What is a National Equivalency Score?

[Anonymous]

I was on credit.com today getting a routine update and noticed something I hadn't seen prior.  Next to your provided EX VS 3.0 score, there's something that says, "other scores" and when you click it you are shown your Experian National Equivalency Score.  I'm not at all familar with this model and figure that since it isn't a FICO flavor that it's not worthwhile, but I was curious who (if anyone) actually uses this score?

[Thomas_Thumb]

Experian NE is an industry recognized credit score. Unlike Experian Plus score, NE was used by a few creditors. However, that was a long time ago - back when giants walked the earth and before VantageScore 3.0. NE is one of the easier models for obtaining a perfect score. Score distribution info provided below:

[Revelate]

Do you know who actually used it TT?

Was always an educational score listing when I checked it seemingly but maybe I'm misremembering.

[Anonymous]

Is EX the only bureau that has a NE score?  I just found it odd that credit.com provides this score to go along with a typical VS 3.0 score when most other CMS sites or score providers don't.   

NE scores only go up to 840 and mine is 838, but that's with 4 of 8 of my revolvers with a reported balance.  I'd imagine it would be a perfect 840 if I was at AZEO.

[Thomas_Thumb]

NE is an EX scoring model. I suspect at one time an NE score could be acquired through Experian that was 3B. My NE is typically 840 regardless of QTY cards reporting. I have reported balances on (2 of 6) to (6 of 6) cards. My NE score has dropped below 840 drop three times since beginning of 2015 - once down to 830. My recollection is the drops correlated to times when the AU card reported increased statement balances in the $5k to $9k range. NE may look at $$ balances as well as utilization %. Not sure how inquiries are considered (3rd party software does reference "recent inquiries last 6 months" and "older inquiries last 12 months"). Below is my NE info - it shows 6 of 6 cards having a balance when the score was calculated.

............... EX VantageScore 3.0 ................................ EX National Equivalency Score ............

Equifax still offers an internally developed credit score and it can be obtained in 1B or 3B form. I purchased those scores once for S&G comparison. (one INQ on EQ from 6/2014, none on TU or EX)

[Thomas_Thumb]

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@Revelate wrote:

Do you know who actually used it TT?

Was always an educational score listing when I checked it seemingly but maybe I'm misremembering.

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@Revelate

I don't know of specific lenders that used it. It's use was certainly not mainstream. All I have to go on are comments such as the below from years back:

  CreditSesame.com

The score you get is your Experian National Equivalency Score.  “We selected it because we feel it best approximates the range of the FICO score that is most familiar to consumers”, according to Tony Wahl, Lending Information Manager at CreditSesame.  “The National Equivalency Score is commercially available to lenders”, according to Kristine Snyder, Public Relations Manager at Experian. “The score range is 360 to 840.”

So, unlike Experian Plus score which is strictly educational, National Equivalency score was marketed for commercial use.