before the statement cuts. 

[aquastell]

---

@physicist82 wrote:

---

@aquastell wrote:

I have a new (one and only) secured CAP ONE card.  I had been charging a regular little bill to it, and have it set up to auto PIF on time, so it is going well.  But the end of May, 2 days before payday, I had to charge a thing that took my utilization percentage way up to like 75% for 2 days  This was mid cycle of the card, and I PIF as soon as I got paid.  It never even "came due" because I PIF before the statement cut.  Yet my credit reports are all showing this "High Balance" amount as what it was for those 2 days.

But even though it shows as a "High Balance" on my credit reports, since it never came due, would this actually affect my credit score?  I am wondering because I "thought" I pulled that stunt in such a way that it wouldn't impact my utilization or my FICO and I pulled my scores this month for the first time.  

Now I have read in the forums that FICO does not have memory with regard to utilization.  So being back down to my regular 10-ish%  utilization should report to FICO NEXT MONTH, right?  

And now what, exactly, is the impact of having that momentary high balance reflected on my credit reports?   Is it a seriously bad thing for that to be on there?  I don't think that particular thing, ever goes away, does it?  

ALSO.  I got all three of MyFICO credit scores.  EX.  TU.  EQ.  So now I got an email from MyFICO asking me about checking my OTHER FICO score??? Why you should check both of your FICO® scores...  "BOTH?  What the heck is that about?  I know that there are several variations of the FICO score for auto and mortgage and moon pies, but what the heck are they asking me here???

---

So on your CR did it say 0 balance but had the high balance as that amount? If so, I don't think that will hurt you but I have also never seen any talk on here about the high balance category. That means every credit card reports each month what the current balance is, what the limit is, and what the high balance was for the month. Considering so many people on here charge lots and PIF to get rewards points I don't see how that would be a neg thing. 

On the other hand if your balance posted as that amount then:

I would check your Cap1 statement date. Its usually a few days after your due date. It is very possible that you happened to charge that amount at the same time the statement was cutting and paying it off was after the statement cut date. When you payed it off do you remember if it said statement balance or current balance? Maybe go into the statement area of Cap1 and click on the activity since last statement button and see if your charge and payment are there or not. If the charge is there then it was after the statement cut and I don't know why Cap1 reported so soon after already reporting. If the charge is not there but your payment is then you charged it before the statement cut and that is why it is shown on your CR. If that is the case then just make sure to note your statement date and make sure you pay down to your desired utilization before the statement cuts. 

---

Thanks for your reply!  Yes it says zero balance and a separate high balance.  My due date is the 13th and my statement date is the 20th.  As I understand it, any charges I make after the 20th of the previous month reflect on the next statement.  I made the charges at the very end of the month and paid in full on the 6th.   All of the charges and payments are correct on my statement.  I called Capital One and asked about it, and the lady was very kind but did not know why it was reported that way, either.  Sheoffered to do a credit dispute FOR ME ...  I declined because I don't want to make waves with Cap One, and I am sure this is "not" a big deal for the reasons you stated.   I am thinking the statement date has nothing to do with high balance reporting anymore.  Because that WAS my high balance for a few days.  Just not when the due date rolled around or when the statement was cut.  I think it is possible that they use just whatever the high balance ever was at any point in time to report that high balance.

[user5387]

I believe "High Balance" is simply the highest balance the account has ever had, and does not factor into FICO scoring.

Individual lenders may use it for diverse purposes.