Some of the details you provided are absolutely correct; however, having a $1 balance vs $0 will not affect the score. The idea of having a $2,000 balance on a $3,000 limit will HURT YOUR SCORE.
You should always be below 30% of your credit limit. If you carry a balance over 30% your score will drop. The higher the percentage, the lower the score will be.
Bear in mind, it is best to have a $0.00 balance on your credit cards.
