Used the AZEO, scores went way up but the older EX model...

[DollyLama]

I'm thinking OP went AZEO but the one was 90-100% utilization, and most likely the highest credit line. Otherwise the zero balance cards with a decent LOC would have offset the "utilization going way down". 

[Anonymous]

It'll be interesting to see if our OP can clarify what happened.  If you are right, then it just shows that we need to do a better job at communicating to newcomers the best priorities in terms of CC paydown.

AZEO as a strategy supposed to be All Zero Except One with a small balance of the remaining card.  If a person can't implement that in entirety (can't afford to pay off almost all his debt) then he needs a different strategy, typically to get all cards under 87%, then all cards under 67%, then all cards under 48%, then he can start creating zero balances if he likes.

Certainly going to All Zero Except One with a revolving account at > 90% is a bad move.

[Anonymous]

I paid ALL cards/lines to zero except for my AMEX, that I paid down to 7% of CL. My total utilization went to 7%. I also paid off a auto loan. I have a mortgage & a signature loan. The strategy worked. I did it to further lower my utilization by applying for new credit. My total CL's before applying AZEO: 23K. The new total now: 91K. I asked for CLI's on some cards (Synchrony & Discover) which were approved. My total utilization is probably under 2% now. I just have to wait and let all lines report. I'm going to the garden and just apply for CLI's (with the exception of NFCU). My EX is a little wrecked right now. I'll freeze it. I guess I was excited to see how this really works! I hope this clarifies things. Arizona uses EX more than anyone, that's why I'll be more strategic in the future. Again, thanks for all the help given here!