Originally Posted by
MDtR-Chicago
There's something strange going on here...
If I were you, I'd use my free yearly pull on all three credit reports right now and thoroughly check every detail. I'd also invest in the free 10-day trial at myfico.com to get a real FICO score and use their simulation tools to figure out what's hurting you.
If nothing turns up that way, I'd look at these numbers to make sure they match "good" parameters:
Average Age of Accounts > 5 years
Utilization, which is balance reported compared to credit limit (on each card and overall) < 10%
# inquiries in past year < 6 (on each report)
If you're still stumped, feel free to post that info here and maybe we can troubleshoot. Otherwise, the best advice is probably to have no inquiries for a year and start fresh.
Thanks for the advice, here is what I found:
So got my credit reports and found no discrepanices, no negative marks.
Average age on accounts is of concern --> 3 yrs 6 months. So If I close a couple relatively new accounts will that up the average age, or will those accounts hold down the average by remaining counting at 1 year old. Basically is this an average age of all OPEN accounts? Or all accounts overall?
Credit utilization is at 9% as is fairly steady unless trying to hit a high minimum spend.
Hard inquiries in last 12 months is now 5 with most recent applications.
Also I do have a chase card, with very little spending on it. Most of my spending is on my SPG AmEx right now, with a little bit being spread around.
So what would you suggest? Close a couple newer accounts? Would raise utilization rate, but lower "risk", and hopefully raise average age of accounts by keeping older ones open...