how accurate is credit sesame
#2
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 668
The information that they list about your balances, age of accounts, etc. is straight off your Experian report, although they don't show you lots of the information that is there (I think credit pulls aren't listed for instance).
The score is using an algorithm based on that info that is separate from the actual FICO score used by most financial institutions. It's supposed to be pretty similar to FICO, although for me it has been off by up to 50 points.
The score is using an algorithm based on that info that is separate from the actual FICO score used by most financial institutions. It's supposed to be pretty similar to FICO, although for me it has been off by up to 50 points.
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 644
The information that they list about your balances, age of accounts, etc. is straight off your Experian report, although they don't show you lots of the information that is there (I think credit pulls aren't listed for instance).
The score is using an algorithm based on that info that is separate from the actual FICO score used by most financial institutions. It's supposed to be pretty similar to FICO, although for me it has been off by up to 50 points.
The score is using an algorithm based on that info that is separate from the actual FICO score used by most financial institutions. It's supposed to be pretty similar to FICO, although for me it has been off by up to 50 points.
#4
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: EWN/OAJ/RDU/ILM (Formerly BTV)
Programs: HH D i a m o n d !!!
Posts: 356
CreditSesame is 36-points higher than my CreditKarma "TransRisk" score. Both are "Excellent."
In my estimation, both seem higher than they should be (although it has been 4 months since I checked my official scores).
In my estimation, both seem higher than they should be (although it has been 4 months since I checked my official scores).
#5
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: HHonors, SPG, ClubCarlson, AAdvantage, BA Avios, US Dividend Miles, UA MileagePlus, Delta SkyPesos
Posts: 137
Interestingly, I have found about the opposite. I just received a Transunion report yesterday showing my score at 755 when CreditKarma lists it at 738 currently. My score on Quizzle within a week of a credit application was 762, and the actual Experian score was 789. I have a lot of new lines of credit, and I think that CreditKarma and Quizzle may be punishing me more for that than the actual scores. I also have a HELOC, and it may be that they treat the HELOC differently from the actual credit bureaus.
Last edited by LowFlyOver; Dec 13, 2011 at 9:18 am
#7
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NYC
Posts: 511
The only way to get your real score is to pay for it. You can use CitiCards to monitor your credit or AmEx. You can buy straight from MyFICO or your VantageScore.
I think it is nice to know your exact credit score. More importantly I think it is good that you continuously monitor your credit score. keep track of its movements and make sure it stays at healthy levels.
You could buy the real thing but awareness is just as important.
I think it is nice to know your exact credit score. More importantly I think it is good that you continuously monitor your credit score. keep track of its movements and make sure it stays at healthy levels.
You could buy the real thing but awareness is just as important.
#10
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: mountains of western NC
Programs: Life, Love and Laughter
Posts: 8,537
If you have an AMEX, see if you can sign up for their Credit Secure service, first month was only $1 for me. I found it after logging into my AMEX account. It gave me all three scores and my full credit report. You can get your full report once a year for free at https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp
This Credit Secure report also gave me my 3 scores.
#11
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SEA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 183
Over the past 7 months that I have used Credit Sesame it has been higher than my official Experian by 80-100 points, oddly moving up and down roughly in lockstep with the official score but always inflated by this amount.
#12
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 385
Same. It always makes me feel good to have an 800+ score though
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 31,005
After getting my actual scores from myFico in December, creditsesame was 8 points higher, CreditKarma was 15 points lower, and Quizzle was 20 points low. All in the very high 700's.