I received a score watch alert when I had a balance increase on one credit card decreasing my UTI, a balance decrease on another card increasing my UTI, and a Credit line increase I'm assuming happening on the same day, and my score remained the same. I am in agreement with Newworld in that we tend to be dinged heavily for applying for either new credit, increasing our credit card balances abovet 30% UTI, and of course being late. IF you have a collection account added to your report, you might as well forget it. The phone collection that keeps getting updated, I am noticing that it's not affecting my score at all. The last time PacBell updated the collection account with Assest Co., it didn't hurt my score at all that month.
With that in mind, what ever credit you do have, just stay well below the 30% UTI, don't apply for any new credit (no matter how tempting it is to get a new rate on a BT), DON'T BE LATE, and don't close any old accounts.