No score change going under 8.9% aggregate UTL?

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

One more thing, you always hear YMMV and how some things are different on different cards.

Remember, if the scores are real high, buffers can interfere and make constants seem inapplicable. Plus potential modifiers can also affect typical behavior, leading us to pull our our hair wondering why something doesn't always work the same everywhere.

[Trudy]

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@Anonymous wrote:
One more thing, you always hear YMMV and how some things are different on different cards.

Remember, if the scores are real high, buffers can interfere and make constants seem inapplicable. Plus potential modifiers can also affect typical behavior, leading us to pull our our hair wondering why something doesn't always work the same everywhere.

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You know I've posted on a few occasions where it is clear my profile responded differently and I can attest to YMMV based on a number of things that have occurred with my profile.  But of all the things I've read that stated YMMV, this is not one.  The thresholds of 8.9%, 28.9% and so on, always seemed to be presented as absolutes for Basic F8.  I don't recall (not that it doesn't exist) a single post referring to this for F8 scores where YMMV was included.  But I don't doubt it.  Thanks.

[Anonymous]

When the internal buffer kicks in, it can change a lot of expectations. I bet if your score was lower, you would see a change. Just my humble opinion.

[Trudy]

I'm not sure this buffer thing that keeps cropping up with my profile is working to my advantage, although it seems it should and have in some situations.  But I'll live with the results, what else can I do.

Thanks for all the responses.  I appreciate all the insight and input as I try to figure out what's going on with my profile.

[Anonymous]

I am assuming each portion has its own buffer, Which is what would make sense. Those thresholds are absolute.

Now whether or not you see a Score change can depend on if you’re in buffer territory though.

It doesn’t mean the thresholds not there and it doesn’t mean it’s not absolute. As a matter fact, I bet this leads to more confusion and misunderstandings than potentially any other factor in scoring (other than MF’s lack of clarification that the alerts don’t correspond to the causes of the changes.)

But we don’t know how high the internal score goes or how it’s broken down. We just know that each section of the pie contributes whatever portion and if you’re in buffer territory on one, you may not see changes as a result of changes in that attribute.

But it’s meant to be that way so that all the different portions of the pie can affect the score independently. That way one piece of the pie can’t keep you at 850 if other portions suffer, IMHO.

[Anonymous]

And it’s probably the new account that overcame your buffer in the new account section of the pie, which also includes inquiries.

[NRB525]

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@Trudy wrote:

I'm not sure this buffer thing that keeps cropping up with my profile is working to my advantage, although it seems it should and have in some situations.  But I'll live with the results, what else can I do.

Thanks for all the responses.  I appreciate all the insight and input as I try to figure out what's going on with my profile.

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Congrats on the new card. You are taking advantage of your good scores to get good credit products.  

The 850 scores are fine for printing out and framing to put on your wall, but no one will pay you far that 850.  In my opinion, having an 850 means that you've decided to stop using credit, after many years of using credit. Perhaps just idling down a mortgage, but certainly not seeking new credit, nor borrowing on revolvers.  

Your scores are still fantastic. If you really want 850's, then you have to give up applying for new credit, or give up reporting significant balances.  That single card with a high utilization percentage is raising your "risk factors" and that is what FICO is measuring: How likely is this person to default?  

[Trudy]

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@NRB525 wrote:

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@Trudy wrote:

I'm not sure this buffer thing that keeps cropping up with my profile is working to my advantage, although it seems it should and have in some situations.  But I'll live with the results, what else can I do.

Thanks for all the responses.  I appreciate all the insight and input as I try to figure out what's going on with my profile.

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Congrats on the new card. You are taking advantage of your good scores to get good credit products.  

The 850 scores are fine for printing out and framing to put on your wall, but no one will pay you far that 850.  In my opinion, having an 850 means that you've decided to stop using credit, after many years of using credit. Perhaps just idling down a mortgage, but certainly not seeking new credit, nor borrowing on revolvers.  

Your scores are still fantastic. If you really want 850's, then you have to give up applying for new credit, or give up reporting significant balances.  That single card with a high utilization percentage is raising your "risk factors" and that is what FICO is measuring: How likely is this person to default?  

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You're absolutely right.

[iv]

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@NRB525 wrote:

The 850 scores are fine for printing out and framing to put on your wall, but no one will pay you for that 850. 

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Absolutely true.  For almost anything, between 740 and 760 is more than "good enough", and in many cases the highest scoring threshold that matters is even lower than that.

Higher scores are useful for not needing to worry about minor score changes due to reporting variations, new accounts, etc... (and for the amusing reactions you get when an in-branch banker offers a "free review of your credit"), but are not necessary.

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@NRB525 wrote:

In my opinion, having an 850 means that you've decided to stop using credit, after many years of using credit. Perhaps just idling down a mortgage, but certainly not seeking new credit, nor borrowing on revolvers.  

Your scores are still fantastic. If you really want 850's, then you have to give up applying for new credit, or give up reporting significant balances.  That single card with a high utilization percentage is raising your "risk factors" and that is what FICO is measuring: How likely is this person to default?  

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But I've got to disagree a bit here.  It is absolutely possible to maintain pinned 850s (or very brief dips with quick recoveries), while still "using credit", including seeking/opening new accounts, allowing revolving balances to report, etc.

In my experience, opening 1-2 new accounts a year (auto loans and mortgages, mainly), and allowing $15k-$20k to report on revolving accounts (without ever paying interest, of course!), does not prevent staying at (or quickly rebounding to) 850s.  Yes, this requires aged, thick reports, and high revolving limits... but many people here will find that happening naturally over time.  There's no harm in making 850 a target, as long as one understands that everything after 760 or so is basically just a game.

Of course, if one is a card SUB-chaser, opening and closing revolving accounts frequently... then they're playing a different game, and are effectively trading a higher possible score maximum for bonus $$$.  Nothing wrong with that either, I guess.