<prompt> Human: So I am planning on paying off all my credit cards in SeptOctober. Going to do it over a few months as I have been told that it causes a negative if you pay it off all at once. It also creates a negative if you have a zero balance on your credit on your credit report and I have been told to call the creditors so they list it as something besides a zero balance. I have also been told to have good credit scores you need 3037; debt that you pay off every month or else this is a negative. How can I maintain a good credit score and keep very little debt. I am concerned to rack up debt again. Any suggestions or advice. I am really trying to pay off debt and qualify for a mortgage and those two things seem at odds to me.  <response>: Everything you were told is wrong. 