FICO scores penalise utilisation above ~30%, with the steepest penalty starting around 50%. The scoring model looks at both per-card and aggregate utilisation, calculated from the balance reported on the statement closing date — not on the payment due date.
Tactics to lower utilisation include paying mid-cycle (before the statement closes), requesting credit-limit increases, and spreading spending across cards. The fastest legitimate credit-score boost is usually a one-time utilisation drop from 40% to under 10%.
Formula
Credit Utilisation = Card Balance ÷ Credit Limit
Esempio
A consumer with CHF 10,000 in credit limits and CHF 2,500 in card balances has 25% utilisation — comfortably below the 30% threshold and rated favourably by FICO.