Why Are TransUnion Credit Scores Different?

Any of your credit reports housed at each of three main credit bureaus -- TransUnion, Experien and Equifax -- can be used for credit scoring purposes. Credit scores from each of the three bureaus can differ by 50 points or more, according to Jason R. Rich, author of the book "The Complete Book of Dirty Little Secrets: Money-Saving Strategies the Credit Bureaus Won't Tell You." The difference between your TransUnion credit scores and the scores of other credit bureaus are due to the particular credit information and scoring model that is used for calculations.

Credit Bureau Role

The three main credit bureaus -- Experian, Equifax and TransUnion -- are responsible for housing consumer credit information, such as details regarding the number of credit accounts and loans you hold, including payment history information. The consumer credit information -- also known as your credit report -- is used by each of these agencies to calculate a credit score. It's imperative that you conduct your credit affairs wisely if you want a favorable score.

Cause of Discrepancies

Due to the different scoring models and criteria of each agency, your credit scores will differ between agencies. Think of it as being graded on the same assignment by three different teachers, with all three teachers using their own set of criteria to determine your score. Inevitably, your grade from each teacher will differ. Credit bureaus also have their own set of criteria. Some criteria may overlap between bureaus and some of it will be totally different. The different sets of criteria will result in a discrepancy between your TransUnion score and your Experian and Equifax scores.

Factors Used to Determine Credit Scores

The scoring models of each credit bureau, including TransUnion, are different and the exact details of each model are unknown. Yet, the general list of criteria credit bureaus use includes payment history, credit balances, length of credit history, new accounts opened and types of credit used. The amount of weight each category carries will depend on each credit bureau's scoring model. Another factor used to determine scores is when the score is calculated. Information gleaned from a credit report one week may not be the same the following week because of the data reported.

What You Can Do

While you don't have any influence regarding the weight assigned to the criteria that a credit bureau such as TransUnion uses to calculate your credit score, you can practice responsible credit behavior. If you make payments on time, avoid opening too many accounts and keep your credit balances at a reasonable level -- below 30 percent of your total available balance -- you can increase your chances of a more favorable credit score.