Well, it gets explained a lot here, but I know that I don't have much luck with the search function. 
FICO scores are a type of credit scores. Credit scores attempt to predict the risk that a consumer will default on a credit account. FICO scores are created by formulas from FICO, which are proprietary. We know some of the details, but certainly not all.
Non-FICO credit scores, aka FAKO scores, are created by other suppliers from different logarithms. We know pretty much nothing about what goes into them, and it doesn't particularly matter, since they're not used by lenders. But they do make a nice buck or two for their suppliers. These would include the ones you're talking about.
You can't buy your Experian FICO any more, per their decision last February. They'll be delighted to sell you their FAKO's instead, which are quite unenlightening.
Your scores don't actually exist until someone pulls them. They're in "potential" form, I suppose you could say. Your reports update continually, changing whenever a creditor updates new info. Most (not all) creditors update on your statement dates, not necessarily the end of the month. So when you have a new statement, showing your new balance, that figure gets sent in. Then you have to wait while the credit bureaus post the new info, which can easily take a week, often more.
Lenders who report the balance as of the end of the month: HSBC and Orchard bank cards (not their store cards, like the Best Buy store card), and US Bank cards. The info goes in the next week for US Bank, and kinda whenever for HSBC/ Orchard, generally in a couple of weeks.
Here I am following HTSU around the boards. 
Many, many places will sell you "credit scores" but if the word "FICO" doesn't appear anywhere in the fine print then I suggest you run away as fast as possible because these "scores" are not generally used by any lender to make credit approval decisions.
From a BK years ago to:
EX - 9/09 pulled by lender 802, EQ - 10/10-813, TU - 10/10-774
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem".
@haulingthescoreup wrote:Well, it gets explained a lot here, but I know that I don't have much luck with the search function.
FICO scores are a type of credit scores. Credit scores attempt to predict the risk that a consumer will default on a credit account. FICO scores are created by formulas from FICO, which are proprietary. We know some of the details, but certainly not all.
Non-FICO credit scores, aka FAKO scores, are created by other suppliers from different logarithms. We know pretty much nothing about what goes into them, and it doesn't particularly matter, since they're not used by lenders. But they do make a nice buck or two for their suppliers. These would include the ones you're talking about.
You can't buy your Experian FICO any more, per their decision last February. They'll be delighted to sell you their FAKO's instead, which are quite unenlightening.
Your scores don't actually exist until someone pulls them. They're in "potential" form, I suppose you could say. Your reports update continually, changing whenever a creditor updates new info. Most (not all) creditors update on your statement dates, not necessarily the end of the month. So when you have a new statement, showing your new balance, that figure gets sent in. Then you have to wait while the credit bureaus post the new info, which can easily take a week, often more.
Lenders who report the balance as of the end of the month: HSBC and Orchard bank cards (not their store cards, like the Best Buy store card), and US Bank cards. The info goes in the next week for US Bank, and kinda whenever for HSBC/ Orchard, generally in a couple of weeks.
Not threadacking but just wanted to point out that is sooo "Shrodinger's cat" 
Starting Score: 600s