How can my Experian score be different when getting it from two different bureaus?

[Pigeyex]

I have an ongoing subscription with Experian, which allows me to refresh my report (and my score) daily.  It shows my Experian score is 675, and yet when I bought a 3-in-1 from Equifax yesterday, it shows my Experian score as being 696??

I understand that each of the different bureaus have slightly different scoring models, and therefore will give you different scores, but how can the SAME bureau's score be different merely because I purchased it from two different vendors?

Confused,

Pigeye

[bch238]

The three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) collect and own the data from lenders, but FairIsaac Corp (FICO) developed and owns the algorithm that creates the most widely used credit score, i.e., the FICO score.  The bureaus have jointly developed the PLUS score as an alternative, but it isn't widely used by creditors.  When you buy a score from the bureaus, you receive a PLUS score.  Since the PLUS score is calculated using a different formula, or algorithm, than the FICO score, it will be different.  Use the PLUS score to chart your progress over time, but it isn't the score used by a lender revieiwing your application.

[Pigeyex]

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@bch238 wrote:

The three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) collect and own the data from lenders, but FairIsaac Corp (FICO) developed and owns the algorithm that creates the most widely used credit score, i.e., the FICO score.  The bureaus have jointly developed the PLUS score as an alternative, but it isn't widely used by creditors.  When you buy a score from the bureaus, you receive a PLUS score.  Since the PLUS score is calculated using a different formula, or algorithm, than the FICO score, it will be different.  Use the PLUS score to chart your progress over time, but it isn't the score used by a lender revieiwing your application.

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Thanks for the reply.  I understand the above as it relates to my EQUIFAX score; I THINK you're saying that the Equifax score that I just got yesterday directly from Equifax as part of my 3-in-1 report is a better (FICO) score than an Equifax score that I would get from either Experian or TransUnion if I bought one of their 3-in-1 "PLUS" products?

But which is the more accurate Experian score?  The one I get directly from Experian as part of my monthly subscription, or the one that I got yesterday when I bought the 3-in-1 report from Equifax?

thanks,

Pigeye

[mongstradamus]

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@Pigeyex wrote:

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@bch238 wrote:

The three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) collect and own the data from lenders, but FairIsaac Corp (FICO) developed and owns the algorithm that creates the most widely used credit score, i.e., the FICO score.  The bureaus have jointly developed the PLUS score as an alternative, but it isn't widely used by creditors.  When you buy a score from the bureaus, you receive a PLUS score.  Since the PLUS score is calculated using a different formula, or algorithm, than the FICO score, it will be different.  Use the PLUS score to chart your progress over time, but it isn't the score used by a lender revieiwing your application.

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Thanks for the reply.  I understand the above as it relates to my EQUIFAX score; I THINK you're saying that the Equifax score that I just got yesterday directly from Equifax as part of my 3-in-1 report is a better (FICO) score than an Equifax score that I would get from either Experian or TransUnion if I bought one of their 3-in-1 "PLUS" products?

But which is the more accurate Experian score?  The one I get directly from Experian as part of my monthly subscription, or the one that I got yesterday when I bought the 3-in-1 report from Equifax?

thanks,

Pigeye

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Correct me if i am wrong but those 3 in 1 products provide fako scores not fico scores. I think you can only get official fico scores thru my fico or if you have an cc that provides you free fico score every month. 

[Pigeyex]

You may be right. I thought Equifax gave you FICO scores if you ordered thru them, but I may be mistaken.

But that leaves me with my original question then: I'd they're all FAKO scores, then why is my Experian FAKO different when I order it thru Equifax as part of a 3-in-1 than it is if I order it directly from Experian??

[JLK93]

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@Pigeyex wrote:

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@bch238 wrote:

The three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) collect and own the data from lenders, but FairIsaac Corp (FICO) developed and owns the algorithm that creates the most widely used credit score, i.e., the FICO score.  The bureaus have jointly developed the PLUS score as an alternative, but it isn't widely used by creditors.  When you buy a score from the bureaus, you receive a PLUS score.  Since the PLUS score is calculated using a different formula, or algorithm, than the FICO score, it will be different.  Use the PLUS score to chart your progress over time, but it isn't the score used by a lender revieiwing your application.

---

Thanks for the reply.  I understand the above as it relates to my EQUIFAX score; I THINK you're saying that the Equifax score that I just got yesterday directly from Equifax as part of my 3-in-1 report is a better (FICO) score than an Equifax score that I would get from either Experian or TransUnion if I bought one of their 3-in-1 "PLUS" products?

But which is the more accurate Experian score?  The one I get directly from Experian as part of my monthly subscription, or the one that I got yesterday when I bought the 3-in-1 report from Equifax?

thanks,

Pigeye

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Both scores are useless. The score you get from Experian is the Experian PLUS scoring algorithm applied to your Experian Credit Report. The Experian score you get from Equifax is the Equifax Credit Score algorithm applied to your Experian credit report. They are two completely different scoring algorithms being applied to the same report. Hence, the scores are different. These are both FAKO scores. These scores were developed by Experian and Equifax for the purpose of having a score to sell to consumers for profit. They are not used by any lenders. These scores are considered to be for educational purposes only. None of the scores you obtained are FICO scores unless the acronym FICO is used in the description of the score.

[mongstradamus]

my only explanation i could think of is different companies use different factors in how they generate fako score. TBH i would take fako scores with an grain of salt. I would be more concerned about what is actually on your credit reports. Sometimes credit reports wont all contain same information. For instance my eq cr has an extra amex account that was closed an while ago for me. EX and TU doesn't have that particular account on their credit report.

[JLK93]

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@Pigeyex wrote:
You may be right. I thought Equifax gave you FICO scores if you ordered thru them, but I may be mistaken.

But that leaves me with my original question then: I'd they're all FAKO scores, then why is my Experian FAKO different when I order it thru Equifax as part of a 3-in-1 than it is if I order it directly from Experian??

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Equifax sells FICO and FAKO scores.

[NoAnchoviesPlease]

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@bch238 wrote:

 Use the PLUS score to chart your progress over time, but it isn't the score used by a lender revieiwing your application.

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+1

It's like weighing yourself with or without clothes/shoes/kids. If you measure consistently, you see your own trends and growth (or reduction, in the scale sense)... but the doctor's always going to look at you a little differently. 

[Pigeyex]

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@oilcan12 wrote:

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@Pigeyex wrote:

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@bch238 wrote:

The three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) collect and own the data from lenders, but FairIsaac Corp (FICO) developed and owns the algorithm that creates the most widely used credit score, i.e., the FICO score.  The bureaus have jointly developed the PLUS score as an alternative, but it isn't widely used by creditors.  When you buy a score from the bureaus, you receive a PLUS score.  Since the PLUS score is calculated using a different formula, or algorithm, than the FICO score, it will be different.  Use the PLUS score to chart your progress over time, but it isn't the score used by a lender revieiwing your application.

---

Thanks for the reply.  I understand the above as it relates to my EQUIFAX score; I THINK you're saying that the Equifax score that I just got yesterday directly from Equifax as part of my 3-in-1 report is a better (FICO) score than an Equifax score that I would get from either Experian or TransUnion if I bought one of their 3-in-1 "PLUS" products?

But which is the more accurate Experian score?  The one I get directly from Experian as part of my monthly subscription, or the one that I got yesterday when I bought the 3-in-1 report from Equifax?

thanks,

Pigeye

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Both scores are useless. The score you get from Experian is the Experian PLUS scoring algorithm applied to your Experian Credit Report. The Experian score you get from Equifax is the Equifax Credit Score algorithm applied to your Experian credit report. They are two completely different scoring algorithms being applied to the same report. Hence, the scores are different. These are both FAKO scores. These scores were developed by Experian and Equifax for the purpose of having a score to sell to consumers for profit. They are not used by any lenders. These scores are considered to be for educational purposes only. None of the scores you obtained are FICO scores unless the acronym FICO is used in the description of the score.

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That makes sense to me.  Thanks, all!