@Vulcan1600 wrote:I'm at 1% UTL with my HD card. My scores are below. I am set to pay on a card tomorrow for $785 before it reports, however I'm thinking of just holding off and let it report then PIF it. I'm curious how that would affect my score. The limit on that card is $5k (US Bank Cash +) - that would make the usage on that card about 15%. Should I do that or PIF it and stay at the 1%? I really don't want to make them nervous about all of a sudden carrying UTL of more than 1% overall (should take it to 2% or 3% overall usage).
There is no reason to pay before the stmt cuts if you are not planning on apping for any credit. If you are interested in running the expirement then go ahead and run it, guidelines say you should not exceed 30% of a cards CL reporting to the CRA but a short term loan isnt typically a problem. I would not worry about it.
@Vulcan1600 wrote:I'm at 1% UTL with my HD card. My scores are below. I am set to pay on a card tomorrow for $785 before it reports, however I'm thinking of just holding off and let it report then PIF it. I'm curious how that would affect my score. The limit on that card is $5k (US Bank Cash +) - that would make the usage on that card about 15%. Should I do that or PIF it and stay at the 1%? I really don't want to make them nervous about all of a sudden carrying UTL of more than 1% overall (should take it to 2% or 3% overall usage).
If you want to make US Bank Not Nervous, just let the balance report on the statement, then pay by the due date. For this amount, they already know you owe the money, and all they care about is that you pay it, at least the minimum, by the payment due date. The bankers (and the algorighm that monitors activity) at US Bank aren't expecting anyone to pay before the statement even cuts. That behavior is quite odd, and is really limited to MyFICO members. People get too worried about AA. This is not an AA situation. Sorry to burst your worry bubble, but that's the facts.
Good luck!
Yes, just pay close to the minimum. I would always pay a bit more. I would like to know what happens when you do. Not that I want you to be the guinea pig! 
@NRB525 wrote:
@Vulcan1600 wrote:I'm at 1% UTL with my HD card. My scores are below. I am set to pay on a card tomorrow for $785 before it reports, however I'm thinking of just holding off and let it report then PIF it. I'm curious how that would affect my score. The limit on that card is $5k (US Bank Cash +) - that would make the usage on that card about 15%. Should I do that or PIF it and stay at the 1%? I really don't want to make them nervous about all of a sudden carrying UTL of more than 1% overall (should take it to 2% or 3% overall usage).
If you want to make US Bank Not Nervous, just let the balance report on the statement, then pay by the due date. For this amount, they already know you owe the money, and all they care about is that you pay it, at least the minimum, by the payment due date. The bankers (and the algorighm that monitors activity) at US Bank aren't expecting anyone to pay before the statement even cuts. That behavior is quite odd, and is really limited to MyFICO members. People get too worried about AA. This is not an AA situation. Sorry to burst your worry bubble, but that's the facts.
Good luck!
You're absolutely right. I have decided I am going to keep with my budget and just PIF tomorrow as previously planned. It's just how I budget now. But, you are right about myFICO members being different breed. In my prior 36 years of owning credit cards, I never once looked at a chart to see when the close dates were on a CC and then make sure I pay it before it reports - but, now that I'm addicted to this site and credit in general, I have a completely new outlook. Here's an example of my new "odd behavior" - my DirecTV payment is due on 6/28 - perfect, that's the same day my Chase Freedom close date is - so that's the card I'm paying this on. I already know it will be paid off on the July 24 paycheck, before it closes the next time on 7/28.
I really am sad 
@Anonymous wrote:Yes, just pay close to the minimum. I would always pay a bit more. I would like to know what happens when you do. Not that I want you to be the guinea pig!
I decided to not do this - I'm chicken poop I guess LOL. I just have to do what's right for me as I spent a good part of the last 20 years up to my eyeballs in cc debt.
Yep, makes perfect sense!