<prompt> Human: What I usually do is pay the full amount that I use before I get the statement which means that I dont have to pay by a certain time or anything. This worked really well for my credit score. It kept increasing fast at first then really slowly and I got to 794.I called to apply for a credit limit increase because its convenient even though I dont use it and because it would improve my credit score. I usually use about 700 a month and my limit is 1000.I was told that I cant increase my limit because I havent been using my credit card. When I explained, they said that I should leave some amount unpaid then pay it before the due date. Otherwise, it will look like Im not using my credit card. So thats what I did. I left 300 unpaid I paid about 350 before I got the statement and to my surprise, my credit score went down to 749. Now Im not sure if I keep doing this or not. Any advice?  <response>: When you applied for a credit limit increase, they probably performed a hard inquiry on your credit.Also, when you maintained a balance, your credit utilization suddenly went from 0 to 30 on this card. If it is your only card, this sudden utilization can have a negative impact on your credit score, since your aggregate credit utilization experienced the same change.Know that a credit score around 750 already qualifies you for most credit products and is generally seen as a good score. Its normal for a score to fluctuate as payment history, account balance ratios, and inquiries hit your credit report. Beyond the credit score, lenders will now focus on debt-to-income and overall financial health when qualifying you for products. 