I understand the concept of AZEO for optimizing FICO scoring. However, I have personally experienced score drops due to my only non-AU revolver reporting $0 balance (reason code: no recent revolving utilization, only one individual revolver and one AU revolver) and read that you should not have a new card reporting a $0 balance if you are looking to get any CLI in the future. If utilization has no "memory" is the best practice for a new card to let it report a balance the first few months if you are not seeking credit and don't care about your FICO score dropping temporarily for increased utilization? Is it better to have new cards report your actual monthly spend or is having it report a small amount like $5 sufficient to show usage? Do you alternate which cards report $0 to avoid appearing as if you are not using your revolving accounts? I only have two cards currently (plus on AU card) and am not planning to apply for any new cards, CLI, or anything else that would require my score be "optimal". My new AMEX is not reporting yet but is there any long-term impact or benefit to both of my young revolvers reporting a balance for the first few months? Is there a minimum number of months a new card should report a balance before I can go back to doing AZEO?
AU: 
@ChemE_Bear wrote:I understand the concept of AZEO for optimizing FICO scoring. However, I have personally experienced score drops due to my only non-AU revolver reporting $0 balance (reason code: no recent revolving utilization, only one individual revolver and one AU revolver) and read that you should not have a new card reporting a $0 balance if you are looking to get any CLI in the future.
That is not true
If utilization has no "memory" is the best practice for a new card to let it report a balance
No there's no need to do that
the first few months if you are not seeking credit and don't care about your FICO score dropping temporarily for increased utilization? Is it better to have new cards report your actual monthly spend or is having it report a small amount like $5 sufficient to show usage?
Your balance doesn't show usage. They can tell what your usage is even if the reported balance is zero.
Do you alternate which cards report $0 to avoid appearing as if you are not using your revolving accounts?
It's not necessary for that purpose. They can tell if you are using the account
I only have two cards currently (plus on AU card) and am not planning to apply for any new cards, CLI, or anything else that would require my score be "optimal".
You never know when something might come up.. a cellphone contract, an apartment lease, car insurance, etc
My new AMEX is not reporting yet but is there any long-term impact or benefit to both of my young revolvers reporting a balance for the first few months?
No there is no long term effect one way or the other
Is there a minimum number of months a new card should report a balance before I can go back to doing AZEO?
No there's no need to report a balance
