budget billing and credit(maybe you can help out jeffrey)

[rusty@saving]

recently i had my credit checked by a friend of mine for the possibility of being able to get a home loan in the future.
it wasn't as bad as i thought, but it wasn't great either. during the discussion with him about how my score was the way that it was, he pointed out that if you do budget billing on your electric bill, it shows that you can't handle your bills....therefore bringing your credit down.
what the hell??? i guess it makes sense, but that is screwed up!! you end up paying the full amount anyways, and it is not like you are asking for freebies or a dang handout!!
anyways...before i throw my computer off the balcony of my apartment, i was wondering if there was anything ayone new about(a list or something) that goes through what will give you bad credit(besides the obvious)?
i think it is shaddy that when your electric bill moves around so much, that just trying to get a consistent bill blindsides your credit.
what do you think??

[rduell]

I've never hear of that either! I do a budget billing for our electric bill also, just because it's easier when you do live on a budget. I've also done it with our gas bill when we used gas to heat the house.

[sweeps]

Utility companies shouldn't be reporting to a credit agency unless you're actually overdue on your bills and it's gone to collection. Signing up for a budget plan shouldn't do anything to your credit -- unless this is some kind of loan you're signing up for.

[tinapbeana]

possibly they aren't speaking of the actual 'budget plan', but actual 'payment arrangements' as in "You owe us $500 and we'll take that in 10 easy $50 installments added to your regular bill"... who knows.