Why is TransUnion and Equifax so much lower than Experian?
If you have an installment loan that reports only to Experian, your Experian credit score may be very different Equifax and TransUnion. Delinquencies reported on a loan reported on one credit report, but not the others, is the most common reason why you'll see wide credit score discrepancies, like 100 points.
Lenders report credit information to the credit bureaus at different times, often resulting in one agency having more up-to-date information than another. The credit bureaus may record, display or store the same information in different ways.
So if Experian has access to different information about your credit than Equifax or TransUnion, your scores from each of the bureaus might also be different. And even though the three major credit bureaus may have the same information, each bureau has proprietary algorithms that might score you differently.
This is due to a variety of factors, such as the many different credit score brands, score variations and score generations in commercial use at any given time. These factors are likely to yield different credit scores, even if your credit reports are identical across the three credit bureaus—which is also unusual.
Your Equifax score is lower than the other credit scores because there is a slight difference in what is reported to each credit agency and each one uses a slightly different method to score your data. Your Experian, Equifax and TransUnion credit reports should be fairly similiar.
While Experian is the largest bureau in the U.S., it's not necessarily more accurate than the other credit bureaus. The credit scores that you receive from each of these bureaus could be the same, depending on which scoring model they use.
Although Experian is the largest credit bureau in the U.S., TransUnion and Equifax are widely considered to be just as accurate and important. When it comes to credit scores, however, there is a clear winner: FICO® Score is used in 90% of lending decisions.
When you are applying for a mortgage to buy a home, lenders will typically look at all of your credit history reports from the three major credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
Of the three main credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion), none is considered better than the others. A lender may rely on a report from one bureau or all three bureaus to make its decisions about approving your loan.
In addition to data differences, credit bureaus update their information at different intervals. For example, TransUnion may update its information every 30 days, whereas Experian may update information every 60 days. That time difference can lead to different scores.
Which credit score is the hardest?
- Poor: 300–579.
- Fair: 580–669.
- Good: 670–739.
- Very good: 740–799.
- Excellent: 800+
Which Credit Bureau has the Lowest Score? The credit bureau that gives the lowest FICO or Vantage score tends to be the one that lenders use the most in your geographic area. Lenders typically slice the pie (between Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) at the three-digit zip code level.
This is because not all financial institutions report all the same information to credit reporting bureaus, although this is a rare case. However, most smaller lenders typically use Equifax.
Neither score is more or less accurate than the other; they're only being calculated from slightly differing sources. Your Equifax credit score is more likely to appear lower than your TransUnion one because of the reporting differences, but a “fair” score from TransUnion is typically “fair” across the board.
Experian gives a more detailed picture of a person's financial history, including payment timeliness and debt utilization. TransUnion offers more insight into a person's job history, whereas Equifax provides more information about mortgage history.
Is Experian the Most Accurate Credit Score? Credit scores from the three main bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) are considered accurate. The accuracy of the scores depends on the accuracy of the information provided to them by lenders and creditors.
Well, the credit score and report information on Credit Karma is accurate, as two of the three credit agencies are reporting it. Equifax and TransUnion are the ones giving the reports and scores. Credit Karma also offers VantageScores, but they are separate from the other two credit bureaus.
FICO 8 is still the most widely used credit score today. If you apply for a credit card or personal loan, odds are that the lender will check your FICO 8 score. FICO 8 is unique in its treatment of factors such as credit utilization, late payments, and small-balance collection accounts.
- Online by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com.
- By calling 1-877-322-8228 (TTY: 1-800-821-7232)
- By filling out the Annual Credit Report request form and mailing it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service. PO Box 105281. Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.
Most of the credit scores that lenders use in the United States, including most versions of the FICO Score, range from 300 to 850. Therefore, most financial professionals generally accept that 300 is the lowest credit score a consumer can have.
What FICO score is needed to buy a house?
It's recommended you have a credit score of 620 or higher when you apply for a conventional loan. If your score is below 620, lenders either won't be able to approve your loan or may be required to offer you a higher interest rate, which can result in higher monthly payments.
Some of the major credit card companies that use Equifax include American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Discover, and Wells Fargo. These companies use Equifax to verify your identity, check your credit history, and evaluate your credit score.
The most commonly used FICO Score in the mortgage-lending industry is the FICO Score 5. According to FICO, the majority of lenders pull credit histories from all three major credit reporting agencies as they evaluate mortgage applications. Mortgage lenders may also use FICO Score 2 or FICO Score 4 in their decisions.
The credit scores and credit reports you see on Credit Karma come directly from TransUnion and Equifax, two of the three major consumer credit bureaus. They should accurately reflect your credit information as reported by those bureaus — but they may not match other reports and scores out there.
A score of 661 – 720 is fair. And an excellent score is in the range of 781 – 850. Think of these rankings and ranges as guides, not hard-and-fast rules for what good credit is. Some people want to achieve a score of 850, the highest credit score possible.
This is mainly because of two reasons: For one, lenders may pull your credit from different credit bureaus, whether it is Experian, Equifax or TransUnion. Your score can then differ based on what bureau your credit report is pulled from since they don't all receive the same information about your credit accounts.
For a score with a range between 300 and 850, a credit score of 700 or above is generally considered good. A score of 800 or above on the same range is considered to be excellent. Most consumers have credit scores that fall between 600 and 750.
The FICO score is the most widely used score for auto loans. The score ranges from 300 to 850. The score is calculated based on credit mix, payment history, amount owed, average credit history and available credit.
We often get asked 'does checking your credit score lower it? ' The answer is no. You can check your own credit score and credit report as many times as you like – it will never have a negative impact on your score.
Credit scores are three-digit numbers that show an important piece of your financial history. Credit scores help lenders decide whether to grant you credit. The average credit score in the United States is 698, based on VantageScore® data from February 2021. It's a myth that you only have one credit score.
What is the average Experian score?
We provide a score from between 0-999 and consider a 'good' score to be anywhere between 881 and 960, with 'fair' or average between 721 and 880. Before you apply for credit, it's a really good idea to check your free Experian Credit Score, so you can make more informed choices when it comes to applying for credit.
No Issuer Pulls Exclusively From Experian
When you apply for a new credit card, the issuer will likely check your credit profile to determine whether to approve your credit application and, if so, what type of credit line and APR to offer.
- Experian 76%
- Equifax 54%
- TransUnion 30%.
An error could occur when the lender is reporting the information, or when the bureau is recording the information, or when you provide personal details. Sometimes, an error can also be a sign of fraud or ID theft, so it is important to file a dispute with the concerned bureau immediately to get the error rectified.
Equifax: Which is most accurate? No credit score from any one of the credit bureaus is more valuable or more accurate than another. It's possible that a lender may gravitate toward one score over another, but that doesn't necessarily mean that score is better.
Why is my Experian credit score different from FICO? The credit scores you see when you check a service like Experian may differ from the FICO scores a lender sees when checking your credit. That's because the lender may be using a FICO score based on data from a different credit bureau.
Some lenders report to all three major credit bureaus, but others report to only one or two. Because of this difference in reporting, each of the three credit bureaus may have slightly different credit report information for you and you may see different scores as a result.
Experian's advantage over FICO is that the information it provides is far more detailed and thorough than a simple number. A pair of borrowers could both have 700 FICO Scores but vastly different credit histories.
Basically, "credit score" and "FICO® score" are all referring to the same thing. A FICO® score is a type of credit scoring model. While different reporting agencies may weigh factors slightly differently, they are all essentially measuring the same thing.
Of the three main credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion), none is considered better than the others. A lender may rely on a report from one bureau or all three bureaus to make its decisions about approving your loan.
Which credit score is more accurate TransUnion or Equifax?
Is Equifax more accurate than TransUnion? Scores from Equifax and TransUnion are equally accurate as they both use their own scoring systems. Both credit agencies provide accurate scores, and whichever your lender opts for will provide suitable information.
In conclusion. Credit card issuers and lenders may use one or more of the three major credit bureaus—Experian, TransUnion and Equifax—to help determine your eligibility for new credit card accounts, loans and more.
| Credit Score Type | Credit Score Range |
|---|---|
| TransUnion (TransRisk) | 300 - 850 |
| Experian National Equivalency Score | 360 - 840 |
| Equifax Credit Score | 280 - 850 |
Your Equifax credit score is more likely to appear lower than your TransUnion one because of the reporting differences, but a “fair” score from TransUnion is typically “fair” across the board.
For a score with a range between 300 and 850, a credit score of 700 or above is generally considered good. A score of 800 or above on the same range is considered to be excellent. Most consumers have credit scores that fall between 600 and 750.