June 14, 2022 |8 min read Show
Equifax, Experian and TransUnion create the credit reports that inform your credit scoresJune 14, 2022 |8 min read If you’ve ever applied for credit, you probably know a little bit about credit reports already. But did you know that there are several different versions of your credit report? Credit reports are compiled by three major companies called credit bureaus, also known as credit reporting agencies or consumer reporting companies. Read
on to learn what credit bureaus are, what Key Takeaways
What Are the 3 Credit Bureaus?Equifax, Experian and TransUnion are the three major credit bureaus in the U.S. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), credit bureaus are companies that compile and sell credit reports. If you own a credit card or have received a loan in the past, you have already started building your credit history if that information has been reported to one or more of the three credit bureaus. What About Specialty Credit Reporting?Besides the three main credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, there are also specialty reporting agencies that collect much more specific information about you. As the CFPB explains, these agencies might collect data and create reports based on information like apartment rental payments, insurance claims, medical payments and more. If you’ve never heard of these specialty reports, you’re not alone. The CFPB says you might not even know about them unless you find yourself having problems with things like getting a job or renting an apartment. What Data Is Collected by the Major Credit Bureaus?The three credit bureaus typically collect information about your financial habits. The exact information each credit bureau collects might vary. But according to the CFPB, the information typically includes things like:
Credit bureaus compile this information into credit reports that lenders use to help predict how likely you are to repay debts on time. Lenders might use credit reports, along with other information, to help decide things like whether to approve you for credit, what interest rate to offer you and how to set your credit limit. Other businesses might check your credit too. Insurance companies might use credit reports to decide on applications or set insurance rates. Or landlords might use them to decide whether to lease someone an apartment. Your credit scores are calculated based on information in your credit reports. This is why it’s important to know about your credit reports and how they’re created. How Do Credit Bureaus Get Your Information?The three credit bureaus gather information from a combination of different sources. But generally, there are a few main ways credit bureaus collect information about you. First, some financial institutions and lenders voluntarily send information to the credit bureaus. According to the CFPB, that includes places like:
Credit bureaus also obtain public records and include that information in their reports. Those records might include things like:
What Keeps My Credit Reports Private?The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that helps protect the accuracy, privacy and fairness of information collected by credit bureaus. When credit bureaus collect information on consumer credit behavior, they have the right to do so without people’s permission. But businesses that might want to access information through a credit check, including credit card issuers, need to have “a permissible purpose” under the law to obtain your credit report. In most cases, the business will disclose to you that they are pulling your credit report. Why Do You Have Different Credit Scores?It’s important to note that information in each credit bureau’s report might be collected from different sources. This is why you may find that one credit bureau’s report has certain information that the others don’t, and that can result in a subtle difference in your credit scores. Separate from the three credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, are credit scoring companies, such as VantageScore and FICO. They use mathematical formulas called scoring models along with information from your credit reports to calculate credit scores. What’s a Credit Scoring Model?Credit scoring models are mathematical systems used by credit bureaus to determine your creditworthiness. Credit scoring companies, such as FICO and VantageScore, use their own credit scoring models to calculate credit scores. A model might use information from just one or a combination of different credit reports. Then, each credit scoring model might assign different levels of importance to that information. Credit scores generally range from 300 to 850, and your score may depend on information like your payment history, total outstanding debt and credit mix. Typically, higher credit scores allow you to access credit cards or loans with better terms. According to the CFPB, your score can even change depending on the day it’s calculated or the type of credit you’re applying for. That’s because there are many different credit scoring models for different types of loans that might rely on different sources of information. Some lenders might even have their own custom credit scoring models that they use to make credit decisions. It’s understandable if this all feels a little complicated. But remember: Your credit scores can be different depending on the information used, the company, the type of loan and the time when your score is calculated. How to Check Your Credit ReportsNow that you know more about the three credit bureaus, you might be wondering: How do I check my credit reports? You can get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to learn how. There may be a limit on how often you can get your report. You can check the site or call 877-322-8228 for more details. Another way to monitor your credit is by using CreditWise from Capital One. With CreditWise, you can access your TransUnion credit report and weekly VantageScore 3.0 credit score—without hurting your score. And CreditWise is free for everyone. You don’t even have to be a Capital One cardholder to enroll. Checking your credit reports and your credit scores regularly can help you:
More FAQs About the 3 Credit BureausWhich of the 3 Credit Bureaus Is Most Important?There’s no “most important” credit bureau. Reviewing reports from all three bureaus can help you understand what information might be used to calculate your credit scores. But remember, lenders have their own criteria to decide on things like loan and credit applications. Which of the 3 Credit Bureaus Is Most Accurate?All three credit bureaus generally provide accurate credit reports, and no credit bureau is “better” than another. However, credit reporting errors do occur. So, it never hurts to check your credit report for errors. How Do I Contact All 3 Credit Bureaus?To contact all three major credit bureaus, you can visit their websites linked below or call the specified customer service numbers listed below:
What Is a Good FICO Score?FICO says good credit scores may range from 670 to 739 and fair credit scores range from 580 to 669. What Is the Highest Credit Score?For typical score ranges, the highest credit score possible from FICO and VantageScore is 850. But remember there are multiple scoring models and ranges. For example, FICO Auto Scores go as high as 900. The Bottom Line on BureausNow you know a little more about the three major credit bureaus and why they matter when it comes to your credit reports and credit scores. Understanding more about how credit works and why credit is so important can help you get the tools you need to work on maintaining good credit. If you’re at the beginning of your credit journey, you can learn more about how to establish first-time credit or build credit from scratch. We hope you found this helpful. Our content is not intended to provide legal, investment or financial advice or to indicate that a particular Capital One product or service is available or right for you. For specific advice about your unique circumstances, consider talking with a qualified professional. Capital One does not provide, endorse or guarantee any third-party product, service, information, or recommendation listed above. The third parties listed are solely responsible for their products and services, and all trademarks listed are the property of their respective owners. Your CreditWise score is calculated using the TransUnion® VantageScore® 3.0 model, which is one of many credit scoring models. It may not be the same model your lender uses, but it can be one accurate measure of your credit health. The availability of the CreditWise tool depends on our ability to obtain your credit history from TransUnion. Some monitoring and alerts may not be available to you if the information you enter at enrollment does not match the information in your credit file at (or you do not have a file at) one or more consumer reporting agencies. What credit bureau do most mortgage lenders look at?Which Credit Scores Are Mortgage Lenders Primarily Interested In? TransUnion, Equifax and Experian will each provide a credit score for the lender when they are determining your chances of loan approval.
What credit scores do most lenders use?FICO ® Scores are the most widely used credit scores—90% of top lenders use FICO ® Scores. Every year, lenders access billions of FICO ® Scores to help them understand people's credit risk and make better–informed lending decisions.
Do most lenders use Experian or Equifax?Experian provides monthly data for each account including the minimum payment due, payment amounts, and balances. More companies use Experian for credit reporting than use Equifax. This alone does not make Experian better, but it does indicate that debt is more likely to appear on Experian.
Why is my Equifax score lower than Experian?This is due to a variety of factors, such as the many different credit score brands, score variations and score generations in commercial use at any given time. These factors are likely to yield different credit scores, even if your credit reports are identical across the three credit bureaus—which is also unusual.
|
What credit bureau do most lenders use
Related Posts
Copyright © 2024 moicapnhap Inc.
