Lack of recent revolving account information

FICO code numbers

Code numbers can differ by bureau and score version. The wording of the statement is what to match.

What puts this reason on your score

This is the broader version of code 15. It shows when every revolving account on the report is closed, unused or no longer updating. People who paid off and closed all their cards, or who have only loans, tend to see it.

Revolving accounts are where the score measures utilization. Without a current one, the amounts owed category has less to work with, and a file showing only installment debt gives the model a narrower picture.

What to check on your credit report

• Look for any open revolving account with a recent update date.
• Check whether a card you use reports to this bureau at all.
• Look for an open but idle line of credit, such as a home equity line or a store card in a drawer.

What you can do about it

• If you have an open card, use it lightly and let a statement report.
• If you have none, one card, secured if needed, restores revolving activity.
• Pay statements in full. You don't need to carry a balance or pay interest to clear this code.

How soon a change can show

The first statement that reports activity starts the fix. A brand-new account appears after the issuer's first monthly update.

If you are applying for a mortgage

If you plan to buy within a year, getting a card active now gives it time to report several clean months before the lender pulls credit.

Guides that go deeper

• How secured credit cards workHow a secured card's deposit, limit and bill fit together, what scoring models see, how small limits inflate utilization, and how to get your deposit back.
• How much credit mix counts in your scoreCredit mix is 10% of a FICO Score, and FICO says you don't need one of each account type. The math on taking a loan just to improve mix rarely works.
• When a secured card graduates, and how to get yours thereGraduating a secured card can keep its history and return your deposit. How that compares with closing the card, the utilization math, and what to ask.
• What your credit score reason codes are telling youReason codes list what held your score back the most, in order. What the common ones mean, which you can act on, and which to leave alone.