Why is Equifax always lower?

Asked by: Houston Medhurst  |  Last update: February 9, 2022
Score: 4.5/5 (35 votes)

The reason that your Equifax score is lower than your TransUnion score is based on the fact that TransUnion adds personal information and employment data that is weighted into their model. The other two only report the name of your employer and do not add any weight to that fact.

Why is Equifax score so different?

Your score differs based on the information provided to each bureau, explained more next. Information provided to the credit bureaus: The credit bureaus may not receive all of the same information about your credit accounts. Surprisingly, lenders aren't required to report to all or any of the three bureaus.

Which credit report is most accurate?

The most accurate credit scores are the latest versions of the FICO Score and VantageScore credit-scoring models: FICO Score 8 and VantageScore 3.0.

Why is Equifax lower than Experian?

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.

Why did my Equifax score drop for no reason?

Credit scores can drop due to a variety of reasons, including late or missed payments, changes to your credit utilization rate, a change in your credit mix, closing older accounts (which may shorten your length of credit history overall), or applying for new credit accounts.

Why Your Equifax Credit Score Is Lower Than Transunion

19 related questions found

Is Equifax score accurate?

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 Equifax score lower than credit karma?

Why are my credit scores from Credit Karma different from scores I got somewhere else? We pull your VantageScore 3.0 credit scores directly from TransUnion and Equifax. ... One big reason why you may have different scores is that the three credit bureaus may have differing information about you.

What is a good Equifax score?

Although ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally credit scores from 580 to 669 are considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; 740 to 799 are considered very good; and 800 and up are considered excellent.

Which is more important Equifax or TransUnion?

Is TransUnion more important than Equifax? The short answer is no. Both TransUnion and Equifax are reliable credit reporting agencies that compile reports and calculate your credit scores using different scoring models.

Why is TransUnion higher than Equifax?

The reason that your Equifax score is lower than your TransUnion score is based on the fact that TransUnion adds personal information and employment data that is weighted into their model. The other two only report the name of your employer and do not add any weight to that fact.

Which credit bureau usually 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.

Why is Credit Karma so far off?

Credit Karma receives information from two of the top three credit reporting agencies. This indicates that Credit Karma is likely off by the number of points as the lack of information they have from Experian, the third provider that does not report to Credit Karma.

Which lenders use Equifax only?

PenFed Credit Union is the only loan company that uses only your Equifax credit data. In most cases, you won't be able to determine beforehand which credit bureaus your lender will use. In some cases, lenders will pull your credit report from two or even all three major credit bureaus.

Do banks look at TransUnion or Equifax?

While the FICO® 8 model is the most widely used scoring model for general lending decisions, banks use the following FICO scores when you apply for a mortgage: FICO® Score 2 (Experian) FICO® Score 5 (Equifax) FICO® Score 4 (TransUnion)

Which credit score is the hardest?

The highest credit score you can have on the most widely used scales is an 850. For common versions of FICO and VantageScore, the scale ranges from 300 to 850 and lenders typically consider anything above 720 excellent credit.

Do car dealerships look at Equifax or TransUnion?

Aug 7, 2020 — While Experian and Equifax are the most popular bureaus among auto lenders and car dealers, TransUnion can also be used for auto loan 1 answer · Top answer: Experian and Equifax are the credit bureaus most commonly used for auto loans.

Is 700 a good credit score?

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.

Which credit line is most important?

Payment History Is the Most Important Factor of Your Credit Score. Payment history accounts for 35% of your FICO® Score. Four other factors that go into your credit score calculation make up the remaining 65%.

Why is Equifax higher?

They are: payment history, amounts owed, length of credit history, new accounts and types of credit. But there have been changes in the number of points assigned to the various calculations within these categories. Those formula tweaks are injected into an increasing number of scores.

Is 683 a Good credit score?

A FICO® Score of 683 falls within a span of scores, from 670 to 739, that are categorized as Good. ... 21% of U.S. consumers' FICO® Scores are in the Good range. Approximately 9% of consumers with Good FICO® Scores are likely to become seriously delinquent in the future.

What is a bad Equifax credit score?

Credit score ranges vary based on the credit scoring model used, but are generally similar to the following: 300-579: Poor. 580-669: Fair. 670-739: Good.

Why is my credit score lower when the Bank pull it?

The credit score you see and the one your lender uses may be different for several reasons. ... Another reason the scores differ might be because there's more than one credit scoring model, and there's no guarantee the one you're using to check your own credit is the same one your lender relies on.

How do I get my true FICO score for free?

You can get a free FICO® Score from hundreds of financial services companies, including banks, credit unions, credit card issuers and credit counselors that participate in the FICO® Score Open Access program and offer free scores to customers.

What is the highest Equifax credit score?

The Equifax Credit Score ranges from 280-850. It is calculated using information in your Equifax credit report. The Equifax credit score is an educational credit score designed to give you an idea of where your credit stands.