High Balance vs. Current/Recent Balance

[vsjhoc]

As I understand it, in relation to the same CC account:

High balance = the highest reported amount I have ever charged to that account

Current or recent balance = my current or most recent balance that has been reported to the CRA

Utilization ratio = my current/recent balance : my credit limit

So why is my historical high balance reported? I've never seen anything to indicate that it goes into the FICO score mix. But the CRAs report it, so it must be used somehow ... can anyone explain? Thanks.

[Ahntara]

Some Data Furnishers report only historical high balance, not credit limit. Scoring software uses what it has access to, in the TL, to factor utilization #'s..

[vsjhoc]

Some Data Furnishers report only historical high balance, not credit limit. Scoring software uses what it has access to, in the TL, to factor utilization #'s..

Sorry, I should have specified. I was referring to creditors that report historical balance, AND current balance, AND credit limit, not creditors like Cap 1 and Amex that don't report the credit limit...

[direred]

So why is my historical high balance reported? I've never seen anything to indicate that it goes into the FICO score mix. But the CRAs report it, so it must be used somehow ... can anyone explain? Thanks.

High balance is sometimes used in lieu of credit limit. It may factor into FICO (I'm actually pretty sure historical balance reporting does factor in for EX at least).

I'm sure some creditors use it in part of their scoring as well: how much of your cards have you used ever?