Accuracy of myFICO score watch

[geminiash1]

So I looked on credit sesame and my score was 605. Pretty exciting for me because I've been trying to climb out of a hole and I don't remember a score past 540. I decided to get a more accurate score so I ordered myFICO score watch and to my horror, my Equifax score was 509. I couldn't find anything besides perusing these boards about how accurate myFICO scores are so I just ordered the Equifax score and it says 468. I'm in disbelief! I just recently paid off 4 collections accounts and have 5 more to go. 2 of the 4 that I paid are not yet reflected. Either way, before I paid them off, my score was better. I'm not delinquent on my car payment or credit card. Those are the only open accounts that I have besides my student loans. I'm working on getting all of those consolidated. Does anyone have any insight on why the myFICO score is different from my Equifax score. I pulled them both within an hour of each other and why my score would go down after paying off some of my collections accounts?

[guiness56]

Welcome to the forums.

myFICO SW is the exact same FICO score that lenders use, it is the Beacon 5.

The score from EQ website is a FAKO score, the same with credit sesame and are for educational purposes only.

Paid and unpaid collections are scored the same, as a collections.

If you paid off a collections that had not updated in a while your score would drop because when it updates to a current date it made it look more recent.

[stillworking]

@geminiash1 wrote:
So I looked on credit sesame and my score was 605. Pretty exciting for me because I've been trying to climb out of a hole and I don't remember a score past 540. I decided to get a more accurate score so I ordered myFICO score watch and to my horror, my Equifax score was 509. I couldn't find anything besides perusing these boards about how accurate myFICO scores are so I just ordered the Equifax score and it says 468. I'm in disbelief! I just recently paid off 4 collections accounts and have 5 more to go. 2 of the 4 that I paid are not yet reflected. Either way, before I paid them off, my score was better. I'm not delinquent on my car payment or credit card. Those are the only open accounts that I have besides my student loans. I'm working on getting all of those consolidated. Does anyone have any insight on why the myFICO score is different from my Equifax score. I pulled them both within an hour of each other and why my score would go down after paying off some of my collections accounts?

---

paying off an old collection can make the account recently active causing a score DECREASE. The BEST option is PAY FOR DELETE. 

[takeshi74]

(nm)

[DaveSignal]

IME, it is easier to get paid collections removed, even if you couldn't get a PFD.  Try calling them and asking for a removal.  Some CAs will delete their reporting if you ask.  If that doesn't work, send some letters.  Paying off unpaid debts is a good start to improving your credit and increasing your chances with future lenders.  There is a bit more work required, however, to fix your credit history and improve your FICO score.