Your credit score is different at Experian, Equifax and TransUnion because each bureau has its own file on you, and those files are rarely identical. On top of that, the score you see may come from a different model or version at each bureau.
A gap between your scores is normal. It becomes a problem when it comes from an error, or when you plan to apply for a mortgage and do not know which score will count.
Not every lender reports to all three bureaus
Not every lender or company that reports your accounts sends data to all three bureaus. According to myFICO, not all information is reported to all three.
So a credit card, loan or collection account may appear on one report and be missing from another. A score calculated from a file with an extra late payment, or a missing account in good standing, will not match a score from a file without it.
Lenders report at different times
Lenders report to the bureaus at different times. Your card balance may be updated at Equifax one week and at TransUnion a week later.
If you pay down a large balance, one bureau may show the new balance while another still shows the old one. For a while, your scores can move in different directions for this reason alone.
Bureaus record information differently
Each bureau records and displays information in its own way. The same account can look slightly different from one report to the next.
Name variations matter too. myFICO notes that variations in your name can fragment your file. If you have used a middle initial on some applications and not others, or a maiden name, part of your history may end up in a separate file.
Different models and versions give different numbers
Even with identical files, scores can differ because there are many scoring models and versions. A free score from a card issuer may use one version, while a mortgage lender uses another.
Mortgage lenders also use a different FICO version at each bureau, per myFICO:
| Bureau | FICO version used for mortgages |
|---|---|
| Experian | FICO Score 2 |
| Equifax | FICO Score 5 |
| TransUnion | FICO Score 4 |
When you compare scores, check which model and version each one is. Comparing a FICO Score 8 to a VantageScore, or to a FICO Score 2, is not a like-for-like comparison.
Why the gap matters for a mortgage
A mortgage lender pulls all three bureaus and, under Fannie Mae's rules, uses your middle score. With only two scores, it uses the lower one.
That means your best score is not the one that counts. An error that drags down one bureau's score can change your middle score, or become the score used if one bureau has no score for you.
What to do about it
- 1Get all three reports. Free weekly reports are available at AnnualCreditReport.com, the only authorized site, or by phone at 1-877-322-8228.
- 2Compare accounts, balances, payment history and personal information across the three reports.
- 3If something is wrong, dispute it with the bureau that shows it, and with the company that reported it, as the CFPB recommends.
- 4Use the same name and address on credit applications to help keep your file together.
TRI shows all three bureau scores labeled by model, with your middle score marked, so you can see which gap matters.
Common questions
Is it normal for my three credit scores to be different?
Yes. Each bureau keeps its own file, lenders report at different times, and not every lender reports to all three. Different models and versions also give different numbers.
Which bureau has the correct credit score?
None of them is the one true score. Each score reflects the data in that bureau's file and the model used. For a mortgage, the lender usually uses your middle score.
Can a name variation affect my credit report?
Yes. myFICO notes that name variations can fragment your file, which means part of your history may be stored separately.
Should I dispute a score difference?
You dispute errors in your report, not the score itself. If an account, balance or payment is wrong at one bureau, dispute it with that bureau and with the company that reported it.
See the scores a lender will see
All three bureaus, each score labeled by model, and the middle score up front.
Get my scoresSources
- myFICO: Why are my credit scores different for the 3 credit bureaus?
- myFICO: FICO Score versions
- FTC: Free Credit Reports
- CFPB: How do I dispute an error on my credit report?
- Fannie Mae Selling Guide B3-5.1-02: Determining the Credit Score for a Mortgage Loan
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules can change; check the linked sources and ask your lender about your situation.
