Reply
Member
alocksley
Posts: 7
Registered: ‎05-09-2012

If lenders aren't using FICO, then why should I?

Anyone know if TransUnion uses the same version of FICO as is found here at myFICO?

 

I pulled my scores here, then from my identity protection subscription (privacy guard)  and got them from a lender with whom I'm refinancing a mortgage.  The privacyguard number was much closer to the lender's number than was myFICO (and higher too!).

 

Could it be that lenders are getting diffrerent nubmers from TransUnion than we get?  Is getting a number from transUnion directly reather than there more accurate?

 



FICO Score: TU-797 EQ-810


FAKO Score: TU-819 EQ-810 EX-805


Goal Score: 849



Take the FICO Fitness Challenge
Moderator
pizzadude
Posts: 6,232
Registered: ‎01-28-2010

Re: If lenders aren't using FICO, then why should I?


alocksley wrote:

Anyone know if TransUnion uses the same version of FICO as is found here at myFICO?

 

I pulled my scores here, then from my identity protection subscription (privacy guard)  and got them from a lender with whom I'm refinancing a mortgage.  The privacyguard number was much closer to the lender's number than was myFICO (and higher too!).

 

Could it be that lenders are getting diffrerent nubmers from TransUnion than we get?  Is getting a number from transUnion directly reather than there more accurate?

 


Transunion no longer sells FICO scores directly to consumers.    However lenders/creditors can purchase any number of FICO variations, including FICO TU98, TU04, TU08, and they can also pull industry enhanced versions of these, like Auto, Bankcard, etc...

 

MyFICO sell TU98.   Mortgage lenders exclusively use the FICO 04 score models.   Some CC lenders still use TU98, and a few have moved to the TU08 version.

 

 

 

March2010 FICO® ~ 695 TU, 653 EQ, 697 EX
Established Contributor
tcbofade
Posts: 1,043
Registered: ‎09-26-2011

Re: If lenders aren't using FICO, then why should I?


pizzadude wrote:

alocksley wrote:

Anyone know if TransUnion uses the same version of FICO as is found here at myFICO?

 

I pulled my scores here, then from my identity protection subscription (privacy guard)  and got them from a lender with whom I'm refinancing a mortgage.  The privacyguard number was much closer to the lender's number than was myFICO (and higher too!).

 

Could it be that lenders are getting diffrerent nubmers from TransUnion than we get?  Is getting a number from transUnion directly reather than there more accurate?

 


Transunion no longer sells FICO scores directly to consumers.    However lenders/creditors can purchase any number of FICO variations, including FICO TU98, TU04, TU08, and they can also pull industry enhanced versions of these, like Auto, Bankcard, etc...

 

MyFICO sell TU98.   Mortgage lenders exclusively use the FICO 04 score models.   Some CC lenders still use TU98, and a few have moved to the TU08 version.

 

 

 


Could you name a few that use TU08 please?



Last app 08/08/2012. App free in 2013!

Current Scores: EX 665 (FCR) TU: 668 (Wally) EQ: Your guess is as good as mine. :smileytongue:



Zero percent financing is where the devil lives...

Last app 08 Aug 12. Next app 01 January 2013.

Moderator Emeritus
MarineVietVet
Posts: 14,084
Registered: ‎07-14-2009

Re: If lenders aren't using FICO, then why should I?


tcbofade wrote:

pizzadude wrote:

alocksley wrote:

Anyone know if TransUnion uses the same version of FICO as is found here at myFICO?

 

I pulled my scores here, then from my identity protection subscription (privacy guard)  and got them from a lender with whom I'm refinancing a mortgage.  The privacyguard number was much closer to the lender's number than was myFICO (and higher too!).

 

Could it be that lenders are getting diffrerent nubmers from TransUnion than we get?  Is getting a number from transUnion directly reather than there more accurate?

 


Transunion no longer sells FICO scores directly to consumers.    However lenders/creditors can purchase any number of FICO variations, including FICO TU98, TU04, TU08, and they can also pull industry enhanced versions of these, like Auto, Bankcard, etc...

 

MyFICO sell TU98.   Mortgage lenders exclusively use the FICO 04 score models.   Some CC lenders still use TU98, and a few have moved to the TU08 version.

 

 

 


Could you name a few that use TU08 please?


Discover uses a FICO08 score and we believe it is a credit card enhanced version. Rumors that Citi uses 08 for some decisions are floating around but I personally don't recall anyone saying Citi pulled 08 for an application.

 

But that doesn't mean they don't.

Established Contributor
stan_the_man
Posts: 855
Registered: ‎06-29-2010

Re: If lenders aren't using FICO, then why should I?


pizzadude wrote:

alocksley wrote:

Anyone know if TransUnion uses the same version of FICO as is found here at myFICO?

 

I pulled my scores here, then from my identity protection subscription (privacy guard)  and got them from a lender with whom I'm refinancing a mortgage.  The privacyguard number was much closer to the lender's number than was myFICO (and higher too!).

 

Could it be that lenders are getting diffrerent nubmers from TransUnion than we get?  Is getting a number from transUnion directly reather than there more accurate?

 


Transunion no longer sells FICO scores directly to consumers.    However lenders/creditors can purchase any number of FICO variations, including FICO TU98, TU04, TU08, and they can also pull industry enhanced versions of these, like Auto, Bankcard, etc...

 

MyFICO sell TU98.   Mortgage lenders exclusively use the FICO 04 score models.   Some CC lenders still use TU98, and a few have moved to the TU08 version.

 

 


OP-- The fact that the Transunion score was close to you TU04 number was pure luck, and nothing else.

Established Contributor
tcbofade
Posts: 1,043
Registered: ‎09-26-2011

Re: If lenders aren't using FICO, then why should I?


MarineVietVet wrote:

tcbofade wrote:

pizzadude wrote:

alocksley wrote:

Anyone know if TransUnion uses the same version of FICO as is found here at myFICO?

 

I pulled my scores here, then from my identity protection subscription (privacy guard)  and got them from a lender with whom I'm refinancing a mortgage.  The privacyguard number was much closer to the lender's number than was myFICO (and higher too!).

 

Could it be that lenders are getting diffrerent nubmers from TransUnion than we get?  Is getting a number from transUnion directly reather than there more accurate?

 


Transunion no longer sells FICO scores directly to consumers.    However lenders/creditors can purchase any number of FICO variations, including FICO TU98, TU04, TU08, and they can also pull industry enhanced versions of these, like Auto, Bankcard, etc...

 

MyFICO sell TU98.   Mortgage lenders exclusively use the FICO 04 score models.   Some CC lenders still use TU98, and a few have moved to the TU08 version.

 

 

 


Could you name a few that use TU08 please?


Discover uses a FICO08 score and we believe it is a credit card enhanced version. Rumors that Citi uses 08 for some decisions are floating around but I personally don't recall anyone saying Citi pulled 08 for an application.

 

But that doesn't mean they don't.


For myself and DW, Discover pulls some version of EQ.

 

DW's TU08 score (via wallymart) is her best score...If we knew what CC company pulled TU08, it would help her.



Last app 08/08/2012. App free in 2013!

Current Scores: EX 665 (FCR) TU: 668 (Wally) EQ: Your guess is as good as mine. :smileytongue:



Zero percent financing is where the devil lives...

Last app 08 Aug 12. Next app 01 January 2013.

Member
alocksley
Posts: 7
Registered: ‎05-09-2012

Re: If lenders aren't using FICO, then why should I?

Thanks all for the responses!!

 

This suggests that the scores lenders are buying may bear little or no resemblance to the scores consumers pay for.  Would anyone agree??  I was surprised that the TU score (obtained here) was so different --30 points -- from what the lender said they got. 

 

Perhaps its best to use one set of scores as a guideline for where one stands, rather than knowing the actual numbers?  I would think that if you had a score marginally above or below an interest rate breakpoint and your purchased score was above and the lenders was below  because it was a different version, this would be pretty exasperating, especially if you paid for the scores.



FICO Score: TU-797 EQ-810


FAKO Score: TU-819 EQ-810 EX-805


Goal Score: 849



Take the FICO Fitness Challenge
Moderator
Revelate
Posts: 4,257
Registered: ‎12-30-2011

Re: If lenders aren't using FICO, then why should I?

[ Edited ]

alocksley wrote:

Thanks all for the responses!!

 

This suggests that the scores lenders are buying may bear little or no resemblance to the scores consumers pay for.  Would anyone agree??  I was surprised that the TU score (obtained here) was so different --30 points -- from what the lender said they got. 

 

Perhaps its best to use one set of scores as a guideline for where one stands, rather than knowing the actual numbers?  I would think that if you had a score marginally above or below an interest rate breakpoint and your purchased score was above and the lenders was below  because it was a different version, this would be pretty exasperating, especially if you paid for the scores.


Actually I completely agree with you; however, tracking any of the random FAKO scores is an absolute waste of time other than entertainment value (however slight that would be).

 

End of the day, tracking the underlying report data is really far more important than the scores themselves.  If you have a good looking report, you can expect a pretty score from virtually any of the available lender pulls, just understand that there are a few specific things which might knock you one way or the other (like auto enhanced, your record on prior auto loans is much more heavily weighted than other information).

 

If you really want to track a score, EQ Beacon 5.0 or if you live in PA, EX Risk v2 are the best bets: both FICO '04, both will be used by mortgage lenders, and FICO '04 is probably the most widely utilized lender model right now even if you exclude mortgage lending which is '04 all the time.

 

Next best is something of a toss-up between the TU98 found here, and the TU08 Walmart provided score dependant on what you feel the average use is out in the lending community.  Personally I rate TU08 > TU98 but that's me, and others I know will disagree.  Also I don't know what flavor of pull the TU08 is honestly.

 

Beyond that, the rest of the scores available are effectively junk and are to be completely ignored.  Again, I'll stress that if your report looks good, pretty much any score you receive will be solid, and that's consistent regardless of algorithm and industry option chosen.


Starting Score: EQ 561, TU 567, EX 599* (12/30/11, EX lender pull 12/29/11)
Current Score: EQ 660, Wally TU 697, EX unknown (05/13/13)
Goal Score: 680 in all three (01/01/14)


Take the FICO Fitness Challenge
Established Contributor
stan_the_man
Posts: 855
Registered: ‎06-29-2010

Re: If lenders aren't using FICO, then why should I?


Revelate wrote:

alocksley wrote:

Thanks all for the responses!!

 

This suggests that the scores lenders are buying may bear little or no resemblance to the scores consumers pay for.  Would anyone agree??  I was surprised that the TU score (obtained here) was so different --30 points -- from what the lender said they got. 

 

Perhaps its best to use one set of scores as a guideline for where one stands, rather than knowing the actual numbers?  I would think that if you had a score marginally above or below an interest rate breakpoint and your purchased score was above and the lenders was below  because it was a different version, this would be pretty exasperating, especially if you paid for the scores.


Actually I completely agree with you; however, tracking any of the random FAKO scores is an absolute waste of time other than entertainment value (however slight that would be).

 

End of the day, tracking the underlying report data is really far more important than the scores themselves.  If you have a good looking report, you can expect a pretty score from virtually any of the available lender pulls, just understand that there are a few specific things which might knock you one way or the other (like auto enhanced, your record on prior auto loans is much more heavily weighted than other information).

 

If you really want to track a score, EQ Beacon 5.0 or if you live in PA, EX Risk v2 are the best bets: both FICO '04, both will be used by mortgage lenders, and FICO '04 is probably the most widely utilized lender model right now even if you exclude mortgage lending which is '04 all the time.

 

Next best is something of a toss-up between the TU98 found here, and the TU08 Walmart provided score dependant on what you feel the average use is out in the lending community.  Personally I rate TU08 > TU98 but that's me, and others I know will disagree.  Also I don't know what flavor of pull the TU08 is honestly.

 

Beyond that, the rest of the scores available are effectively junk and are to be completely ignored.  Again, I'll stress that if your report looks good, pretty much any score you receive will be solid, and that's consistent regardless of algorithm and industry option chosen.


While FAKOs are nearly universally worthless, the Vantage Score is used by a few lenders -- though the are few and far between. The problem with using the Vantage Score as a measure of your credit is that you need to know that your lender uses it for that specific type of credit transaction ahead of time for it to have any value to you.

Moderator
Revelate
Posts: 4,257
Registered: ‎12-30-2011

Re: If lenders aren't using FICO, then why should I?


stan_the_man wrote:

Revelate wrote:
Beyond that, the rest of the scores available are effectively junk and are to be completely ignored.  Again, I'll stress that if your report looks good, pretty much any score you receive will be solid, and that's consistent regardless of algorithm and industry option chosen.

While FAKOs are nearly universally worthless, the Vantage Score is used by a few lenders -- though the are few and far between. The problem with using the Vantage Score as a measure of your credit is that you need to know that your lender uses it for that specific type of credit transaction ahead of time for it to have any value to you.


Yeah, and that's a good point you're right I should've mentioned.  Also it seems that the VS pulling agencies don't do it all the time either from reports; however, in fairness that does make it worth tracking, but in the grand scheme of things: FICO 04 > FICO '98 / 08 >> VS > all, at least in my opinion.  I just don't really worry about it as my future credit wishes are all with lenders that use FICO, so until the bureaus make more headway into the industry, personally I won't bother tracking it.

 


Starting Score: EQ 561, TU 567, EX 599* (12/30/11, EX lender pull 12/29/11)
Current Score: EQ 660, Wally TU 697, EX unknown (05/13/13)
Goal Score: 680 in all three (01/01/14)


Take the FICO Fitness Challenge

myFICO is the consumer division of FICO. Since its introduction 20 years ago, the FICO® Score has become a global standard for measuring credit risk in the banking, mortgage, credit card, auto and retail industries. 90 of the top 100 largest U.S. financial institutions use the FICO Score to make consumer credit decisions.

>> About myFICO
FICO Score - The Score that matters
Click to Verify - This site chose VeriSign SSL for secure e-commerce and confidential communications.
www.myfico.com is a BBB Accredited Financial Service in San Rafael, CA
FOLLOW US Social Media Facebook Twitter Pinterest Google+