Score dropped 20 pts due to name change?

[Anonymous]

I just received an alert from myfico that my score dropped 20 pts because my last name was updated from my maiden name to my current last name...I’ve been married over two years and why would this make your score drop?

[Ardecko]

Where'd you get your scores? (If the answer is Credit Karma, Credit Sesame, this conversation is pointless. Those aren't useful scores, and no one is studying them to figure out what makes them go up/down.)

Do you still have access to both the old report and the new report? (Go over them with a fine tooth comb. I mean everything, dates reported, late payments, balances, number of accounts, dispute notices.)

You'll find it, it's in there.

It is not your name change, unless that caused your file to go wonky and lose one or more accounts out of your history. (I'm not saying this is likely, it could also be a sun spot, but I'm not betting on either.)

Also, I can't count the number of times BrutalBodyShots has said that some things don't generate alerts, and other things may have happened between the time the alert was triggered and the score was generated that may have caused your score to change. IE consider the score you received a bonus, it didn't cost you anything extra, and it is a point in time snapshot. It may not(oftenly so), however, be reflective of the change listed in the alert you received.

[Anonymous]

I pay to get my score from myfico...I called equifax and they don't see anything that's changed. The alert about the point decrease was through myfico.

[Anonymous]

Did you change your name to Madoff?

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:
I just received an alert from myfico that my score dropped 20 pts because my last name was updated from my maiden name to my current last name...I’ve been married over two years and why would this make your score drop?

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Your score did not drop from a name change.  That's an impossibility.  What happened is that you received an alert stating that something changed on your credit report (your name).  Along with that alert, you are provided with a new score.  The new score (whether it goes up or down) many times has nothing to do with the alert you received.  This 100% is the case with your situation here. 

Something else changed on your credit report that caused a 20 point score drop.  It could be an increase in utilization, number of cards reporting balances, inquiries, new accounts, paying off your only installment loan, having your oldest account drop off your report, etc.  Whatever this thing is that caused your 20 point drop, you simply weren't aware of it until you were provided with a new/updated score, which just so happened to take place at the time your name changed as the name change is an alertable event.

Hopefully this make sense.  If you have any other questions, definitely fire away.  I can tell you with 100% conviction though that your name change did not cause your score drop.

[Anonymous]

Thank you! I suppose I start digging for the cause.

[elim]

As my scores slowly rise, there are plenty of 10 to 20 point swings on Fico8 (even worse on Vantage3). Most are due to new accounts, inquiries, loan balances/pay-offs, utilization, and number of cards with balances reporting that month. It should rebound soon.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your replies!