How to Obtain an Official FICO Score

The Fair Isaac Corporation invested the first credit scoring model in 1958--the FICO score, according to Yahoo Finance. Since then, lenders have been using the FICO score to approve credit applications in the U.S. Until early 2009, U.S. consumers who had active credit reports could get a FICO score for all three of their reports, until Experian cut its ties with Fair Isaac, according to a consumer alert published by the Experian, and began selling their Plus and Vantage scores. Today, U.S. consumers can still receive an official FICO score for their Equifax and TransUnion credit reports.

Instructions

1

Go to the MyFICO website.

2

Click on the "FICO Scores and Credit Reports" tab.

3

Pick the "FICO standard" product on this page. This will give you a credit report and official FICO score for the credit bureaus you choose.

4

Select the orange "Buy Now" button.

5

Put a check mark next to the Equifax, TransUnion or both boxes, depending on which FICO score you want, and click on the orange "Continue" button.

6

Log in to your existing MyFICO account on the next page or create an account by clicking on the orange "Create Account" button and filling in the required information. You have to either log in or register to purchase a product and FICO only allows one account per Social Security number. You will then be taken back to the previous page, where you need to select the orange "Continue" button again.

7

Bypass the special offers by choosing the "No Thanks" options or select one or both of the special purchases. Click on the orange "Continue" button.

8

Review and agree to the User Agreement by putting a check mark next to the "I Agree" option. Input your e-mail address and a promotional code, if you have one. Then click the orange "Continue" button.

9

Pay for your purchase by filling in your credit or debit card information. Click the orange "Make Payment Now" button.

10

Choose the "My Purchases" tab on the top right-hand corner of your screen and you will see the scores that you purchased. These will be your official FICO scores.