 TITLE: Does Returning Items Affect Credit? CONTENT: Returning Items Might Affect Your Credit Utilization Ratio\n----------------------------------------------------------\nYour credit utilization ratio is usually expressed as a percentage and accounts for 30% of your FICO® Score☉ , the score most commonly used by lenders. So it's important to keep a close eye on it.\nMost experts recommend keeping your utilization ratio below 30% to avoid hurting your scores, and below 7% for the best scores. If you have one credit card and it has a $1,000 limit, for example, try to keep your balance below $300.\nIf you racked up a high balance on your credit card with a few large purchases and then decided to return the items, you could expect a high credit utilization until your returns were processed. This could cause your credit score to go down temporarily.\nBy completing the return before your credit card company reports a high balance to the credit bureaus, you'll avoid a change to your credit scores. If you don't make your returns before your credit is reported, the purchases you plan to return will be included in your balance and raise your credit utilization ratio. END