From FICO 809 2 1/2 yrs ago to NO SCORE -- Seeking your expertise!!

[Anonymous]

I thought I had seen in all in 30 years as a finance professional.  Well, I pray that someone out there has an answer to this very unusual situation.   Here's my story:

I always purchased my FICO score on an annual basis and it was almost always between 790 and 810. Then, I simply forgot about it and stopped purchasing my score.  In fact,  I didn't get a FICO score for the past 2 1/2 yrs, but the last FICO (not FAKO) score from Equifax was 809.  Since then, my wife and I closed some credit cards (always paid on time, never late).  The other day I thought it's been awhile, so  I should have a look.  So, I requested my 3 credit reports from annualcreditreport.com last week and there wasn't a single problem I could identify.   I then requested a FICO score and...."No Score!".   I did this with both Equifax and Transunion and they both came back with "Our apologies, an error has occurred...." Thank you for visiting myFico.com..yadayadayada.

So, I called the 800-319-4433 number and the rep tried to do submit the request and she got the same result.   She then said (after speaking with a supervisor) that I need MULTIPLE accounts to be opened for over 6 months.  But that's not what I understand from reading the material (at least one account 6 months or longer and being reported).  I have a revolving account with a $40K  limit that I have paid on time, every month, for the past 99 months (per each of my credit reports) and FICO can't calculate a score???  The only thing I can think of is that each of the 3 credit bureaus do show my credit card being paid for the past 99 months but each shows an incorrect credit limit of $0.  Could that be the problem??? 

To add insult to injury, I was just rejected by a credit card company and their reasons were:   "Few revolving accounts opened long enough to establish credit history" and "Not enough accounts opened long enough to establish a credit history."  HUH?????  Even the credit reports show I have over 20 years of outstanding credit history!!!  Not one missed payment.  And over 2 dozen accounts over that time (credit, car, mortgage, etc.). Thankfully, my wife's score is still 790 or so, but we are both perplexed as to why FICO cannot calculate a score.

Sorry for the length of this, but outside of trying to correct the credit limit/credit availability on that one big credit card account (which probably isn't the problem as it was on all three reports 2 1/2 yrs ago when I received the 809 FICO) what else can/should I do?    Thank you so much in advance for your thoughts/suggestions!!!

[AndySoCal]

Pull a copy of your credit report annualcreditreports.com for Equifax and and Trans Union.  No need to buy a score. Review the reports to see if you have accounts that meet the FICO criteria for a score.  The basic criteria is an account(s) opened for at least six months and not in dispute and not a collection, BK or charge off. als Also activity or reported in the last six months. Something has changed on your report and you need to find out what.

[Anonymous]

"Pull a copy of your credit report annualcreditreports.com for Equifax and and Trans Union.  No need to buy a score. Review the reports to see if you have accounts that meet the FICO criteria for a score. "

Thank you for your response Andy, but that's the first thing I did...pulled all three reports from annualcreditreports.com before I even tried to purchase a score (which I still don't have)!   Yes, something has changed.  I closed several credit card accounts -- and now I realize how stupid that was, even though I stopped using them.  However, I still have one credit card account that's been open for 10 years to which I charge almost everything and which I pay off every month.

So,  I supposedly meet the FICO criteria for computing a score, but FICO claims they can't compute a score because (according to the customer service rep) I need "multiple accounts" --- again, this makes no sense when FICO literature states I need at least one card open for 6 months. So, why doesn't a 10-year old active account that is not in dispute, collection, BK or chargeoff not meet the FICO criteria?  I have spoken to two different FICO reps and each seemed a bit bewildered.  Each of them came back with "you need more accounts to get a score" after speaking with their respective supervisor.

I have since found out through the internet forums that not having my $40K credit limit being reported to the credit bureaus is likely hurting my score.  Fine, I can fix that eventually by filing a dispute with all three bureaus, but will that solve my ability to GET a FICO SCORE?  It's as if I stumbled into a parallel universe!

Anyway,  I am still looking for answers as to what to do from among the experts out there.  Don't be shy as I'm desperate for ideas! Thanks again!

[haulingthescoreup]

Hang in there; we're trying to find some answers.

I'm flabbergasted at the CSR's response... I don't know what I'm missing, but one account reporting should be all you need.

For those who might not know the requirements, here they are:

• At least one account that has been open for six months or more
• At least one undisputed account that has been reported to the credit bureau with in the past six months
• No indication of deceased on the credit report (Please note: if you share an account with another person this may affect you if the other account holder is reported deceased).

You're not dead, right?

And yes, the fact that your CL isn't reported will mess with your score, but you should still have a score.

[Anonymous]

OMG, I think I have the answer!!!  I found it after spending nearly 2 hours late last night pouring over my reports and spending 1/2 hour on-line with a Citi CSR.

I HAD been looking for differences in my credit report between my FICO of score of 809 back  2 1/2 years ago and today.   So I carefully looked at everything WITHOUT trying to compare the two reports and I think I found the problem.  On the recent Equifax and TransUnion credit report I had printed off, my printer must have jammed or something and the comments line had been cut off (on both reports!), but I had the multi-month payment history.

So as I looked at both reports on- line, I found this statement after the one credit card I had opened back in 2001.  "Consumer disputes this account information."  What???  I looked back on my credit report 2 /12 years ago and the comment was there as well!!!!!  

So, I called Citi up and we spent 1/2 hour going back 5 years.   I stated that I NEVER had a dispute with them.  The only thing Citi found was that I had questioned a charge (it was bogus) and they removed it about 3 years ago....so Citi says they have no record of my having a dispute with them either!   So, neither Citi nor I could find any reason in the past five years as to why I had disputed this account!  This has got to be the reason I don't have a FICO score, right????

So, I will contact all three credit bureaus TODAY to dispute the fact that I have a dispute! (along with trying to get that $40K credit limit to show up instead of the $0 that's there now)   BIG QUESTION:  Requesting the $40K credit limit be on that account in my credit report  won't  keep the comments line about having my having a dispute with this account from being deleted,  will it??   ).   

I also plan to send a certified letter to Citi's Credit Bureau Dispute department to let them know:  1) I have NO dispute and 2)  please forward my ACTUAL credit limit of $40K (rather than $0) to each of the 3 credit bureaus. 

Why couldn't the myFICO CSRs tell me that I had an open dispute on that card????   I would have thought that should have popped out on their screen, even though it wasn't on my report.   I just have to believe this is the reason I don't have a FICO score!!!

Emerita, thanks for your response as well.   This is an example of a convolution of events coming to create the perfect storm!

[haulingthescoreup]

I don't think that the CSR's can see a dispute, although I'm really not sure exactly what they do see.

Interesting question about whether the request to display the CL would register as a dispute! I don't think it would (gosh, I'm vague today!)

Congrats on your detective work, and I hope you can get the dispute removed. Sometimes there is a comical (well, later it seems comical) dance back and forth with this sort of thing when everyone swears up and down that they're reporting correctly, and no one can figure how to make the wrong info go away. Happens a lot with incorrect DOB, addresses, etc.

[Walt_K]

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@haulingthescoreup wrote:

I don't think that the CSR's can see a dispute, although I'm really not sure exactly what they do see.

Interesting question about whether the request to display the CL would register as a dispute! I don't think it would (gosh, I'm vague today!)

Congrats on your detective work, and I hope you can get the dispute removed. Sometimes there is a comical (well, later it seems comical) dance back and forth with this sort of thing when everyone swears up and down that they're reporting correctly, and no one can figure how to make the wrong info go away. Happens a lot with incorrect DOB, addresses, etc.

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You would think it wouldn't, but who knows.  I am currently embroiled in a battle about whether or not I am disputing something.  There is a notation in the comments on an account that I dispute it but that it meets FCRA guidelines.  I know it isn't affecting my score, but I want it removed as I am not disputing anything.  It all started over a GW letter.  I've contacted the OC and the CRA and initiated disputes with both of them and can't get it removed.  We're literally disputing whether or not I am disputing any information.  They want supporting documentation that I am not disputing anything.  It's ridiculous.  The last phone call devolved into an argument about whether the CSR I was speaking with understood the meaning of the word dispute.  Once it's removed, I'll allow for a little comedy.

[MarineVietVet]

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@AndySoCal wrote:

Pull a copy of your credit report annualcreditreports.com for Equifax and and Trans Union.  No need to buy a score. Review the reports to see if you have accounts that meet the FICO criteria for a score.  The basic criteria is an account(s) opened for at least six months and not in dispute and not a collection, BK or charge off. als Also activity or reported in the last six months. Something has changed on your report and you need to find out what.

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That's not quite correct. A CO would count because it is associated with a TL and so would show continuous activity.

Also a TL with IIB can also qualify -- just not the PR item.  One more point that gets misstated is that it's not that an account has to be "active" within the last 6 months.  A TL just has to have been "reported" within that time.  So, an inactive account can qualify as long as the inactive account has been reported to the bureau within the last 6 months. 

From a BK years ago to:
EX - 9/09 pulled by lender 802, EQ - 2/11-816, TU - 2/11-782

"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem".

[AndySoCal]

I  work with credit professionally I have seen several credit reports with collections and charge offs etc with no scores.

[MarineVietVet]

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@AndySoCal wrote:

I  work with credit professionally I have seen several credit reports with collections and charge offs etc with no scores.

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Then it was entered incorrectly.

This information comes from someone much higher up the food chain than either of us. 

From a BK years ago to:
EX - 9/09 pulled by lender 802, EQ - 2/11-816, TU - 2/11-782

"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem".