$2 trick to increase FICO score.

[David Smith]

its getting more complicated subtotal is there any deference between if the $2 is reported on chase vie non chase ?
what's the whole argument please clear the fog 

Simply put, no. The only difference is that if you pay off that chase balance after the balance posts, chase will immediately update the CRA with that $0 balance, which will look like zero activity.

[Barryg]

its getting more complicated subtotal is there any deference between if the $2 is reported on chase vie non chase ?
what's the whole argument please clear the fog 

I thought I was on the right track, but I guess I'm with you...

[PillanSmye]

Simply put, no. The only difference is that if you pay off that chase balance after the balance posts, chase will immediately update the CRA with that $0 balance, which will look like zero activity.

Which will lower your scores.

[AJK]

Is it sufficient to have $2 report on an AU card?

Or must the card be primary?

[David Smith]

Is it sufficient to have $2 report on an AU card?

Or must the card be primary?

Balance goes by account, not card.

[AJK]

Balance goes by account, not card.

So you're saying it's sufficient.

If Card X reports with $2 balance, and Person B is an AU on Card X, Person B need not (and should not) have Card Y (which is a primary card for Person B) report $2.

[David Smith]

So you're saying it's sufficient.

If Card X reports with $2 balance, and Person B is an AU on Card X, Person B need not (and should not) have Card Y (which is a primary card for Person B) report $2.

Oh, I misunderstood your question. I thought you were asking if the money has to be spent by the primary card as apposed to an AU card, if you're the primary cardholder. If the balance reports to your credit report, it shouldn't make a difference if it's on a primary or AU card as far as FICO is concerned, iinm, but I'm not qualified to answer that  authoritatively.

[AJK]

Please tell me you did not honestly think that I was asking if the actual $2 of spend had to be done by the primary as opposed to the AU.

[David Smith]

Please tell me you did not honestly think that I was asking if the actual $2 of spend had to be done by the primary as opposed to the AU.

I wasn't thinking. My bad.

[newdealseeker]

I paid my full balance, less $2, the day before statement closing. Now it closed with a $13 credit balance because I received my Visa Checkout offer credit...

[ari2955]

Is it sufficient to have $2 report on an AU card?

Or must the card be primary?

One last question back on the $2 trick (sorry everyone!): If the card that I'm leaving $2 on is an Amex, and my wife is an AU on that account (thereby causing those $2 to show up on her report), is that enough for her to be successfully doing the $2 trick? Or should she have a card that she is a primary on with a $2 balance?

That should work, but it's always safer to control the reporting with AU cards. She should do that with her own card and you should use 1 that doesn't have any AUs. I can't recall if this varies by scoring models, but know it has been discussed on CB.

[AJK]

Thanks!

[David Smith]

I paid my full balance, less $2, the day before statement closing. Now it closed with a $13 credit balance because I received my Visa Checkout offer credit...

That's why they said not to use a chase card...

[PillanSmye]

Please tell me you did not honestly think that I was asking if the actual $2 of spend had to be done by the primary as opposed to the AU.

Its well known FICO doesnt distinguish between AU vs primary balances for utilization  calculations , so why would it be different for the $2 trick?

[Barryg]

Its well known FICO doesnt distinguish between AU vs primary balances for utilization  calculations , so why would it be different for the $2 trick?

Wasn't well known to me...

[PillanSmye]

Wasn't well known to me...

then you should read how au cards work.

[Barryg]

then you should read how au cards work.

Or just follow the forums once in a while. Btw, should I google or is there a better place to read up?

[newdealseeker]

That's why they said not to use a chase card...

And how would it help if it was a different card? What I meant to say is that you can't control if there will be a credit the day of closing.

[David Smith]

And how would it help if it was a different card? What I meant to say is that you can't control if there will be a credit the day of closing.

I was joking. There's a totally different reason why chase cards aren't recommender, discussed above. This credit happened to be for chase cards.

[newdealseeker]

I was joking. There's a totally different reason why chase cards aren't recommender, discussed above. This credit happened to be for chase cards.

You're right. But I thought the reasons for not using Chase can be worked around, and obviously I couldn't this time.
So basically everyone here following this rule never leaves a balance on their Chase cards?