topic Re: Weird Score Changes in Understanding FICO® Scoring

Weird Score Changes

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:54:12 GMT

on both my FACO and FICO I'm seeing some score changes that don't make sense. Nothing in my report has changed!

CCT
EQ went from 766 to 761

MPM
EQ went from 759 to 720

MyFico
EQ went from 766 to 776
TU went from 700 to 696

No new accts, no new balances, no new inquiries, absolutelty nothing has changed. I don't get it...

I know the FACO's don't mean jack, but why are the FICO's changing? I could see them going up due to AAA increases, but down for no reason? What am I missing?

Re: Weird Score Changes

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:50:37 GMT

Age of accounts. That can make a difference as well. You mention no new inquires, but how many are on there now? The older they get the less they matter. What is the time frame you are talking about the change?

Also, your FICO EQ and TU and pretty different. There has to be something on one of them that isn't on the other. If the two reports were EXACTLY the same, they wouldn't have that much of a different score from each other.

You might want to go to annualcreditreport.com, and pull your reports directly from the credit agencies themselves. A lot of information I have noticed is not in your reports from myfico.

Re: Weird Score Changes

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:18:35 GMT

let me clarify:

EQ FACO's went down on MPM and CCT

EQ FICO went up on myFico

TU FICO went down on myFico

No new accts, no new inqs, no inqs dropped off, no new derogs, no new ANYTHING on my CR's. I verified through the backdoors - absolutely nothing has changed.

AoA makes the score go up if no new accts are opened and nothing drops off.

Inqs falling due to age increase score not decrease it.

Lastly, scores are different between EQ and TU due to one remaining baddie on TU. I'm not comparing scores between CRA's, but the scores between the same CRA.

So my question remains:

EQ FICO went up

TU FICO went down

FACO's on both went down

Can anyone think of an explanation?

Re: Weird Score Changes

llecs — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:21:38 GMT

If OK with you, I'd like to woosh this over to Understanding FICO Scoring. A few more FICO addicts are over there vs. here.

When were the two pulls made. You hinted that you pulled EQ and TU very recently (prompting this post) but when did you pull both prior to that?

Re: Weird Score Changes

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:34:37 GMT

woosh away! Thanks IIecs

Prior pulls were on 1.21.2010

This is an enigma! I have both report printouts side by side and they are identical.

Re: Weird Score Changes

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:44:34 GMT

The reason why the FACO went down is irrevelant. That is not your true score. They use a different formula then FICO, so who knows they that changed.

My theory -

You EQ went up because the age of your good accounts.

Your TU went down becuase you still have a negative on there. There is most likely something different between the first TU report you pulled, and the one you just pulled. Again, what was the time frame between the two pulls? If it is still a negative, do you still owe a balance, every month is there another ding of 90+ days late? There is a difference between those two reports. You need to get the actually report from annualcreditreport.transunion.com. Comb over that and look.

If you still have a negative thats unpaid, and another month, still not paid, you score can go down. Plus if there is interest, the balances could be different.

Re: Weird Score Changes

llecs — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:07:03 GMT

If I had two sets of reports, one from now and 1/21 and I had no clue why the score changed, then I'd start looking at the following in order:

1) I'd start with the balances. I know you said there's no change, but I'd look at the % util that might be listed on pages 2 or 3 of your report to compare that percentage. If not there, I'd look at each individual balance and make sure they are exactly the same. Even small things can throw off the score with something simple like going from $0 to $1.

2) Next I'd make sure there's nothing under dispute. A disputed account can be caused by a dispute with the CRA, a GW letter, a phone call to the OC, a PFD, etc. I'd look to make sure there are no TLs that mention "dispute". The comments on OC accts can have a big impact.

3) I'd then look at the Pos/Neg factors listed on pages 2 and 3 of your FICO reports. Look to see if any new items were added. That can have a great impact on your score. Also, reordering of those pos+neg items will impact your FICO score. I'd then look at the individual comments to make sure util (if showing) didn't increase, inquiry mention (if showing) didn't change, new accounts (if showing), new lates, AAoA (if showing), etc.

4) I'd then look at the Credit AT A Glance page and make sure there are no new added red flags. I'd look at changes in those numbers (inquiries, accounts, balances, late count if applicable, etc.).

5) Then I'd look at the Accounts page(s). Look for any balance changes, new red flags, status changes, etc.

6) Then look at each individual account. Look for any date changes if a baddie. Look at the open dates. Look at the statuses. Look at the comments. All of these can impact your score. I'd also think back to any account you just paid off or any account closed as that can impact your score.

7) If all else failed, I'd write it off as an unsolved mystery.

If one went up and one down, then I'd personally suspect rebucketing due to something aging. Most occurs around the first of each month as the account(s) turn one month older than the prior month. Maybe something is impacting you less than before (like a newly added account (within the past 12 mo.)). Adding a CC balance can impact your scores that way, esp. with TU. Maybe Mars lines up with Jupiter in such a way as to cause a score change. Who knows.

Re: Weird Score Changes

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:22:50 GMT

Thanks for the replies.

The TU negative is an old CO that was PIF a long time ago. It is not currently reporting monthly.

Sorry, maybe I'm not doing a good enough job explaining myself... something my wife often tells me lol.

I am comparing:

TU report hardcopy from TU dated 1.21.2010

EQ report e-copy from backdoor dated 1.21.2010

with:

TU report e-copy from backdoor dated 2.5.2010

EQ report e-copy from backdoor dated 2.5.2010

Reports are 2 weeks apart. AoA has increased by one month.

No new anything. Nothing dropped off.

Again, the FICO results:

EQ went UP

TU went DOWN

Lastly, just to reiterate - I am looking at reports from TU and EQ - not reports from a 3rd party consumer service.

*edit - posted while you were posting IIecs, will digest and respond - thx

Message Edited by lucent on 02-05-2010 09:22 AM

Re: Weird Score Changes

llecs — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:09:07 GMT

lucent wrote:

I am comparing:
TU report hardcopy from TU dated 1.21.2010
EQ report e-copy from backdoor dated 1.21.2010

with:
TU report e-copy from backdoor dated 2.5.2010
EQ report e-copy from backdoor dated 2.5.2010

You've got to make sure you are comparing FICO report with FICO report. If you are looking at a non-myFICO report from 1/21 and comparing it with the same from 2/5, then you aren't comapring FICO scores for TU anyway, since the only way to get your TU FICO is from your lender, myFICO or transunioncs.com (note the -cs).

ETA....if you got your EQ reports AND score from Equifax.com, then you can accurately compare because the score sold at Equifax.com for EQ is a FICO score. You'd have to do more digging in the report from 1/21 to 2/5 to come up with a solution. The report formats aren't the same as myFICO's but the data is the same.

Message Edited by llecs on 02-05-2010 01:09 PM

Re: Weird Score Changes

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:10:25 GMT

Thanks IIecs

I am comparing FICO scores from myFico.com, I think I mentioned that in an earlier post.

I still have yet to go through your checklist, thanks for posting it.

Re: Weird Score Changes

haulingthescoreup — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:45:44 GMT

You said your AAoA went up a month. Did it go up a year, and if so, from what year to what year?

I can see a scenario where AAoA increases and your score takes a (brief) dip, if the AAoA goes into the next higher history range. That would put you up in the next older batch of credit peers, and if you had any lates, high-ish util, anything else considered undesirable, it might weigh against you more heavily. You would be running with a swankier crowd now, and that Dodge Dart with the hole in the muffler might drop your status a bit.

edit: cna't splel

edit again: can't do no grammar neither, it appears --sheesh

Message Edited by haulingthescoreup on 02-05-2010 11:45 AM