Credit Score Increase

[WranglerBowman]

Just curious if anyone else has had their credit score increase pretty dramatically in a short period of time.  My FICO score is in my monthly credit card statement and I noticed it went up 92 points in a month and not sure what to make of it and wonder if it's a mistake.  I haven't changed any of my spending habits.  Three years ago I went to apply for a used car loan only to find out that I was 60 days late on a credit card bill, I lost my f'ing mind as all my credit cards are paid off every month, so I thought.  It turns out that a card I never use began charging a $5 minimum balance charge if you had a balance of $0, what a crock of S.  Because I never used the card I never expected there would be a balance and with all the daily credit card offers I must have thrown out the notice of this stupid fee, as the woman on the phone said a notice was sent.  So because I was 60 days late on a $5 minimum balance fee my credit score had dropped from a 790 to a 685.  My score had been steadily increasing by 3 to 5 points per month of the last 3 years but not sure why the big jump.  Has this happened to anyone before or can anyone explain it.

[OmahaSteph]

I've had mine go up 20 points in three months, but nothing like what you experienced. Do you use Mint? They give a pretty detailed report of the different factors (comments, etc.). Perhaps the time limit on something expired and you stopped being dinged for it?

[Syonyk]

I don't track it that closely, but I have seen a spike in credit scores when I run up a balance on CCs for a few months then pay it all off in a lump sum (I was floating inventory for a startup between when we had to purchase it and when the net 30 invoices got paid).

[iknowiyam]

Recently I noticed on my annual credit report check that they make note of the number of times your credit was checked by others in the past 3 years. It said credit checks are not negative but "may present questions" about your credit history. Perhaps your credit checks related to your car purchase have now aged off your credit report.

[WranglerBowman]

I've had mine go up 20 points in three months, but nothing like what you experienced. Do you use Mint? They give a pretty detailed report of the different factors (comments, etc.). Perhaps the time limit on something expired and you stopped being dinged for it?

I don't use Mint.  In the past 8 years the only bad mark I've had on my credit was 60 days overdue on that credit card bill of $5 three years ago.  Doesn't it take 7 years for something to fall off your credit report?  Not sure what else it could be.

Recently I noticed on my annual credit report check that they make note of the number of times your credit was checked by others in the past 3 years. It said credit checks are not negative but "may present questions" about your credit history. Perhaps your credit checks related to your car purchase have now aged off your credit report.

The credit checks for the auto purchase was 2 yrs and 7 months ago.  I was denied the loan due to the 60 days late on the credit report.

[Bob W]

Mine has jumped 30 or so points in a month.   In my case it was percent of credit used.   It always came in around 2% total but I had one card that was 300 on 600 so 50%.   I paid it down and boom,  boom up went the score.