@princessminor wrote:
So, my Discover free credit score say 712, my Merrick credit card says 713 and Capital One says 715. Once the shock wears off, are these scores close to the truth?
All scores are accurate but only for their own model. Don't rely on oversimplifcations such as truth, real, fake, accurate, etc Always consider the specific scoring model and CRA and its relevance with a given creditor. Discover provides a TU FICO 8. It is what any creditor using TU FICO 8 will pull for you. If a creditor uses a different scoring model and/or CRA and/or the data changes sufficiently since the score generated by Discover was generated then the number can vary.
From what I can tell Merrick also provides a TU FICO 8. Given that the model and CRA are the same as what Discover provides the scoring difference is a matter of data change(s) in your TU report in the span of time that the two scores were generated. Capital One provides the TransUnion New Account model which is not used by creditors. Different models can be coincidentally close or even produce the same number in specific situations but, as always, coincidental and causal are not the same thing. The variances and trending between two models will not always be the same.
So you have TU FICO 8's. However, TU is just one of the three major CRA's and there are a number of FICO models used by creditors. See also the Understanding FICO Scoring subforum and its stickies.
@princessminor wrote:
I'm too poor/cheap to fork out money for myfico.com services, but do you think I have a shot in hell to get the Saks card?
Even if you had your FICO's it's never just about score. I can't tell you if you'd be approved or not. The best you can do is take your scores and refer to the Credit Pulls Database. I have no idea what Saks pulls but the reply above indicates that it is TU.
You can still pull your reports and review them for free once a year via the Annual Credit Report site. Learn how the various factors are generated weighted and how to use that info to assess your own reports. Any score is generated based on the data in a report. Good reports will lead to good scores.
@princessminor wrote:
I have no inquires, no lates ever, 31 accounts, using now 30% util and 21 with no balances.
That sounds good but 30% is a maximum. It is far from ideal. It falls under Amounts Owed, the second biggest factor. Lower is better.
http://www.myfico.com/crediteducation/whatsinyourscore.aspx
You say you don't have any lates which is a plus since they would kill your Payment History but do you have any derogs?
@princessminor wrote:
Wanna strike while the iron is hot before these scores change since they flux so often.
Your scores don't just randomly change. Again, they're based on your report data and they change as the datain your reports change. There is some flux from month to month as your reported utilization tends to go up and down for those not micromanaging it. If you signficantly reduce your revolving utilization you should see an improvement in your scores. Your scores won't suddenly drop to a asignficant degree unless the data in your reports change enough to warrant such a drop.
Starting Score:625
