ClearScore or Experian + credit limit

dreamvendour

Hi everyone,
I've noticed that in the past, I had been borrowing very little on credit cards and always returned it via Direct Debit, my Experian credit score had been showing as perfect and ClearScore was lower than average.
Then I spoke to a money mentor from Barclays who advised that I should use half of my credit limit to build my credit rating. So I've put most of my purchases through credit cards below 50% of the limit, which made my Experian credit go down and ClearScore go up significantly.
Questions:
1. Which one is best to look at? Experian or ClearScore?
2. Is it true that I should be using half of my credit limit to build my rating or the less you use the better?
Thanks!

bradders1983

Someone from Barclays told you that?

Staggering.

[Deleted User]

dreamvendour said:

1. Which one is best to look at? Experian or ClearScore?
2. Is it true that I should be using half of my credit limit to build my rating or the less you use the better?

1. Look at both the files (plus TransUnion) and none of the scores.
2. No.  Use what you want and clear in full each month.
3. Never ask your 'money mentor' anything ever again.

PRAISETHESUN

You should be regularly checking your reports from all 3 CRAs - Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Ignore the scores and focus on the data. Every lender scores you against their own criteria so the CRA scores are meaningless as no-one except for you ever sees them.

Ignore what your "mentor" said about utilisation - there is no magic number you should be trying to aim for, particularly if you pay off your card in full every month. Just spend what you normally would and pay it off after the statement has been generated. 

Thenonameleague

I hope your not paying for the money mentor.
Check your report on all 3 agencies but ignore the number/ rating.
Put your weekly food spend on the card as well the weekly petrol (can be just 2 ) top up but pay it off in full.