I recently signed up for Credit Seasame and Credit Karma. How accurate are those services? They also give me credit scores, how accurate are those?
Any hints on how getthe most of those websites?
The scores are not accurate, often not even close.
Credit Seasame pulls Experian, so the report information there is usually accurate regarding the information on your Experian report.
Credit Karma pulls TransUnion, so this information is usually accurate as to your TU report.
ETA: as for usefulness, here is one way in how they are useful. If you don't subscribe to a 3-in-1 Credit Moniotoring Service, you can use these services to see when a change hits your EX or TU reports before paying for a real report or FICO score. This way you know that you will be getting a score that reflects updated balances or accounts, since you verified the change was there on the free service first.
My Credit Karma score has consistently been 30 points lower than FICO.
@RobertEG wrote:The major inaccuracy is the word "free."
I like this answer.
I use the free ones to just monitor any changes, they're good for that. As far as scores? No faith whatsoever.
July 2013 score: EQ FICO 819, TU08 778, EX "806 lender pull 07/26/2013
Goal Score: All Scores 760+, Newest goal 800+
Take the myFICO Fitness Challenge
Current scores after adding $81K in CLs and 2 new cars since July 2013
EQ:809 TU 777 EX 790 Now it's just garden time!
June 2017 update: All scores over 820, just pure gardening now.
the one question i have with free services with credit karma in particular is how accurate are they with when ccc report to cra. My amex according to usaa credit monitoring says my amex account was updated on the 18th of sept, but its not showing up on my credit karma. Can you use credit karma to keep track of when ccc report ?