topic Re: FICO Scoring Models...everyone is not knowledgeable in General Credit Topics

FICO Scoring Models...everyone is not knowledgeable

A1Credit — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 20:51:24 GMT

I am thinking about refinancing my auto loan with my local credit union. I called today to get an understanding of their criteria as well as which credit bureau they used for scoring purposes. I was told that they used Equifax but when I inquired as to which model the person looked at me like, "What are you talking about?" LOL I was like you know there are different models like Auto scores, fico 8... she still was confused and simply stated that they use Equifax. I felt silly.

Have any of you ever ran into this problem?

Re: FICO Scoring Models...everyone is not knowledgeable

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 21:18:07 GMT

This type of stuff happens all the time with any number of lenders out there. CS training only involves so much. Many times you need to speak to someone at the next level if you want to feel like you aren't talking to a brick wall.

Re: FICO Scoring Models...everyone is not knowledgeable

A1Credit — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 21:21:43 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
This type of stuff happens all the time with any number of lenders out there. CS training only involves so much. Many times you need to speak to someone at the next level if you want to feel like you aren't talking to a brick wall.

She asked the MANAGER though BBS! Surely he should know, right? They made me feel like I was making it up and was talking crazy. Like, "Huh?" "Scoring models?"

Re: FICO Scoring Models...everyone is not knowledgeable

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 21:38:30 GMT

Who knows, perhaps even entry level managers aren't taught about different scoring models, as it's probably not something that comes up all too often. Whenever I speak to someone that isn't on my level, I usually keep requesting to be transferred until I get to someone I can have an actual conversation with.

Re: FICO Scoring Models...everyone is not knowledgeable

A1Credit — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 21:53:00 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Who knows, perhaps even entry level managers aren't taught about different scoring models, as it's probably not something that comes up all too often. Whenever I speak to someone that isn't on my level, I usually keep requesting to be transferred until I get to someone I can have an actual conversation with.

Maybe I should have requested to speak with the UW if possible or maybe I'll just go into one of the branches and talk. I would just like to have some idea of my chances before risking a unneccesary hard pull.

Re: FICO Scoring Models...everyone is not knowledgeable

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 01:34:56 GMT

Are some of your EQ scores above 720 and some of them much lower? If so, then you are right that the model they use will matter. If not, it may not matter, since they will all get you to the same place.

If you do talk with a rep again, be sure to be friendly when they exhibit vast failure to comprehend. Most bank reps (including experts in loans) know very little about credit scoring, and certainly low-level CSR's don't.

It may be a fun opportunity for you to educate them. You can explain that Equifax is not a company that makes credit scores. Explain that they are one of the three big warehouses where consumer credit information is stored. The score (you can explain) is a fancy computer program that is made by a company called FICO -- though there might be another company that makes the scoring program your CU uses. That may cause a light to go off in their head and they may say "Oh yeah, it's your FICO score." (Though maybe not -- they may remain dark.) If you get that far, you can then explain that, just like Toyota makes many different models of trucks, FICO makes many different scoring models. Just like a Tundra runs differently fromly from a Tacoma, so do the different FICO models. You want to know which FICO model your CU uses for its auto loans.

Re: FICO Scoring Models...everyone is not knowledgeable

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 01:39:13 GMT

Solid analogy with the Toyota reference above, CGID.

I think many people on this forum are likely more knowledgeable than your average creditor-related CSR. I know when I went in-branch back in May to apply for my first Chase CC, I knew vastly more than the employee I dealt with across the desk from me, not only about credit, but about actual Chase products. Whether this employee had 10 weeks of experience under his belt or 10 years I am not sure.

Re: FICO Scoring Models...everyone is not knowledgeable

A1Credit — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 13:11:12 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Are some of your EQ scores above 720 and some of them much lower? If so, then you are right that the model they use will matter. If not, it may not matter, since they will all get you to the same place.

If you do talk with a rep again, be sure to be friendly when they exhibit vast failure to comprehend. Most bank reps (including experts in loans) know very little about credit scoring, and certainly low-level CSR's don't.

It may be a fun opportunity for you to educate them. You can explain that Equifax is not a company that makes credit scores. Explain that they are one of the three big warehouses where consumer credit information is stored. The score (you can explain) is a fancy computer program that is made by a company called FICO -- though there might be another company that makes the scoring program your CU uses. That may cause a light to go off in their head and they may say "Oh yeah, it's your FICO score." (Though maybe not -- they may remain dark.) If you get that far, you can then explain that, just like Toyota makes many different models of trucks, FICO makes many different scoring models. Just like a Tundra runs differently fromly from a Tacoma, so do the different FICO models. You want to know which FICO model your CU uses for its auto loans.

I'm no where near 720 but is it possible that they don't necessarily use a auto score? What if they just use the EQ fico 8 score? Is that possible?

I like your Toyota analogy and I would have gone into more detail if she had been more receptive. She was looking at me like I had grown 3 heads. LOL

Re: FICO Scoring Models...everyone is not knowledgeable

A1Credit — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 13:12:37 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Solid analogy with the Toyota reference above, CGID.

I think many people on this forum are likely more knowledgeable than your average creditor-related CSR. I know when I went in-branch back in May to apply for my first Chase CC, I knew vastly more than the employee I dealt with across the desk from me, not only about credit, but about actual Chase products. Whether this employee had 10 weeks of experience under his belt or 10 years I am not sure.

I get slightly uncomfortable because it makes me feel like a know-it-all especially when they are suppose to be the "experts." I'm more comfortable sharing what I learn with people that I know and are close to me.

Re: FICO Scoring Models...everyone is not knowledgeable

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 15:10:30 GMT

Carmax is one example of a major auto lender/seller who appears to be using FICO 8 Classic (not the Auto score):

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Auto-Loans/Auto-Lender-That-Uses-Standard-FICO-Not-Auto-Enhanced/td-p/4662908

I suspect there are quite a few others.

Re: FICO Scoring Models...everyone is not knowledgeable

A1Credit — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 15:12:06 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Carmax is one example of a major auto lender/seller who appears to be using FICO 8 Classic (not the Auto score):

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Auto-Loans/Auto-Lender-That-Uses-Standard-FICO-Not-Auto-Enhanced/td-p/4662908

I suspect there are quite a few others.

Thanks! I suspect that is what is going on with this credit union. They may just use the standard EQ Fico score and not an enhanced version. Thanks for the link!

Re: FICO Scoring Models...everyone is not knowledgeable

DaveInAZ — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 16:30:58 GMT

@A1Credit wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Carmax is one example of a major auto lender/seller who appears to be using FICO 8 Classic (not the Auto score):

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Auto-Loans/Auto-Lender-That-Uses-Standard-FICO-Not-Auto-Enhanced/td-p/4662908

I suspect there are quite a few others.

Thanks! I suspect that is what is going on with this credit union. They may just use the standard EQ Fico score and not an enhanced version. Thanks for the link!

My small local CU (Only 2 branches) doesn't even use EQ Fico. For my car loan I asked the loan officer what my credit score was and she said "704". I asked if that was a Fico score and she seemed confused and replied "No, it's Equifax". That matched my Credit Karma EQ score at the time, so I'm pretty sure it was just Vantage. A 60 mo. loan on a 2 year old car from Hertz at 1.99% APR (in Feb 2015), I'm not complaining.

Re: FICO Scoring Models...everyone is not knowledgeable

A1Credit — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 16:49:27 GMT

@DaveInAZ wrote:
@A1Credit wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Carmax is one example of a major auto lender/seller who appears to be using FICO 8 Classic (not the Auto score):

http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Auto-Loans/Auto-Lender-That-Uses-Standard-FICO-Not-Auto-Enhanced/td-p/4662908

I suspect there are quite a few others.

Thanks! I suspect that is what is going on with this credit union. They may just use the standard EQ Fico score and not an enhanced version. Thanks for the link!
My small local CU (Only 2 branches) doesn't even use EQ Fico. For my car loan I asked the loan officer what my credit score was and she said "704". I asked if that was a Fico score and she seemed confused and replied "No, it's Equifax". That matched my Credit Karma EQ score at the time, so I'm pretty sure it was just Vantage. A 60 mo. loan on a 2 year old car from Hertz at 1.99% APR (in Feb 2015), I'm not complaining.

Wow! That's great! If only I could be so lucky.

Re: FICO Scoring Models...everyone is not knowledgeable

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 18:21:47 GMT

Ut oh, a reference of a lender possibly using a VS 3.0 score... I can think of a few members that would cry outrage at your post and one that would even call you a liar for stating such a thing!