topic Re: myFICO vs. Equifax Complete in Understanding FICO® Scoring

myFICO vs. Equifax Complete

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 12:18:58 GMT

My Equifax score is 704

That according to Equifax Complete which I subscribe

My Equifax score according to myFICO is 678

So, Whats that about?

Re: myFICO vs. Equifax Complete

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 14:49:38 GMT

Quoted from the Equifax Complete Web Page found here:

"What is a Credit Score?
Your credit score is a mathematical model designed to predict credit risk, based on data contained within your credit file. Lenders typically review this type of information to determine whether to extend credit, and on what terms. A higher score usually means you pose a lower risk to the lender, who will, in turn, be more likely to offer you favorable interest rates. The information contained in your credit files changes over time and so might any new scores based on your data. For example, your credit score from a month ago may have changed if there has been any recent activity on your credit file. A number of factors can affect your credit score, including:

Payment history
Public records
The length of your credit history
Any new accounts you may have opened
Inquiries into your credit file
How many accounts you have in use

The Equifax Credit Score™ model — a proprietary formula using the information from your Equifax credit file — is a numerical value ranging from 280-850; the higher the value the lower the credit risk. Third parties may use other credit scoring models to determine creditworthiness, so your actual number could vary when making an application. However, most models consider similar factors and share a common theme — generally, the higher your score, the lower the credit risk"

and

"2 The credit scores provided under the offers described here use the Equifax Credit Score, which is a proprietary credit model developed by Equifax. The Equifax Credit Score and 3-Bureau credit scores are each based on the Equifax Credit Score model, but calculated using the information in your Equifax, Experian and TransUnion credit files. The Equifax Credit Score is intended for your own educational use. It is also commercially available to third parties along with numerous other credit scores and models in the marketplace. Please keep in mind third parties are likely to use a different score when evaluating your creditworthiness. Also, third parties will take into consideration items other than your credit score or information found in your credit file, such as your income."

on myFICO when you pull a report, you will get 6 different FICO scores for Equifax:

For an explanation of those scores, go to http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Understanding-FICO-Scoring/The-many-flavors-of-FICO-Editions-versions-and-variations/td-p/1197617

Re: myFICO vs. Equifax Complete

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 15:17:51 GMT

Thanks for the reply

Regretably it's too much for me to digest.

I'm 70 years old

Owe almost nothing to anyone

No bad stuff reported about me on any of the three reporting agencies

Pretty much a real easy ride and cant get all three scores over 700

So, when I saw Equifax at 704 which only left one at less than 700, made me feel good, except-until, I saw on myFico it didn't show that way.

Bothers me in that it all just seems to be a big game.

Three shells and a pea as to credit scoring, by who, which formula used,..................?????????????????

Paying ones bills on time means what?

Not having even a hint of a debt issue means what?

Clean as a pin means what?

To me the whole thing is a matter of knowing how to work the system with nothing having to do with common sense.

I guess that's the world we live in.

Re: myFICO vs. Equifax Complete

CH-7-Mission-Accomplished — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 16:31:53 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Thanks for the reply

Regretably it's too much for me to digest.

I'm 70 years old
Owe almost nothing to anyone
No bad stuff reported about me on any of the three reporting agencies
Pretty much a real easy ride and cant get all three scores over 700
So, when I saw Equifax at 704 which only left one at less than 700, made me feel good, except-until, I saw on myFico it didn't show that way.

Bothers me in that it all just seems to be a big game.
Three shells and a pea as to credit scoring, by who, which formula used,..................?????????????????

Paying ones bills on time means what?
Not having even a hint of a debt issue means what?
Clean as a pin means what?

To me the whole thing is a matter of knowing how to work the system with nothing having to do with common sense.

I guess that's the world we live in.

Mike, FICO scores are the ones used by lenders. That said there are like 40 different true FICO scores (for mortgage, car loans, credit card enhanced, etc.). All the other scores are FAKO (fake) scores. These FAKO scores are sold by credit companies to give you idea of how their formula sees you and they are completely worthless since no lender uses them.

If you were given given 10 points of data and applied those 10 points of data to different mathematical formulas each giving different weight to specific parts of that data, you would get very different numberical results.. Same here.

You need to completely ignore any "credit score" that does not contain the word "FICO" in it, and even then realize there are 40 plus permutations of the FICO score weighting different things differently.

FICO scores are statistically sound and proven to be predictive of credit and default risk. What appears to us to be illogical doesn't matter. It is statistically sound. That's why lenders pay for them.

The non-true-FICO "FAKO scores" sold by CRA's and others use their own formulas and are given away free because FICO, the big boys on the block, charge a royalty fee every time their scores are run -- by anybody. The CRA's do not want to pay FICO their royalties and thus use their own FAKO models (like Vantage scores, Credit Xpert, and on and on).

Consumers work hard to get their FICO scores up as high as possible because they get lower rates and better offers. But you have to realize that the FICO score is not written and intended for consumers. It is written and intended for lenders to predict your chances of default, and this is statistically proven over millions of profiles.

Life isn't fair and sometimes FICO can seem unfair too. But FICO wasn't written for you. It was written for others to assess you based on scientificaly valid statistical models constantly monitored and meant to look at consumers in the aggregate.

That said, certain things are consisent across all credit score models. Carrying higher revolving loan balances is bad. Missing payments, collections, liens, foreclosures, bankrutpcies and getting money from finance companies are all bad. New accounts are bad. Inquiries are bad. Now just how much weight is given to these differs. Also some scores are on an 850 scale, some on like an 830 scale (about) for FICO 04 models, and some are based on a scale that goes into the 900s (credit card enhnced scores).

Yes, it is enough to make you drink. But the first step is to ignore anything that does not have the word FICO with its little "TM" symbol attached. The rest may be fun for poo-poo and giggles, but nothing more.

I feel your pain and I have carefully read two to three hours a day about this stuff since my bankruptcy discharged 22 months ago.

Re: myFICO vs. Equifax Complete

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 16:46:31 GMT

For some personal reasons I want my score higher.

So,

Fifty + years in the same trade

A solid six figure income

No deragatory within any of the three agencies

A car payment paid correctly

Two credit cards paid off monthly

Eleven thousand limit on the two credit cards combined and both paid off monthly without ever maxing either out or even close.

No debt ratio problem at all.

Cant get my score into the 7'S all three at the same time.

One only is 700

When I saw Equifax reporting me a 704 I felt that I was getting somewhere and two of the three I was in the 7'S

Great news!

WRONG!

Talking with lenders that I know and can speak candidly I am firmly of the belief that there's an art to working the system that goes' beyond just being a responsible person who pays their bills and does' not accumulate debt or issues.

That's what I want to learn how to do.

I think it's only a question of the moon and the stars all aligning correctly at the same time.

I'm not suggesting a scam or a high score with bad credit.

I am suggesting that my three shells and a pea is a pretty good anaolgy.

Re: myFICO vs. Equifax Complete

CH-7-Mission-Accomplished — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 16:59:56 GMT

Well you have come to the right place to find those of us who know how to manipulate those scores up. You might be surprised at the little things that will do it, like making sure only one credit card reports a $5 balance when the statement cuts (all others always reporting a zero balance on statement cut date), having to always maintain an installment loan (even if it's a $200 share secured loan), adding you to authorized accounts that are very old (like 20 or 30 years old) if you have a relative who has old accounts and never carries a balance.

A careful analysis of your reports would let us advise you. You need to to list everything that's on your reports, open dates, balances, payment terms, etc. We can show you how to do it. We love to do this stuff!

Re: myFICO vs. Equifax Complete

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 17:15:45 GMT

Thanks

I've learned some about it already

Yes, I will ask for help however from what I've learned thus far it'll be after the credit card reporting dates when I ask.

I've learned enough to know that when you know the dates the credit cards report to the three agencies, you can then pay them off just before those dates then after they report, run them back up again if you so wish.

That much I've learned.

Thanks for the come back.

Yes, I will come back on and ask advice.

Re: myFICO vs. Equifax Complete

Thomas_Thumb — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 17:51:01 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Thanks for the reply

Regretably it's too much for me to digest.

I'm 70 years old
Owe almost nothing to anyone
No bad stuff reported about me on any of the three reporting agencies
Pretty much a real easy ride and cant get all three scores over 700
So, when I saw Equifax at 704 which only left one at less than 700, made me feel good, except-until, I saw on myFico it didn't show that way.

Bothers me in that it all just seems to be a big game.
Three shells and a pea as to credit scoring, by who, which formula used,..................?????????????????

Paying ones bills on time means what?
- Always good financially. However, models only look at credit/charge card bills and installment/mortgage loans for scoring.
Not having even a hint of a debt issue means what?
- Possibly lower score as many scoring models like to see an open installment loan. However, when my mortgage is paid off in 5 years I am not going to get an installment loan just to help score.
Clean as a pin means what?
- Should mean clean profile with no negative comments on any of your credit bureau reports.

To me the whole thing is a matter of knowing how to work the system with nothing having to do with common sense.

I guess that's the world we live in.

For the most part it all comes down to sound debt management and living within ones means - which is common sense. Take out manageable installment/mortgage loans when needed, pay all bills on time (in full) and the rest generally falls in place. It did for me. I never knew any of my credit scores until two years ago when my Fico 8 score showed up in the mail. I was rewarded with good scores without trying to work any system.

Now I know all my Fico scores and then some. Am I any better for it - No. Have I become a slave to scores - No, but I have become somewhat fixated over the various scoring models (not just Fico ones) and how they compare. Is that a good thing - not according to my wife. She tells me we have what we need and knows our credit is good enough to get new credit ... which we don't need.

If you really want to know your true Fico credit scores and be certain they are Fico, get the MyFICO 3B report with scores. The primary ones to look at are the three Fico 8 scors from EQ, TU and EX (1st grouping on the report) and the two Fico 4 scores [EQ TU] + Fico 98 EX score (2nd grouping on the report). If you don't see a need for a new installment loan (such as car/home equity), then just focus on the initial Fico 8 grouping.

Note: Many of the Fico scores are available from other sources. However, many of the other sources also offer educational scores based on their own models. Often times it can be difficult to know if the scores provided to you are true Fico scores and even if they are - what Fico model they come from.

So - best not to try to compare scores from other sources to MyFICO results.

Re: myFICO vs. Equifax Complete

Anonymous — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 12:28:53 GMT

I subscribe to, and pay for monthly, Equifax Complete

Equifax says I'm a 704 with Equifax

I would think Equifax reporting me as to what my Equifax score is should be credable, yes?

So, would it be logical to go on the premise that if Equifax says my Equifax score is 704 then it's reasonable to think my Equifax score is 704, No?

I subscribe to, and pay for MyFico also monthly.

MyFico says my Equifax score is 670 something.

What is confusing to understand why I'm confused?

These guys are supposed to be somewhere in the same church if not in the same pew I would think.

Ok, someones right and someones wrong however the disparity in reporting may very well cost me a mortgage, a higher interest rate, refusal of credit, whatever if MyFico is wrong.

If Equifax is wrong all said is then true in reverse.

The system sucks so long as the disparity in reporting exists and no one really understands the system anyway in it's entirety.

Talk to several lenders as I have done and you'll quickly learn no one really has a handle on it.

One guy (upper level management with a very major bank) told me whoever figures it all out and writes a book will make a fortune.

Re: myFICO vs. Equifax Complete

Thomas_Thumb — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 14:18:33 GMT

As I mentioned, other services outside MyFICO offer their own scoring models and they are NOT Fico. It appears you chose a non Fico scoring option from Equifax. A cut/paste from Equifax is shown below.

Equifax Complete™ Advantage Plan

3 Bureau Credit Report - Credit Monitoring1 & Security

Get the essentials to understand your credit and identity in one easy-to-use product. You'll get your 3-Bureau Credit Report and scores along with credit monitoring, unlimited access to your Equifax Credit Score and more.

The Equifax® Credit Score and 3-Bureau credit scores are based on an Equifax Credit Score model and are not the same scores used by 3rd parties to assess your creditworthiness.2

This EQ product does not mention Fico and is not Fico.

Equifax does offer a ScorePower report which is a Fico mortgage score Fico 4 (Beacon 5). I purchased a ScorePower report from EQ on three separate occasions and it matched exactly with the EQ mortgage score on the MfFICO 3B report. Equifax also offers a Score Watch product which provides monthly Fico score monitoring. However, you did not select either of these products

Re: myFICO vs. Equifax Complete

Anonymous — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 15:06:28 GMT

I truly do appreciate your efforts in explaining it all to me but the fact that it requires so much explanation and I (as are many) totally confused on the matter as scoring and the diversity as to scores offers a very good arguement as to the system being flawed to the layman (layperson).

I've been working with credit applications since the early sixties.

Trust me in that I'm not a smart man.

That said, working with credit for well over fifty years does' give me what could be called an experianced opinion.

Would you not agree?

Once upon a time way back in the stone ages we would call (not fax/E or otherwise) a credit app in to a lender.

The lender would call back a credit decision based on how the applicant paid his or her bills, time on the job, time in the home, buying vs renting and income vs what they were proposing.

There were plenty of manuals and such to guide credit decisions.

Everyone involved had an understanding of the decision and why the decision was made.

Today it's a score that no one understands fully.

Maybe somewhat partially understands however somewhere there's a dark room that processes info for credit scores that's in a dungeon somewhere, well gaurded and no one knows how to storm the walls.

I have no bad credit

I have virtually no debt load

Nothing haunting me

Six figure income

Fifty + years in my trade

Not a negative to be found

I should be a poster child for a good credit score which actually I have.....................BUT...........................

........"Good" seems to be described as a high 6'S credit score which I have.

I think I'm better than "Good" but the mysterious scoring systems wont allow that with me.

So, I guess I'm just allowed to go thru life as "Good".....................BUT..........................

.........I dont intend to settle for that.

I want to hang out with the big kids on the schoolyard and you gotta be well over a 7 to sit at the big boy table.

Re: myFICO vs. Equifax Complete

Anonymous — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 15:20:48 GMT

Dear Mike: I'm not sure how much you are paying for EQ's service, but the best all around value is found at: https://www.creditchecktotal.com/

You can get a 1 week $1 trial membership which will give you ALL three of your REAL FICO scores. Those are the scores you want and that ultimately matter.

Before the end of the 1 week trial, call the automated phone number lsted on the Credit Check Total website and they will offer you a 50% monthly deal for $14.95. I was offered that deal for 5 years. That's a bargain to get your Experian score and report each and every day. You also get three credit reports and Fico scores for Transunion and Equifax every month. Again, I can't help but underscore how great of a bargain that is.

With Credit Check Total you can know exactly your real scores and find out what exactly are the factors hindering your score for each credit bureau.

Sign up for it. It's only $1 for the 1 week trail membership. Once you sign up, come back here and tell us what on those reports indicates are the things that are hindering your scores.

Once we have that data, you'll get the best advice in the world to hit not only 700 across the board to hit as high as possible. You've come to the right place.

Welcome.

Re: myFICO vs. Equifax Complete

Anonymous — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 15:41:46 GMT

Thank you and yes I will look at it.

Frustrating stuff.

I deal with credit with the products I sell.

A 640 is a minimum score to allow you to enter thru the front door with a couple of my lenders.

They're my favorites because of that.

A 680 allows you to stand at the back door with hat in your hand with some but with those a 720 allows you to walk in the front door.

680 will get you bought with a high interest rate

720 allows a good interest rate.

It's all the credit score number.

Your number allows you to sit at a good table in the restaurant (so to speak) vs a lower number allowing you to be thrown a sndwhich out the kitchen door (so to speak).

It annoys me greatly that I dont qualify to get a preferred rate on my own products.

Yes, I will look at your suggestion.

I've tried Credit Karma which is useless

I'm currently with MyFico and Equifax Complete but as stated cant figure out the disparity.

I'll try your suggestion....................

THANKS!

Re: myFICO vs. Equifax Complete

Anonymous — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 18:11:36 GMT

OK honestly it is not really that difficult to know the difference between different scoring models.

CreditKarma and Credit Sesame are good for offering you a thorough review of your credit reports. They use the Vantage scoring model which is somewhat similar to Fico, but not the same. Google Vantage score vs Fico score to have a better understanding of the differences.

Myfico.com and CreditChecktotal.com offer you your real FICO scores. They use the proprietary Fico mathematical models made popular by Fico (Fair Isaacs). The scores at these two sites are the Fico 8 scores used most widely in the financial world. There are variants of the Fico model for credit card issuers, mortgage lenders, auto lenders etc.

Now Equifax Complete is using its own scoring model that is unique to Equifax. Why? By using its own model, it does not have to pay Fico for its proprietray model score. It can offer you a score and since Equfax is a business, it wants to maximize its profit. If it gave you a Fico score, then part of what you paid it, would have to be paid to Fico since EQ would be using its scoring math model formula.

The best thing for you is to drop or cancel Equifax Complete, since Equifax Complete is not giving you a score used by most people, so you're wasting your time and money. And drop or cancel myfico.com (3B report membership), because it is too expensive. I had it, and dropped it for CreditChecktotal.com. I'm all about saving money and getting the best deal, with the information that is exactly what I need and want at a good price.

I hope I have explained it as clearly as possible. Again it is not that complicated. Different models from different companies. Just simplify it by getting the most widely used model, Fico 8 found at the best sight now with the best bargain: CreditChecktotal.com.

Do that, and then come back here with more credit report information. You're on your way to 700+ and qualifying for your own products at the company you work at. This is all going to help you at work also as you better understand how the system works.

Re: myFICO vs. Equifax Complete

CH-7-Mission-Accomplished — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 16:28:46 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Thank you and yes I will look at it.

Frustrating stuff.

I deal with credit with the products I sell.

A 640 is a minimum score to allow you to enter thru the front door with a couple of my lenders.
They're my favorites because of that.

A 680 allows you to stand at the back door with hat in your hand with some but with those a 720 allows you to walk in the front door.
680 will get you bought with a high interest rate
720 allows a good interest rate.

It's all the credit score number.
Your number allows you to sit at a good table in the restaurant (so to speak) vs a lower number allowing you to be thrown a sndwhich out the kitchen door (so to speak).

It annoys me greatly that I dont qualify to get a preferred rate on my own products.

Yes, I will look at your suggestion.
I've tried Credit Karma which is useless
I'm currently with MyFico and Equifax Complete but as stated cant figure out the disparity.

I'll try your suggestion....................
THANKS!

Everyone has shared your frustrations with the credit scoring system and how they personally rank, but for all its complexity, it is a far, far better system than used to be used in granting credit.

My first job was as a teller at the old Washington Mutual in 1979. We had 26 branches in Washington State. I got promoted and did car loans, second mortgages and consumer loans within about 6 months.

In those days we did not have credit scores, although we used an internal computer that ranked people based on rent versus own, have a checking and savings, have a telephone, etc. Lending was very subjective in those days. I also had to call to remind past due people to make their car loan payments. I would see the credit report and wonder why the previous manager had approved the guy and there would be a note in the file that said "he's a good family man," which was kind of a code for a white, regular guy who the manager happened to like.

Later I worked in the head office releasing very old mortgages (even the original mortgage on the Space Needle). Looking through those files to prepare releases was mind blowing to me at age 20. Covenants in the deeds had things like "no negroes, no Jews." Women's income was not counted becasue it was assumed that she would soon quit whatever crappy job she had to stay home and do her duty and have babies. Besides, a woman who was not competent to manage her own affairs. That was her husband's job.

I chuckled when I saw your comments about whether you would be seated in the front or the back of the restaurant based on a 640 or a 680 or a 720 score. Before FICO scores (and similar empirical credit scores) no one would have asked you about your credit score. They would have looked at you and decided that since you were black or your name was Jewish, you couldn't come in at all; that since you were a woman, you could not sit in the bar area without being escorted by a male, and if you looked appropriately rich, attractive and white you might get a seat in the front room. Then (as now!) if you were a celebrity you got the best table in the house.

For all their flaws, credit scores, including FICO scores, were designed to judge you based on empirical data validated through millions of tests with a constantly updated algorithm.

And remember, credit scores weren't created to help you. In fact you are irrelevant to the credit score. They were created to help lenders quickly ascertain and price risk. They weren't meant to say who is a good person, who is a bad person. It is not a character score, it is a credit score, used to predict risk. If it were not valid, the FICO company would not have collected $789 million in 2014.

Re: myFICO vs. Equifax Complete

Anonymous — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 17:23:49 GMT

I enjoyed your response and comments

Once upon a time, going back into the stone ages, the 60'S, Commercial Credit was the Big Kahauna in my world.

CCC taught me the credit business not as an employee but using them all the time and hiring one of their managers.

They published a manual D.A.D. of which remembering the initials I have no reccolection of what the initials stood for.

It was the lending bible for CCC offices.

Married

Three years same employment

Buying a home vs renting

Three years same address

Telephone in own name

Caucasion vs anything else and you bet, it was in print.

Barber was a no no

Cop was a no no

Painter was a no no

Pastor/minister was a no no

Live in the wrong part of town, an immediate TD

And if an owner of a business, never put "Owner"

Opened up a whole new line of questions.

Put "General Manager" never owner/Pres or anything of the like.

So, imagine a non white barber, renting a home in the wrong part of town, without a telephone, and worse.

Maybe short time on the job, in the area..........................

...........He gets thrown out immedialy.

Same guy today with a strong score is in tall cotton of which I do not have any arguement at all with.

Back then it was how creative one could be while taking a credit appl.

Knowing what to ask and how to fill in the blanks on the app was all important.

Re: myFICO vs. Equifax Complete

Anonymous — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 18:24:32 GMT

So the system and people have progressed and changed for the better. It is a win win for all, provided you know how to operate within the system and are prepared to manipulate it and utilize it as much as it is prepared to do the same to you. There's room at the table for all, from low scorers to high scores, from the working class to the wealthy.

The system may not be perfect (and it is far from it, no system is), but it has opened the doors of opportunity for far more people than ever before.

Knowledge is power. So in all they getting..."get understanding."

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Proverbs 4:7

Re: myFICO vs. Equifax Complete

Anonymous — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 18:36:56 GMT

I'm not agreeing with your "Opening doors of opportunity" position.

I view it the other way.

A score in the low 6'S does' not allow people to even get in the door much less opening a door with any lender I deal with.

I sure dont understand how a door gets opened when a score below 640 (with my lenders) cant even get looked at?

The very lowest I can work with and it's just a couple of my lenders is a 640.

No doors opening that I'm aware of.

No "Human" looking at another "Human" in my world if score is lower than 640.

I dont agree with you at all.

Re: myFICO vs. Equifax Complete

Anonymous — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 19:05:54 GMT

The doors have been opened for more people than in the past, and people who would not have fit the demographic profile of the past. As you stated if the person wasn't from a certain demographic group, they weren't getting a loan or perhaps even an application. It is not like that now. If you have a certain Fico score, employment etc, you can qualify period. The color is green. That's progress.

The doors have never been open for eveyone. And honestly there may be people who should not be buying a home if their scores are 640 or less. That's just the reality. There may be issues not just with their credit scores, but income, past irregular or troubled payment history, DTI ratios etc. Their score is just one factor amongst several. Instead of trying to buy a home with such scores, credit counseling, budget counseling etc might be a better place to start to position them for buying a home and building a sound financial future. There are a number of programs to help people with 640 or even below such as FHA, USDA and local government programs for first time buyers.

Most people never had any financial or credit education to start with whiile growing up so they are not entirely to blame. There was no training in the home. There was no training in high school or even college. And there were few positive role models to learn from. That is not exactly the case now. There are a heck of a lot more resources available for people to self-educate and empower themselves to build a solid, and independent financial future for themselves and their children. But a person has to want to do it. They have to proverbally not ask for the fish, but how to fish or ask to be taught how to fish. And they can be taken to the water, but they have to want to drink.

Re: myFICO vs. Equifax Complete

Anonymous — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 19:35:42 GMT

Very well written and totally credable if I accept your premise that the credit scoring makes sense, is fair and balanced, and accurate.

I dont accept that premise which is the reason I posted in the first place.

Allow me to repeat myself a little.

Equifax says my score with Equifax is 704

MyFico, our host here, says my Equifax score is 676/678 or so.

Why is it I question why MyFico has a better understanding of my Equifax score than Equifax does or so they would appear to think?

I think I have a reasonable question, No?

I maintain there exists way too much disparity reporting agency to reporting agency.

In a perfect world I certainly agree with everything you've said.