I just ordered my MyFico and set my whole account up. I am so far very satisfied. The scores provided are moderately accurate. MyFico provided me with scores of EQ - 682, TU - 705, EX - 701. I then went directly to the bureaus websites and purchased the scores directly from them; The scores read EQ - 631, TU - 659, EX - 701. Now keep in mind that, TU uses VantageScore model instead of FICO and Equifax uses their own scoring model. Both Equifax and vantage scoring models are very widely used in lending decisions. The thing I love about MyFico is that I can see what scoring model a lender is actually using. Here is an example. I went to my credit union the other day to refinance my auto loan. They pulled a new credit score and got a 608, up from 603 in November 2015. This seemed crazy to me. I asked the loan officer what bureau they pull from and she said Experian. Now how do I have an experian score of 608 with the lender but both experian.com and MyFico both say a 701? Here is how. Looking on MyFico, my Experian Fico Score 8 is 701, but my Experian Fico Score 2 is 608. This tells me that this lender is using a older scoring model and If I want to try in the future, I should pay attention to my Fico Score 2, before pulling my credit there. Now why they are using a model that is used mainly for mortgage lending....for an auto loan... I have no idea. The officer did say that Fico is just a reference score that ever single bank uses and she denied the existance of any other scoring models.... so it seems the loan officers are undereducated and the underwriters are half asleep, because they are running a mortgage scoring model for an auto loan. Oh well. It taught me that if I want good rates and payments, to probably avoid this company. I'm not going to name the lender but it is local and only county wide so that is possibly why they are so outdated. I will most likely remain a subscriber of MyFico Ultimate 3B for these reasons. I am an entrepreneur and worry about my scores daily. Once I start a business, these kind of notes and tips will help me choose the best lender for business loans and investments, etc... Just thought I would share my experience so far and to help push the people who dont want to spend the $30 for quality credit analysis. It's worth it. 
@Anonymous wrote:I just ordered my MyFico and set my whole account up. I am so far very satisfied. The scores provided are moderately accurate. MyFico provided me with scores of EQ - 682, TU - 705, EX - 701. I then went directly to the bureaus websites and purchased the scores directly from them; The scores read EQ - 631, TU - 659, EX - 701. Now keep in mind that, TU uses VantageScore model instead of FICO and Equifax uses their own scoring model. Both Equifax and vantage scoring models are very widely used in lending decisions. The thing I love about MyFico is that I can see what scoring model a lender is actually using. Here is an example. I went to my credit union the other day to refinance my auto loan. They pulled a new credit score and got a 608, up from 603 in November 2015. This seemed crazy to me. I asked the loan officer what bureau they pull from and she said Experian. Now how do I have an experian score of 608 with the lender but both experian.com and MyFico both say a 701? Here is how. Looking on MyFico, my Experian Fico Score 8 is 701, but my Experian Fico Score 2 is 608. This tells me that this lender is using a older scoring model and If I want to try in the future, I should pay attention to my Fico Score 2, before pulling my credit there. Now why they are using a model that is used mainly for mortgage lending....for an auto loan... I have no idea. The officer did say that Fico is just a reference score that ever single bank uses and she denied the existance of any other scoring models.... so it seems the loan officers are undereducated and the underwriters are half asleep, because they are running a mortgage scoring model for an auto loan. Oh well. It taught me that if I want good rates and payments, to probably avoid this company. I'm not going to name the lender but it is local and only county wide so that is possibly why they are so outdated. I will most likely remain a subscriber of MyFico Ultimate 3B for these reasons. I am an entrepreneur and worry about my scores daily. Once I start a business, these kind of notes and tips will help me choose the best lender for business loans and investments, etc... Just thought I would share my experience so far and to help push the people who dont want to spend the $30 for quality credit analysis. It's worth it.
Your conclusion is spot on: Find out the scoring model that the creditor is using before you apply.
It is true, many LO's are woefully under educated about credit and credit scores. They use whatever their lender has as a resource and never question management (or anyone else) as to the availablity of other scoring models.
It is possible the CU only uses one model, the mortgage model, for everything. They do have to use it to originate mortgages because the entire industry, with rare exceptions for some portfolio loans, uses the same scoring formula so mortgages can be packaged and sold.
Just speculating here, but I assume that there would be additional costs associated with the adddition of different models for different credit products. Smaller lenders may not have the desire to complicate their lending process by using different scoring models for different credit products. I don't know. But just as you would question any lender about their other loan guidelines, add in the 'Which credit score model do you use' question. It can only help you to know in advance now that we have access to various models here.
@Anonymous wrote:I just ordered my MyFico and set my whole account up. I am so far very satisfied. The scores provided are moderately accurate. MyFico provided me with scores of EQ - 682, TU - 705, EX - 701. I then went directly to the bureaus websites and purchased the scores directly from them; The scores read EQ - 631, TU - 659, EX - 701. Now keep in mind that, TU uses VantageScore model instead of FICO and Equifax uses their own scoring model. Both Equifax and vantage scoring models are very widely used in lending decisions. The thing I love about MyFico is that I can see what scoring model a lender is actually using. Here is an example. I went to my credit union the other day to refinance my auto loan. They pulled a new credit score and got a 608, up from 603 in November 2015. This seemed crazy to me. I asked the loan officer what bureau they pull from and she said Experian. Now how do I have an experian score of 608 with the lender but both experian.com and MyFico both say a 701? Here is how. Looking on MyFico, my Experian Fico Score 8 is 701, but my Experian Fico Score 2 is 608. This tells me that this lender is using a older scoring model and If I want to try in the future, I should pay attention to my Fico Score 2, before pulling my credit there. Now why they are using a model that is used mainly for mortgage lending....for an auto loan... I have no idea. The officer did say that Fico is just a reference score that ever single bank uses and she denied the existance of any other scoring models.... so it seems the loan officers are undereducated and the underwriters are half asleep, because they are running a mortgage scoring model for an auto loan. Oh well. It taught me that if I want good rates and payments, to probably avoid this company. I'm not going to name the lender but it is local and only county wide so that is possibly why they are so outdated. I will most likely remain a subscriber of MyFico Ultimate 3B for these reasons. I am an entrepreneur and worry about my scores daily. Once I start a business, these kind of notes and tips will help me choose the best lender for business loans and investments, etc... Just thought I would share my experience so far and to help push the people who dont want to spend the $30 for quality credit analysis. It's worth it.
Actually, they could be using the auto enhanced version of Ex FIC0 2. I have an auto loan with Ally and recently noticed that they provide a free FICO score. When I clicked on the link, I discovered that they use version 2 of the auto enhanced score.
One of the reasons that they are using the old version is that it's paid for and they find that it's accurate for their loans. It would cost quite a bit to switch to a new model and switch to whatever lender only simulators that are available to them. I also find that many smaller banks that do mortgages, use their mortgage score and simulators for everything instead of paying for additional versions.