Dormant Credit Card, How Often Should You Use Each CC

[compddd]

I put a few bucks on each of my cards every month and let the statement close before I pay them off.

[12HRS]

How can having a zero balance on your CC hurt you? Before someone says something stupid like "they want to see usage of the card" are you aware certain reports will show your usage/payments for the month?

Yes I am aware...

I am not saying I am right. I am just saying what I understand. Even with the balances reported of usage/payments I doubt that is factored into the FICO as if it was the case then even paying down a balance before the closing date would be of no value. So theoretically it would make sense that your FICO score only takes into account the $ shown as outstanding and not what you have used that month.

[CountValentine]

Since I am bored:

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/credit-cards/tiny-card-balance-helps-credit-score.aspx

Here is a little test you can all do. Have a couple of your cards close with a small balance and then check your real FICO score. Next month have all your cards report with a zero balance and check your real FICO score again. See for yourself how it works.

[12HRS]

Here is a little test you can all do. Have a couple of your cards close with a small balance and then check your real FICO score. Next month have all your cards report with a zero balance and check your real FICO score again. See for yourself how it works.

I still don't understand, no matter how you come out now something does not add up.

Options:
1) FICO goes down - What I stated above is correct
2/3) FICO stays the same or goes up - If this happens why does it state here in the wiki

3) Pay your credit card bill before your statement closes but leave over a few dollars to be paid after your statement closes. This will help ensure that you have both a low CC utilization percentage while establishing a good credit payment history.

It could simply say to pay off the balance before the closing date. Why leave over a few dollars?

[compddd]

Some companies like Barclays like to see activity every month versus none.

Why not put a few bucks every month on each card?

[HP58]

Some companies like Barclays like to see activity every month versus none.

Does that have to do with credit score or Barclays insatiable greed?

[CountValentine]

I still don't understand, no matter how you come out now something does not add up.

Isn't the claim a small balance will increase/help your credit score? If go from having a small balance to having no balance you should see a small drop in your score if that claim is correct. I say BS! 

[meshugener]

Even if you see it makes no difference om your score, is that all banks care about?
When was the last time Chase told you anything about your score?
Don't most banks look rather on your REPORT than your SCORE? (at least for CC apps)
Maybe banks like to see a payment history?

I'm just asking, not sayin'

[CountValentine]

Let’s take me for example. I have 30+ cards. What if every card had a balance of $5 - 10$ on it. If you were deciding to give me more credit what would you be thinking?

Has anyone ever been turn down for a card because they did not carry any balances? 

ETA: What was the OP question? 

[Am]

I have an old Bank of America card that I never use. Every year they send me a new card, I guess assuming I lost my old card or that a shiny new piece of plastic might entice me to start using the worthless card again. They never cancel or lowered my credit line in four years of dormancy

[CountValentine]

I have an old Bank of America card that I never use. Every year they send me a new card, I guess assuming I lost my old card or that a shiny new piece of plastic might entice me to start using the worthless card again. They never cancel or lowered my credit line in four years of dormancy

If you care about the card I would charge something. This happened to DW on a BOA business card aand it was canceled. No big deal until I realized it was 5% for gas and office supplies. 

[12HRS]

...and where did you get this from?

1-10% > 0%.

[Barryg]

Here is a little test you can all do. Have a couple of your cards close with a small balance and then check your real FICO score. Next month have all your cards report with a zero balance and check your real FICO score again. See for yourself how it works.

If you tested then you are probably correct in the short term (if you checked all three scores and they were all higher), but how would you know if in the long run 0 every month helps or hurts your score...
Here's my theory
I think the small balance ON ALL CC'S TOGETHER is better than 0 across the board came from DDF boards and other blogs. The other question is how they come up with FAKO scores. Let's say credit karma does a study and out of a large number of people, the average score of 1% to 20% utilization came out highest of all brackets, 2nd highest would be 20-40%, 3rd 40-60% 4th 60-80%  then 0% comes out lower than all of these, 6th place would be 80-100% and 7th would be over 100% (I guess it is theoretically possible to be over 100). Obviously they would mathematically isolate it as in ppl with similar other aspects of credit report would be grouped together.
It's also known that each bureau has a different way to compute your score, so my opinion based on theory + CV's new info that 0 is better for your score would be to end with a high balance in months that you are not applying and low or 0 balance on months that you are. I would think that the fact that one had a high balance in past but paid it off would for sure not hurt credit score and very likely help.

[Travelandcredit]

The only credit cards I've ever had closed for inactivity were store cards.... 2 Best Buy cards, a GAP card, and an Old Navy card. Unfortunate too, b/c those were easy to just leave in the safe and never use again.