Hi Navigator, welcome to the forums. Please read Credit Scoring 101. You have purchased FAKOs (likely Vantage) and few (and I mean very few) lenders use these scores. The majority of lenders use FICO scores, which can only be purchased here at myfico.com. So, to monitor your credit reports, True Credit and some of the others are great. To monitor your scores, myfico is the place for it.
What many do, is watch for changes on their reports from TC et al, and then pull their FICOs. Whenever pulling your FICOs, make sure you google discount codes to save yourself a few bucks.
In summary, forget those scores that you got. The only scores that matter to lenders are the ones they use (and thus should be the only ones that matter to you)--FICOs.
What many do, is watch for changes on their reports from TC et al, and then pull their FICOs. Whenever pulling your FICOs, make sure you google discount codes to save yourself a few bucks.
In summary, forget those scores that you got. The only scores that matter to lenders are the ones they use (and thus should be the only ones that matter to you)--FICOs.
Starting Score: 469
Nav, I hope that you read the link that I provided in post #2. That will tell you the difference between FICO and FAKO. The scores that you bought, again, were FAKOs and mean very little to anyone, except the organizations that sold them to you.
I am by no means an expert on which package to buy, as there are merits to each. Many like the Suze package and Credit Complete. You'll have to be the judge as to which one suits your needs best, or if your friend can get you true FICOs (not auto enhanced) and not get in any trouble for it, then that's even better for you.
I am by no means an expert on which package to buy, as there are merits to each. Many like the Suze package and Credit Complete. You'll have to be the judge as to which one suits your needs best, or if your friend can get you true FICOs (not auto enhanced) and not get in any trouble for it, then that's even better for you.
The CRAs realize that more people are becoming "credit conscious", so here is an opportunity to profit from it. There is nothing wrong with that (it is America, after all). And yes, many come here complaining about the same thing as you are doing.
The good heads up is whenever you see them marketing a "credit score" as opposed to a FICO score (they can't legally call it a FICO), you can just about call it a FAKO.
Think about the commercials "I'm thinking of a number...it's 720 and it happens to be my CREDIT SCORE." Or "F-R-E-E that spells free credit report dot com baby." FAKO, FAKO. You can come up with another dozen or so commercials that tout their FAKO scores, hoping that unsuspecting Americans will purchase the scores and they make a profit.
Misleading? Probably. Illegal? No.
The good heads up is whenever you see them marketing a "credit score" as opposed to a FICO score (they can't legally call it a FICO), you can just about call it a FAKO.
Think about the commercials "I'm thinking of a number...it's 720 and it happens to be my CREDIT SCORE." Or "F-R-E-E that spells free credit report dot com baby." FAKO, FAKO. You can come up with another dozen or so commercials that tout their FAKO scores, hoping that unsuspecting Americans will purchase the scores and they make a profit.
Misleading? Probably. Illegal? No.
Yeah I get it. Now I just don't know what choice is best for me. What monitoring I should do to see what my real scores are, and what my next move should be, where I wouldn't be affecting my score too much. Guess I need to start posting in other forums on here now. Thanks 
theNavigator wrote:
Yeah I get it. Now I just don't know what choice is best for me. What monitoring I should do to see what my real scores are, and what my next move should be, where I wouldn't be affecting my score too much. Guess I need to start posting in other forums on here now. Thanks
There is no monitoring system for all 3 FICO scores together. You could pull all 3 though through this site. It doesn't monitor but will give you a new score and report each time you pull. This is via FICO Standard.
Now doing the above will be costly (around $45 for each pull for the 3). However, there are discount codes out there; just google them. I recommend subscribing to a credit monitoring service like TrueCredit. Ignore the scores (FAKOs), but as you see changes in your report, then pull the corresponding CR from here to see your real score change.