Huge score difference between agencies

Susanr

Can anyone advise me on why my credit score with Experian is "excellent": almost the highest it can be. However with Clearscore it's poor at around 290. I am looking to remortgage soon so need to get my score at its best!

boo_star

The score from the CRA's doesn't matter to lenders, it's what's in your file that matters.

Other than CRA scores being a work of fiction the only other reason for a difference in "score" is that there's something negative on your Equifax report that isn't on your Experian one.

Willing2Learn

Each CRA will normally hold different data on you in your credit files. Is the report data accurate in your Clearscore report? Or is something incorrect or missing?

Barney_Rubble_0403

Have you looked at the data held within. Not all organisations report to the same cra's.

DCFC79

Susanr wrote: »

Can anyone advise me on why my credit score with Experian is "excellent": almost the highest it can be. However with Clearscore it's poor at around 290. I am looking to remortgage soon so need to get my score at its best!

OP you were told last year your score means naff all.

Susanr

Thanks for the responses. I have checked the information held with both agencies and it seems aligned.

As for the negative comment, I am clearly asking as I have had issues getting credit, suggesting my score is an issue!

boo_star

Susanr wrote: »

As for the negative comment, I am clearly asking as I have had issues getting credit, suggesting my score is an issue!

No, it suggests that there is something on your credit file (or perhaps something that's not on your credit file) that is causing lenders to reject you as your score doesn't mean anything.

sleepyjones

I know people say it all the time "Your score means nothing" ... but surely the score reflects what's actually in your credit file, so if your score is low you know there's something "bad" in there, so it does matter as it reflects the actual content of your file?

I get that the physical number isn't seen by creditors but the number must represent something, it's not just a random number they generate. So although the number isn't seen, it's not irrelevant as it does give an indication of your credit worthiness based on whatever that number represents? ... even though everyone has different lending criteria if you have a high score then you're much more likely to get a £3k MBNA card over someone with a low score, even though the number is irrelevant?

Think this is me more just thinking out loud than really asking a question

...

Maybe just look for a mortgage company that uses Experian and not Clearscore (check the terms to see which ones they use)?
(Although the number is irrelevant, there must be something bad on Clearscore that isn't on Experian? ... I've no idea)

BoGoF

sleepy.....if that were the case why do bankrupts end up with scores of 999 or how many times do we get people say my credit score is excellent but can't get credit. If they were in sny way accurate then why the big variance between agencies.

sleepyjones

To be honest, I wouldn't have thought you could be a bankrupt with a score of 999? ... and as for people saying "my score is excellent", I dunno, just trying to not look bad on the forum by saying my score is garbage.

Dunno to be honest, I don't really know much about this kind of thing, I just dip in here every now and then now that I've got a Credit Card and am trying to build a good standing with credit providers (never had a Credit Card until this year and I'm in my 40s so this is all a bit new to me).

Wasn't questioning anyone's responses because, like I said, I know nothing about this kind of thing ... was more of a brain-fart kinda moment where it just came out and I'm trying to understand it better myself

Thanks again for your response BoGoF.

easterbunni

sleepy - my Experian score is always usually 999 yet Credit Karma / Noddle always have me down as being "Fair". Both reports contain exactly the same information :huh::rotfl: