MSE Credit Club and difference to Experian score

[Deleted User]

My Experian credit score recently went down by 12 points for no apparent reason.
I have the bog standard free monthly score update from Experian.
Wanting to know why I decided to sign up to MSE's good sounding Credit Club.
Application fine, when I sign in I see the value for Experan it's 15 points below what Experian's own website tells me it is.
I appreciate people say the absolute score isn't vital, instead a risk indicater for lenders is; but I think it could be those old favourites TalkTalk causing problems because I have had to take on a deceased relatives line before cancelling it, and if they have messed up I want to know if I have to steel myself to deal with them.
Anyone got a reason why Experian themselvs and MSE would have different values ?

CliveOfIndia

The most logical reason would probably simply be a delay in the two systems synchronising.  But really, I wouldn't worry about it - the score you see is absolutely meaningless.

If you've taken out a new line of credit (in the form of a phone contract) then your score will drop.  It drops in relation to any change in your credit circumstances, whether good, bad or indifferent.  It doesn't necessarily mean there's anything sinister going on.

[Deleted User]

CliveOfIndia said:

The most logical reason would probably simply be a delay in the two systems synchronising.  But really, I wouldn't worry about it - the score you see is absolutely meaningless.

If you've taken out a new line of credit (in the form of a phone contract) then your score will drop.  It drops in relation to any change in your credit circumstances, whether good, bad or indifferent.  It doesn't necessarily mean there's anything sinister going on.

Thanks Clive, that's probably it. I had to take the line over - they don't allow a name change even with a death certificate. All for me to close within the 90-day free cancellation period. I wish I hadn't bothered and just cancelled the bloomin thing. hey ho ! =]

CliveOfIndia

It does sound a bit of a palaver, but really, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.  Honestly, your score is irrelevant as far as any lender is concerned, and the new line will explain the drop.

Being charitable to the CRAs, I guess the only purpose it might serve is that a large unexplained movement in the score might alert you to the fact something fairly major has changed in your credit circumstance (someone fraudulently taking out credit in your name, for instance).  But as an absolute figure it has no meaning whatsoever, and small movements in the score are as likely to be caused by a butterfly flapping its wings in the Philippines as anything else

cymruchris

[Deleted User] said:

I appreciate people say the absolute score isn't vital

It's not vital - and it's not even important. It's nothing more than a generalised indication of your creditworthiness that only you see. It can be wildly innacurate. The only thing that is vital and important is that the data is correct. As for seeing two scores - most likely the reports were compiled on different days. Scores go up and down like the sun with some people and never move for others. The first time you saw your score before comparing was likely created on X day and then when you went to check with the MSE verion it was different because it was created on Y day. Nothing in the slightest to worry about.