Perfect FICO

[Catbert]

I randomly check my FICO (and other credit scores) because I have several credit card issuers who provide credit scores for free.  Yesterday I checked my BofA app.  I have a perfect 850 FICO score.  BofA uses Transunion FICO score 8.

I'm curious to see how long it lasts.  What's different from January when it was 843 or November when it dipped to 836?  Who knows.  I slow churn credit cards to maybe it's just one additional month since the last time I got one.

[Alternatepriorities]

Congratulations Catbert!

I also check my score periodically in hopes of one days seeing the magical 850.

I've never quite pulled it off but I did take a screen shot the day I had an 848.

[ixtap]

Have either of you had any kind of loans in the last decade? That seems to be what is holding us back.

[Alternatepriorities]

I've had two mortgages, one of which was paid off about six months before the high score and one is still active. I paid off my student loans about a 8 years before the high score. I have a few credit cards which I've never carried a balance on. I also occasionally open and close CC for the bonuses but probably no more than one per year. I did have a store card with Lowes for a couple of years which I understand is a different kind of credit than a regular CC, but I closed it because I didn't like tracking the extra account.

I've never paid interest on anything except the mortgages and student loans.

[Alternatepriorities]

I have noticed the reported scores will differ wildly between the various banks that report them to me. Just for reference i checked now and had scores of 846/850, 840/850 and 821/850 plus one random bank doing the other scale with 842/900.

The funniest part was the 846 score came with a list of things that lowered my score... I guess they must be subtracting two points each for opening the current mortgage to recently and my last CC points grab? Meanwhile the 821 bank just says it's a great score.

[Catbert]

I do have a couple of mortgages (rental properties), plus one paid off a couple of years ago.  The typical reasons for my less than perfect scores are:  too soon after getting a credit card and too many cards with a balance.  Nothing substantive has changed.

The only real change I can think of is that I *heard* that credit reports were going to start showing not just your balance but whether you paid it in full last month.  I always pay in full although I try to spread out spending a bit both to show a little love to sock drawer cards and to maximize rewards.   

[Catbert]

So 3 months in a row of FICO of 850 at that particular bank/credit bureau/FICO model.  However, I just cancelled one credit card and got another one so that party will be over this month.

[GilesMM]

Sounds like you are not using your credit much or getting new credit very often.

[jnw]

I have 776. Never missed a payment on anything. I have a home loan for like 10 years now.   But I have 5 years 11 months average credit history and 6 hard inquiries.  Five credit cards opened in past 24 months.  Seems like my score should be higher since I have a home loan for 10 years now. Hmm..

Utilization is 12% but it was 3% a couple months back and my score hasn't gone down but maybe 5 points since I am now at 12%.  I am investing the money into federal money market instead of paying off a credit card with 0% APR (15 month promotion).

[HPstache]

I had that once... never even got to use it 😕

[Catbert]

Sounds like you are not using your credit much or getting new credit very often.

I stay around 5/24 although I'm slowing down since DH no longer wants to travel.  My overall utilization is usually around 3-4% although this past month it was 0% with them rounding down.  I think overall credit limits on all my credit cards are around 170K.  I'm old so my length of credit history is 38 years.

[Alternatepriorities]

I was surprised to see recently that a 21 year credit history is only “good” as opposed to “excellent” which starts at 25 years. I’ve been helping people figure out their credit for years and somehow missed that marker.

[SpareChange]

I was surprised to see recently that a 21 year credit history is only “good” as opposed to “excellent” which starts at 25 years. I’ve been helping people figure out their credit for years and somehow missed that marker.

Wow. Didn't know that either. Thanks.

[Catbert]

My perfect run is officially over.  It was 850* for four months (Feb - May) but in June it dropped to 847 bc  I cancelled one credit card and got another.   

*FICO 8, Transunion from BofA

[cleverscreenname]

Congratulations Catbert! Without trying, my credit score has increased over the years to 793. I had more accounts in the past, but for the last decade I've had just 2 credit cards that auto-pay in full every month (because some places don't accept Discover, and Ionly use them for internet shopping), plus a few store cards that have been used just once or twice for their intro-bonus. I have hit my credit limit several times and asked to have it raised, reminding them that I've never carried a balance. They always decline, so I just have to make multiple payoff's during those months.

[Dave1442397]

Mine is 828 when I look on Credit Karma, but when I check PenFed it's 850. It dropped under 850 once this year, but otherwise seems to just stay there.