Difference in credit scores
Oct 10, 2012 | 8:56 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAS, MPL
Programs: DL Platinum, 1 MM
Posts: 1,404
Difference in credit scores
I recently signed up for CreditKarma and CreditSesame and noticed a big difference in what they call my credit score (775 vs. 840). One of them comes from Transunion, the other from Experian. Does anybody know how that relates to what is commonly called FICO score?
Oct 11, 2012 | 12:12 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: MFR
Posts: 327
My scores from both Credit Sesame and Credit Karma are very similar. Both scores are in the excellent range, but they are about 20 points lower than my actual FICO score (which a credit union kindly sent me after I was approved for their credit card).
Your credit score of 840 on Credit Sesame is very high; 850 is the top of their scale.
Your credit score of 840 on Credit Sesame is very high; 850 is the top of their scale.
Oct 11, 2012 | 3:43 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: mountains of western NC
Programs: Life, Love and Laughter
Posts: 9,823
Both Credit Sesame and Credit Karma give you estimates of your credit scores. For me, they are close to my real scores, like 10 points off or so. But I have read reports where people have said they are as much as 50 points off.
Oct 11, 2012 | 2:36 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: National EE, Hyatt Discoverist, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 523
Your FICO score is the real deal. It's what lenders will actually use when determining your credit worthiness. IMO, Credit Sesame and & Karma scores are nothing more than marketing gimmicks. Those two are only estimates of what your FICO could actually be.
I've been a FICO Scorewatch member for about 6 months now. It's interesting to watch my score jump around simply by the credit card companies closing my statements each month. Over the past 6 months, I've had 4 emailed alerts, 3 revisions to my score up and one down.
Keep in mind that FICO only offers scores from Transunion and Equifax, you will have to go Experian's web site to pull your "Experian Plus" score.
I've been a FICO Scorewatch member for about 6 months now. It's interesting to watch my score jump around simply by the credit card companies closing my statements each month. Over the past 6 months, I've had 4 emailed alerts, 3 revisions to my score up and one down.
Keep in mind that FICO only offers scores from Transunion and Equifax, you will have to go Experian's web site to pull your "Experian Plus" score.
Oct 11, 2012 | 8:23 pm
#7
In Memoriam
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Southern California
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Oct 12, 2012 | 12:21 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 37
Citi identity monitor is pretty good at only $4.95 a month.
http://www.identitymonitor.citi.com/index.aspx
http://www.identitymonitor.citi.com/index.aspx
Oct 12, 2012 | 8:58 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,436
Citi identity monitor is pretty good at only $4.95 a month.
http://www.identitymonitor.citi.com/index.aspx
http://www.identitymonitor.citi.com/index.aspx
Oct 12, 2012 | 9:02 am
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,253
As reported recently, what you see from a credit rating agency is not what a financial institution sees. At least what you pull from an agency is reliable. But, if you are looking at something major such as a mortgage, where a 0.1%rate difference can make an enormous difference over time, ask your mortgage broker what they are seeing for problems because that's what counts.
Oct 12, 2012 | 10:29 am
#11
Moderator: Travel Buzz
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 3,175
My Fico scorewatch is bouncing around by 40+ points depending on how much credit utilization is showing at any given time. Since I am refinancing a mortgage, I signed up for a 3 month scorewatch. As a result, I am paying my bill mid-cycle and hoping that this payment strategy will keep my score up high. I have no lates and a fairly lengthy credit history. I have been quite surprised at the range in scoring. The fico forums have some interesting comments about scores and are worth perusing.
Nov 12, 2012 | 8:01 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: Far too many
Posts: 316
Credit Secure
Today's Credit Karma score was 40 points less than last week's Experian.
American Express is offering a 30 day trial of its Credit Secure service for $1. This will show all three bureaus' scores twice. That is, you can get November's and December's scores in one 30-day trial.
Be sure to calendar the end date for the trial, as the monthly service will then cost $15.
American Express is offering a 30 day trial of its Credit Secure service for $1. This will show all three bureaus' scores twice. That is, you can get November's and December's scores in one 30-day trial.
Be sure to calendar the end date for the trial, as the monthly service will then cost $15.
Nov 17, 2012 | 5:44 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: LAS
Programs: DL PM, UA PS, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 4,906
I have such a wide variety of scores:
Credit Sesame: 811
Credit Karma: 774
Experian (via US Bank): 735
Transunion (from Barclay's app): 764
Identity Monitor (Citi): 744EQ, 720EX, 735TU
Who do I believe? Most of the banks pull Experian where I am (only 3 TU pulls in 2 years and only EQ pulls were utilities and investment account).
Credit Sesame: 811
Credit Karma: 774
Experian (via US Bank): 735
Transunion (from Barclay's app): 764
Identity Monitor (Citi): 744EQ, 720EX, 735TU
Who do I believe? Most of the banks pull Experian where I am (only 3 TU pulls in 2 years and only EQ pulls were utilities and investment account).
Nov 18, 2012 | 7:29 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: mountains of western NC
Programs: Life, Love and Laughter
Posts: 9,823
It's important to check your credit report to make sure Experian, Equifax and Transunion have correct info for you. A friend checked his last week and all three had major mistakes for him and there were differences among them in these mistakes.
So, if you're seeing big discrepancies in your scores, check your report. (Actually it's good to check your report from time to time even if there are no discrepancies.)
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp
So, if you're seeing big discrepancies in your scores, check your report. (Actually it's good to check your report from time to time even if there are no discrepancies.)
https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp