That is 1-2% total balance acorss all lines of credit, even if its on one card (provided it doesn't max out that one card). I think the reason being is that with 0 percent utilization the code for figuring FICO utilization is throw for a loop. Kinda like my last cholesterol test. Cholesterol levels were well below the range the comp was set for. Got a negative (just like the credit score) for cholesterol levels, when I pointed it out to my doctor, he said that I would live to be 110 its just that the machine was calibrated to figure norms, mine was well under. (Darn!!! Thought I was going to be given free range to eat pork chops three times a day)