How to Compare TransUnion Credit Scores

The three national credit bureaus---Experian, Equifax and TransUnion---each use slightly different versions of the FICO scoring method. If you have recently applied for a home or car loan, you may have noticed differences in your credit scores from each of the credit reporting bureaus. Your scores can vary due to different calculation formulas, and not all creditors report your activity to all three bureaus, so each of your credit reports may contain different information. For instance, when you compare TransUnion credit scores with your scores from the other two agencies, you may find a discrepancy of 30 or more points.

Instructions

1

Obtain a copy of your credit report from each of the credit bureaus. You are entitled to a free copy from each agency annually, and you can order your reports by providing your name, address, date of birth and Social Security number. The three agencies have established a central website at AnnualCreditReport.com where you can order your free reports, either separately or all at once.

2

Check the personal information section of your TransUnion credit report, as well as your other reports. The personal information sections should include your name, current and previous addresses with dates of occupancy, Social Security number and date of birth. Check for accuracy on all three reports.

3

Read the information in the employment history section. A TransUnion credit report will list your current employer with your date of hire, position and income, as well as any relevant previous employers and your reasons for leaving those occupations. Do the same for the other two reports and highlight any errors you find.

4

Examine the area of your TransUnion report that details your active credit accounts. Paid-off and past-due accounts will be included in this section, as well as your credit score. Compare your TransUnion report to the reports received from the other agencies, taking note of any differences in the reporting creditors, which can account for credit score differences.

5

Verify the remaining information. Look for items such as reported bankruptcies or judgments, any collections activity, current or past creditors, repossessions or charge-offs, your payment history over the past two years, all credit inquiries by lenders and any warning messages that may be attached to your credit history. Credit scores are calculated based on percentages, according to the importance attached to a particular category; for example, your payment history may account for 35 percent of your credit score.

6

Compare your TransUnion credit scores, which should be somewhere between 300 and 850, to the scores received by the other two agencies, and immediately inform the agencies of any errors found in your reports. Unfortunately, there will be no score given on a free report, but you can order a report that gives your credit score, directly from each credit bureau. Equifax charges $15.95 for your credit report and Experian charges $14.95. TransUnion now offers your credit score free through TrueCredit.com and Zendough.com.