Why Do I Have Different Credit Scores?

If you’ve ever checked your credit score from more than one source, you might have noticed something confusing — your score isn’t always the same. One report might say you have a 715, another could show a 740, and yet another lists 695. This can be frustrating, especially when you’re trying to understand where your credit stands before applying for a loan, mortgage, or new credit card.

So, why do you have different credit scores? The answer lies in how credit scores are calculated, what data they rely on, and who’s doing the calculating. Let’s break it down in simple terms.

The Three Major Credit Bureaus

In the United States, there are three main credit reporting agencies (often called “bureaus”): Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. These companies collect and maintain data about your borrowing and payment history. They compile this information into credit reports — detailed summaries of your financial behavior — which lenders use to assess your creditworthiness.

While these bureaus serve the same general purpose, they don’t always have identical information about you. That’s one of the biggest reasons why your credit scores can differ.

Here’s why their data can vary:

1. Lenders don’t report to all three bureaus.
   Some banks, credit card companies, or loan providers report your payment activity to all three credit bureaus. Others might only report to one or two. If, for example, your auto loan lender only reports to Experian and TransUnion but not Equifax, your Equifax credit report won’t reflect that loan — and your Equifax-based credit score might be different as a result.

2. Reporting schedules differ.
   Even when lenders report to all three, they might not update each bureau at the same time. That means your balance or payment status could appear more current on one report and outdated on another.

3. Errors or omissions happen.
   Occasionally, there may be mistakes in your credit file — such as a payment reported incorrectly or an account that doesn’t belong to you. Since each bureau maintains its own records, an error on one report won’t necessarily appear on the others, creating discrepancies between your scores.

Different Scoring Models

Another major reason you might see different credit scores is that there are multiple credit scoring models in use — and not all are created equal.

The two main companies that create scoring models are FICO® and VantageScore®. Both aim to measure your creditworthiness, but they use different algorithms, weigh certain factors differently, and have various versions that evolve over time.

1. FICO Scores

The FICO Score, created by the Fair Isaac Corporation, is the most widely used credit score in lending decisions. According to FICO, more than 90% of top lenders use FICO Scores in some capacity.

There are multiple versions of the FICO Score — for example, FICO 8, FICO 9, and even industry-specific scores like FICO Auto Score or FICO Bankcard Score. Each version may interpret your credit behavior slightly differently. For instance, FICO 8 penalizes high credit card utilization more heavily, while FICO 9 treats unpaid medical collections more leniently.

2. VantageScore

VantageScore is another credit scoring model developed jointly by the three major bureaus. Like FICO, it has different versions (e.g., VantageScore 3.0, VantageScore 4.0). Lenders, credit monitoring services, and financial apps often use VantageScore when providing free access to your credit score.

The difference between FICO and VantageScore can lead to score variations of dozens of points, even if they’re based on the same credit report.

3. Scoring Ranges

To make things even more confusing, not all scoring models use the same point range. For example:

• FICO Score: 300–850

• VantageScore 3.0 and 4.0: 300–850

• Some older or industry-specific models: 250–900

So, a 720 under one model might not mean the same thing as a 720 under another. The relative position (e.g., “good,” “fair,” or “excellent”) might differ depending on which model and version you’re looking at.

Factors That Affect Your Credit Score (and Why They Can Vary)

Although scoring models differ slightly, they generally use similar criteria to evaluate your credit behavior. Here are the main factors that affect your score — and why they might lead to differences across bureaus.

1. Payment History (35% of most scores)
   This is the record of whether you’ve paid your bills on time. Late or missed payments can significantly hurt your score. If one bureau doesn’t have the same data — for example, a missed payment that wasn’t reported — your score there might look better than at another bureau.

2. Credit Utilization (30%)
   This is the amount of credit you’re using compared to your total credit limits, often expressed as a percentage. If one report shows a slightly different balance due to timing, your utilization ratio — and therefore your score — could vary.

3. Length of Credit History (15%)
   This measures how long you’ve had credit accounts open. If one bureau doesn’t have records of an older account, it may shorten your “average age of credit,” lowering that score slightly.

4. Credit Mix (10%)
   Lenders like to see that you can handle different types of credit — such as credit cards, auto loans, and mortgages. If a certain type of account is missing from one report, it could influence your score.

5. New Credit and Inquiries (10%)
   When you apply for new credit, a “hard inquiry” appears on your report. If you applied through a lender that only reports to one bureau, that inquiry might only affect one of your scores.

Real-World Example

Let’s say you have three credit cards, an auto loan, and a student loan. All your accounts are in good standing, and you make payments on time.

• Your auto lender reports to Equifax and TransUnion, but not Experian.

• One credit card reports your balance updates on the 5th of each month, another on the 10th, and another on the 15th.

• You recently applied for a new credit card, and the inquiry appeared on Experian only.

In this case, your Equifax and TransUnion reports will show the car loan, while Experian’s won’t — making your Experian score potentially lower because you appear to have a shorter credit history or less diverse credit mix. Meanwhile, the timing differences in your credit card updates might make your utilization look higher on one report than another. Finally, that hard inquiry on Experian might cause a slight dip in that score alone.

As a result, you could easily see a 20- to 40-point difference between your scores — even though you’re managing your credit responsibly.

Why Lenders Use Different Scores

Not only can your scores differ between bureaus, but different lenders might also pull different versions of your score depending on their needs.

• Mortgage lenders often use older versions of the FICO Score, such as FICO 2, FICO 4, or FICO 5, because those models are integrated into the systems used by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

• Auto lenders might use a FICO Auto Score, which weighs your history with car loans more heavily.

• Credit card issuers may rely on the FICO Bankcard Score or a newer VantageScore version.

This means that even when you apply for the same product at two different lenders, they might see slightly different scores.

How to Check Your Scores (and What to Focus On)

It’s helpful to monitor your credit regularly, but it’s also important to understand which score you’re looking at and where it comes from. Many financial apps and credit card issuers now provide free access to a credit score — but most of these are educational scores (often VantageScores), not necessarily the exact ones a lender will use.

You can also access your free credit reports — not scores — once a week from each bureau through AnnualCreditReport.com. Reviewing these reports helps you verify that the information in them is accurate and consistent.

When checking your credit, keep in mind:

• Focus on the range your scores fall into (“good,” “very good,” etc.) rather than the exact number.

• Look for consistency over time — improving or stable scores across the bureaus are a good sign.

• If one score is much lower than the others, review that bureau’s report for errors or missing accounts.

How to Minimize Score Differences

While some variation between scores is normal and unavoidable, you can take steps to reduce discrepancies and maintain overall strong credit health:

1. Pay all bills on time.
   On-time payments are the single most important factor in your credit scores.

2. Keep balances low.
   Try to keep your credit utilization under 30% — ideally under 10% — across all cards and accounts.

3. Check all three reports regularly.
   Look for errors or accounts that appear on one report but not others.

4. Dispute inaccuracies promptly.
   If you find an error, such as a late payment that wasn’t yours, you can file a dispute with the specific bureau reporting it.

5. Avoid too many new credit applications at once.
   Multiple hard inquiries in a short time can temporarily lower your score.

6. Maintain old accounts if possible.
   Older accounts help lengthen your credit history, which positively affects your score.

When to Worry — and When Not To

Small differences between your credit scores (say, 10 to 30 points) are completely normal. Even differences of up to 50 points can happen due to the factors mentioned above and aren’t necessarily a cause for concern.

However, if you notice a large gap — for example, one score is 100 points lower than the others — it’s worth investigating. That kind of variation might indicate:

• A major reporting error

• Signs of identity theft or a fraudulent account

• A lender that isn’t reporting to one or more bureaus

In such cases, compare your reports side by side and look for discrepancies. You can request corrections from the bureau(s) in question, and most disputes are resolved within 30 to 45 days.

The Bottom Line

Having different credit scores doesn’t mean anything is wrong — it simply reflects the reality of how the credit reporting system works. Each bureau collects data independently, and each scoring model interprets that data differently. Your scores can vary based on which information is included, when it’s updated, and which model is used to calculate it.

Think of your credit scores as snapshots taken from slightly different angles. Each one tells part of the story, but together they provide a fuller picture of your credit health.

Instead of worrying about the exact number from one source, focus on the overall patterns: consistent on-time payments, low debt levels, and responsible credit use. By maintaining good habits across all your accounts, you’ll ensure that all your scores — regardless of bureau or model — stay strong over time.