I got my credit score from CreditXpert, Freecreditreport.com, and Credit Karma and all three had different credit score; what gives?

Credit Q&A

Question

I got my credit score from CreditXpert, Freecreditreport.com, and Credit Karma and all three had different credit score; what gives?

Answer

Credit scores are going to be different between the bureaus, banks, score models, and companies that provide consumer access to credit score and credit reports.

Credit scores are developed on the basis of two things: the consumer data at the credit bureau and the algorithm used to score the data. So, how come your credit scores never match from one provider to another? First, the credit data that comprises the credit report at each of the three credit bureaus -- Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion -- is very likely to be different. Second, the scoring algorithm that is applied to that credit data is also likely to be different. By different, we mean the actual algorithm calculation will be different, such as applying more and/or less weight to different categories. Finally, the credit score range used to scale your credit score may be different.

With all these differences, keep in mind one thing – all credit scores predict a consumer's propensity to repay a loan. If you monitor and trend your credit score at the same provider over time, the changes in your financial health will be revealed in your credit score regardless of what bureau, model, and range you use.

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USER COMMENTS(12)

jowilson002
Oct 6
4:21 pm

I am trying to get a VA Home Loan. Yesterday my credit score on Credit Karma was 614. I paid some bills the bank suggested I pay and now my score is 609. Is there anything that I can do to raise the score to a 620 fast so that I can get the VA Loan for a Home. Do you know any lenders that can give a VA loan with a middle score of 609 which is what my bank says is my middle score?

turbosb2
Oct 16
8:51 pm

Pull all 3 of your reports and make sure there aint any mistakes on them verify all acounts are yours if not dispute them.make sure to check inquires to anything over 3 to 4 lowers your score,and pry to god they dont use experians scoreing system a 614 score puts u at a high risk I have a 740 score and experian says i only have a c credit rating .

CK Moderator

You are probably referring to the Vantage score. That score is not unique to Experian.

danny07diem
Oct 5
11:24 am

i have a credit score of 710 at the age of 20. is this good?

CK Moderator

Check out our age trending article, it should give you a general idea.

lim3
Sep 27
2:34 pm

I got a 594 credit score,How can I improve my credit fast?

CK Moderator

Try the credit score simulator.

keehiem
Sep 13
5:05 pm

At first i was ignorant to credit and know i have educated myself on it... but during time of not knowing, I was applied for 5-8 credit cards and was being turned down by all. From all those turn downs, did that effect my credit score?

CK Moderator

In short, yes. You will have several credit inquiries which can lower your score short term

chefjhannon
Aug 29
8:57 am

CK is telling me that I may have an outstanding auto loan and a home mortgage, neither of which I have. What gives?

CK Moderator

We just show what is on your credit report. We use TransUnion so you should check that report on AnnualCreditReport.com

prwilland
Aug 27
7:51 am

If I use this system and check my credit scores often, does it ding my score each time it is looked at? I know it does for others looking, but I don't want it to go down because I am looking at it.

CK Moderator

Using Credit Karma does not lower your credit score.

darkimi17
Aug 20
11:44 am

In july my score was around 680 and now it's like 620 and I've been on time for my bill payments used my credit card 3 to 4 times as usal and payed it off on time. Why did my score on ck drop so dramticly? has cheacking my score so much on ck made it go down?

CK Moderator

Using Credit Karma will not lower your credit score.

Have you tried reviewing your credit report card? It should give you a sense of why you dropped based on the letter grades.

repeat
Aug 16
4:12 pm

my score nevr seams to get better because pass history 3 year old late payments what can I do to fix it?

CK Moderator

The delinquencies will go away in time. The important thing is to make sure all payments are on-time going forward as one missed payment will stay with you for many years to come.

nabaraj
Aug 11
12:03 am

I updated my credit score on CK.. today... Also i got my credit score from transunion...... Both of the score are different. If i read correctly, CK use TU to pull off the score... Why is it different then, IS CK using its own metrics???

CK Moderator

TransUnion sell two primary credit scores. One is called the TransRisk which is what we use. The other is call the Vantage Score with a range up to 990.

luxmissus
Sep 27
4:00 pm

Which do lenders use? The TransRisk or the Vantage Score?

CK Moderator

Vary by the lenders. There are literally dozens that the lenders can choose from.

frugal1
Aug 9
11:40 pm

On average, do any of the three credit bureaus usually score significantly higher, or lower, than the other two, e.g., does a 750 at Experian equate to a 740 at TransUnion?

CK Moderator

There is no formula for the relationship between the bureaus. While all three bureaus are highly correlated, the difference in scores is driven by the data at each bureau. More specifically, it is the differences in the data that drive the differences in your scores. Historically not all lenders reported to all three bureaus.

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