Balance reporting

Ben8282

I have a question regarding the 'balance' amount shown at the top of the columns in credit card reporting. This is in relation to Experian credit reports.
I understand that previous balance is the balance of the last statement.
Payment amount is self explanatory.
But the balances at the top don't really correspond to anything. On my main credit card, paid by full balance direct debit, they appear to be quite close to the actual balance just prior to the payment due date, but do not actually correspond to the after update balance on any one specific day and also appear to refer to the statement period ahead of the statement balance and payment being reported in the same column. Could anybody tell me how these 'balances' are arrived at?
I spend about 2k per-month on this card and these balances are showing me as having a balance every month approx. 2k higher than it really should be (i.e. the balance is being reported as 4k).
Am I being penalised by paying by full balance direct debit because it appears that if I ceased to pay by direct debit but instead made a manual payment of the full balance a couple of days before the payment due date, I could reduce the reported balance by about 2k each month.
Is this why charge cards give a shorter payment period and some credit cards take full balance direct debits earlier than non-full balance direct debits?
Could anybody explain this?

National_Debtline

Hi Ben8282,


Credit files can be updated several times a month, which may explain some of the issues you have noticed. Try and check the other 2 credit agencies to see how they report things as well.


However, the best people to ask would be Experian. I suggest you contact them about their reporting and your concerns that nothing seems to ever 100% match up. Hopefully that will clarify things for you.


Laura
@natdebtline