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New Member
NikkiJae
Posts: 5
Registered: ‎07-20-2012

Can I improve my auto enhanced FICO score?

[ Edited ]

Hello, I am new to this site but am very impressed with the wealth of knowlege. Through this site I have learned about auto enhanced scores. I recently purchased a house (a year ago) then six months ago my car began to act up so I went inot a dealership looking for a purchase. I figured I would get a good rate because when I bought my house my mid score was 670 (can tremember which agency). at any rate the salesman came back and said that my scores were low. He showed my a paper and it said my lowest was 480! I couldn't believe it. I began going online trying to figure out what had happened. What a significant drop. I found out quite a lot but most importantly, i learned that auto lenders use auto enhanced scores. I have had 2 repos in the past. Neithe of which are any longer on my credit reports.

Would i be correct in  assuming they can still see them and that is why my scores were coming  back so low? Is there any way to improve?

 

BTW-1st repo in 2003 and the 2nd was in 2009

 

Experian(myfico.com)-646

Transunion (TU website)-622

Moderator
pizzadude
Posts: 6,249
Registered: ‎01-28-2010

Re: Can I improve my auto enhanced FICO score?

[ Edited ]

NikkiJae wrote:

Hello, I am new to this site but am very impressed with the wealth of knowlege. Through this site I have learned about auto enhanced scores. I recently purchased a house (a year ago) then six months ago my car began to act up so I went inot a dealership looking for a purchase. I figured I would get a good rate because when I bought my house my mid score was 670 (can tremember which agency). at any rate the salesman came back and said that my scores were low. He showed my a paper and it said my lowest was 480! I couldn't believe it. I began going online trying to figure out what had happened. What a significant drop. I found out quite a lot but most importantly, i learned that auto lenders use auto enhanced scores. I have had 2 repos in the past. Neithe of which are any longer on my credit reports.

Would i be correct in  assuming they can still see them and that is why my scores were coming  back so low? Is there any way to improve?

 

BTW-1st repo in 2003 and the 2nd was in 2009

 

Experian(myfico.com)-646

Transunion (TU website)-622


Have you checked all three CRAs to make sure that the repos aren't reporting anywhere ?   Yes, dealers do usually pull an auto~enhanced FICO score, but it would be based on either EX, EQ, or TU reporting.    So if the repos have fallen off then it shouldn't show up in either your FICO or your auto~enhanced FICO score.

 

Also, did you mean that your Equifax score ( not experian ) from myFICO is 646 ?   

 

ETA:  Here's a sticky thread on Auto~enhanced scoring:  http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Auto-Loans/FICO-Auto-Enhanced-Scores/td-p/228198

March2010 FICO® ~ 695 TU, 653 EQ, 697 EX
New Member
NikkiJae
Posts: 5
Registered: ‎07-20-2012

Re: Can I improve my auto enhanced FICO score?

[ Edited ]

Yes you are right-I meant Equifax. No I will check all three to confirm...after checking it appears that neither repo is on my Transunion CR nor the Equifax.

Any idea why my auto score would be so low? I was able to puchase both cars(over 10-12K) with $1000 down and had payments under 300. Now they are saying i am going ot need more down for cars that are between 12K-18K.

Valued Contributor
StartingOver10
Posts: 1,522
Registered: ‎03-06-2010

Re: Can I improve my auto enhanced FICO score?

Did you get a copy of the paper that the dealer showed you?

 

Not all dealers use auto-enhanced scores. It is entirely possible that the dealer showed you something that may or may not be accurate. Many dealers are not above telling you that your score is low, even if its not. The finance department is a huge part of the dealers overall profit plan. If they can add a premium to your interest rate, they get a large commission on the back end of the deal.. It's best just to take that option out of the dealers hands.

 

It has been my experience that the F& I guy at the dealership will tell you anything to stick you with a high rate - at least that's what they tried to do to me.

Since you have a recent mortgage your scores must be fairly good. Probably more in the range that you posted and it is less likely that the auto dealer had it right.

 

As pointed out before, pull all three of your reports so you know what is on them. Use annualcreditreport.com to get your free reports. Then get your scores here. That way you have a pretty good idea of where you stand generally.

 

Then go to a credit union and get a loan before you ever step foot into a dealership. The CU will give you the terms and conditions. If a dealer can beat it, then take them up on their offer, but otherwise, you do much better at a CU. It also makes it much easier to negotiate the price of the vehicle when you have your financing in hand. That way they can't confuse the issue by discussing monthly payments - they can only discuss price and vehicle attributes.

Moderator
pizzadude
Posts: 6,249
Registered: ‎01-28-2010

Re: Can I improve my auto enhanced FICO score?


NikkiJae wrote:

Yes you are right-I meant Equifax. No I will check all three to confirm...after checking it appears that neither repo is on my Transunion CR nor the Equifax.

Any idea why my auto score would be so low? I was able to puchase both cars(over 10-12K) with $1000 down and had payments under 300. Now they are saying i am going ot need more down for cars that are between 12K-18K.


Did you also check your experian report ?   Your FICO auto enhanced score would only look at the information on your EQ, EX or TU reports.

March2010 FICO® ~ 695 TU, 653 EQ, 697 EX
Frequent Contributor
GrowingCredit
Posts: 315
Registered: ‎05-28-2011

Re: Can I improve my auto enhanced FICO score?


NikkiJae wrote:

Yes you are right-I meant Equifax. No I will check all three to confirm...after checking it appears that neither repo is on my Transunion CR nor the Equifax.

Any idea why my auto score would be so low? I was able to puchase both cars(over 10-12K) with $1000 down and had payments under 300. Now they are saying i am going ot need more down for cars that are between 12K-18K.


What about Experian?

 

As per your previous post the last reo was in 2009 so how does it not show up on the credit reports? If it is missing good for you "don't open the can of worms".

TU Auto enhanced FICO (9/2012): 744
EX FICO (8/2012): 748
EX FICO (6/2010): 739
Frequent Contributor
GrowingCredit
Posts: 315
Registered: ‎05-28-2011

Re: Can I improve my auto enhanced FICO score?


StartingOver10 wrote:

Did you get a copy of the paper that the dealer showed you?

 

Not all dealers use auto-enhanced scores. It is entirely possible that the dealer showed you something that may or may not be accurate. Many dealers are not above telling you that your score is low, even if its not. The finance department is a huge part of the dealers overall profit plan. If they can add a premium to your interest rate, they get a large commission on the back end of the deal.. It's best just to take that option out of the dealers hands.

 

It has been my experience that the F& I guy at the dealership will tell you anything to stick you with a high rate - at least that's what they tried to do to me.

Since you have a recent mortgage your scores must be fairly good. Probably more in the range that you posted and it is less likely that the auto dealer had it right.

 

As pointed out before, pull all three of your reports so you know what is on them. Use annualcreditreport.com to get your free reports. Then get your scores here. That way you have a pretty good idea of where you stand generally.

 

Then go to a credit union and get a loan before you ever step foot into a dealership. The CU will give you the terms and conditions. If a dealer can beat it, then take them up on their offer, but otherwise, you do much better at a CU. It also makes it much easier to negotiate the price of the vehicle when you have your financing in hand. That way they can't confuse the issue by discussing monthly payments - they can only discuss price and vehicle attributes.


+1.

 

also who fo you have your mortgage with? If they also do auto loans than approach them first since you already have 1 year of established relationship you might get way better rates than the auto dealership. Once you have the lower rate ask the dealership to beat that and I'm sure they will (learned from other peoples experiences posted here).

TU Auto enhanced FICO (9/2012): 744
EX FICO (8/2012): 748
EX FICO (6/2010): 739
New Member
NikkiJae
Posts: 5
Registered: ‎07-20-2012

Re: Can I improve my auto enhanced FICO score?

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate your responses.  I love this site. My other question is whether there is any way to raise that score or do you just have to re-establish a better auto history?

Moderator
pizzadude
Posts: 6,249
Registered: ‎01-28-2010

Re: Can I improve my auto enhanced FICO score?


NikkiJae wrote:

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate your responses.  I love this site. My other question is whether there is any way to raise that score or do you just have to re-establish a better auto history?


Your Auto~enhanced FICO score is based on the auto tradelines ( loans, leases...) that show on your TU, EX and EQ reports.    So if you have any negative reporting in those areas you would want to GW it, or just have it removed if possible.

March2010 FICO® ~ 695 TU, 653 EQ, 697 EX
Regular Contributor
xthatgamerguyx
Posts: 118
Registered: ‎07-22-2012

Re: Can I improve my auto enhanced FICO score?

When I bought my car - the dealer showed me "something" that looked like a credit report and said my scores were very low (like 380-400).

 

I explained to him that there must be an issue with his system as I pulled out my FICO scores which were in the 600s at the time. Once I showed him my scores, his report just disappeared and was never mentioned again.

 

I believe this is a common ploy dealerships use to sell a vehicle at a higher interest rate which means more profit for them.

February 2012: 480 across the board (before I found this site and started working on my scores)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Starting Scores: TU FAKO: 543 (06/16/2012) EX FAKO: 547 (06/16/2012) EQ FAKO: 528 (06/16/2012)
Current Scores:TU FICO: 639 (11/20/2012) EQ FICO: 617 (11/20/2012)
TU FAKO: 606 (8/30/2012) EX FAKO: 574 (09/04/2012) EQ FAKO: 564 (09/30/2012)

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