Easy way to ensure no balances (or even better, a balance on only one card)
In regards to the points above about Chase only letting you pay the statement or outstanding balance. . .
Just use a bill-payment service (my credit union offers it for free since I have auto-deposit with them) to send in extra payments to your Chase and other accounts. I keep a credit balance on all of my accounts except one, which I typically keep at about 1% utilization. That keeps my credit score high. . .and this has been confirmed by many people at the myfico message boards and other places. . . good luck!