The $2 credit trick tested and proven. It really freaking works and makes a BIG difference!

[newhis]

I would expect more gain than 2 points by paying down a card at 49%.

Thank you.

When was the last time the card with small balance reported before?

If you can, let the same card report a small balance again and see if the score changes.

[Thomas_Thumb]

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@newhis wrote:

I would expect more gain than 2 points by paying down a card at 49%.

Thank you.

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You may want to test it - the result might shift your paradigm. Key point (as in this case) is being able to maintain aggregate UT% below 9% while allowing the one card to report "high" utilization.

A few people have reported absolutely NO point change even going from over 70% to paid off (myself included). I tested 52% and 75% on a card without impacting score. Revelate and some other posters have reported similar results - search the forum.

On the flip side, some posters report a small point drop going over a 30% threshold on a card and yet other going over 50% but not 30%.

I find this 2 point difference rather interesting in light of SJs experience.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

It's said that Discover will report anything under $3 as 0%.  Any other card would be fine with $2.  Doesn't need to be a Discover..

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So if leaving a balance of < $3 on Discover results in it reporting $0, in terms of FICO scoring leaving a $2 balance on Discover is the same thing as leaving a $0 balance isn't it?  Am I overthinking this or something as it seems very trivial.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

@Anonymous else that lacks basic reading comprehension.
Nowhere in the subject line or the body of this post did I say this was a "new" trick or even use the word "new". I simply shared my data points and experience after using finally getting to use this technique that I learned on the two credit boards years ago.

The post was also shared for newbies on the board that may have not heard or read about this technique yet.

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No one said you used the word "new" - In fact, in the very first reply to your thread here, I asked if this was something new or if it was the same old let 1 card report a balance to maximize your score thread.  I'm not sure about everyone else, but the title of your thread and your original post to me carried the tone of suggesting that unique information was being reported, perhaps something that wasn't already widely known.  I now know that wasn't the case.

[manyquestions]

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@Thomas_Thumb wrote:

I generally contend that a card reporting a balance of 20% to 29% while maintaining overall utilization below 9% would score the same as a card reporting a balance in the 1% to 9% range while maintaining overall utilization below 9%. In other words, I don't believe there is a negative threshold under 30% on Fico 08 for individual card utilization.

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I, too, have been able to let  29% report on one card  resulting in no loss of points under FICO 08.  Creditluv, you might have fun testing that for yourself, let a higher amount report and see what results you get with your FICO 08 score. Test how high you can go before you lose any points.