Credit reports and credit scores are connected—not identical

Your report is the underlying record

A credit report organizes information supplied to a consumer reporting company. It may include identifying information, credit accounts, payment history, collections, public-record information that can legally be reported, and inquiries showing who accessed the file.

Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion are the three nationwide credit reporting companies, but they may not receive exactly the same information at the same time. That is why reviewing all three reports can reveal differences.

A score is a model's prediction

The CFPB describes a credit score as a prediction of credit behavior based on information in a credit report. A lender may use a different model, report source, or product-specific score than the score a consumer sees elsewhere.

There is no single universal score. A score can vary by model, data source, lending product, and calculation date without any one of those scores necessarily being an error.

• Payment history and late payments
• Current unpaid debt and use of available credit
• The number, type, and age of accounts
• Recent applications and certain negative events

Where to start when something seems wrong

Start with the credit reports that supplied the underlying information. Look for accounts you do not recognize, incorrectly reported late payments, duplicate items, wrong balances, or closed accounts shown as open.

A lower-than-expected score does not by itself prove that a report contains an error. Compare the reported facts with your own records before deciding whether any information should be disputed.