Why Do I Have Three Credit Scores?

You have three credit scores because you have a different credit report from each of the three credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Each bureau will generate a score for you based on the information found on the credit file they hold for you. The information found on each of your credit reports will most likely be slightly different, as not all of your lenders will report your account information and payment history to all three bureaus.

Note that these three credit scores might also be different from the exact score that a lender uses when deciding to grant you a new loan or line of credit. This is because each financial institution uses its own scoring formula based on factors that are most important to it. The scores you receive from a credit services provider (often referred to as "consumer scores") will be close but not identical to the number a lending institution generates based on your particular credit history and its particular scoring formula (called "lender scores").

Financial institutions are unlikely to share the score they generate for you, so getting your consumer scores is usually your only means to getting a close estimate of how lenders might view your creditworthiness.

Related Links:

Consumer vs. Lender Credit Scores