Why is my fico higher than credit karma

For those who are working to improve their credit scores, a tool like Credit Karma can be very useful. Credit Karma provides free credit monitoring through daily or weekly updates to your VantageScore, which isn't the same as your FICO score. VantageScores might trend higher than FICO scores because of how they are calculated.  

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Twitter users have been complaining (and joking) about the difference between their Credit Karma scores and their FICO scores. Since Credit Karma provides clear information on how it calculates your VantageScore and how it differs from FICO, it really comes down to the consumer being aware of those differences when applying for loans.  

Why is my fico higher than credit karma

Source: Credit Karma Facebook

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Why credit scores matter

Your credit scores are three-digit values assigned to you by different credit reporting bureaus. There are three distinct reporting bureaus—TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. Each one might use slightly different information available to calculate the scores. 

Lenders refer to these scores to determine a person’s creditworthiness, or how safe it is for them to offer you a loan. A higher credit score can mean a better interest rate on a home loan or auto loan, which could save you a lot of money in the long run.   

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VantageScore generally uses the same customer information in calculations as FICO, but it might weigh each factor differently, which could result in a different score. VantageScore and FICO look at factors like your payment history, length of credit history, amounts owed, credit utilization, and types of credit.  

Difference between Credit Karma and FICO scores

Credit Karma’s services are helpful, but some users might be in for an unpleasant surprise when they apply for a loan. Credit Karma creates a VantageScore based on TransUnion and Equifax information. It's a benchmark, but it isn't the number used by most lenders when making loan decisions.

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Many lenders use FICO scores, calculated by the Fair Isaac Corporation, to make lending decisions. So, your loan terms could be different than you expected if you’ve only been checking your VantageScore. According to FICO, 90 percent of the top lenders use FICO scores when deciding whether to grant loans and what rates to offer. 

Why is my fico higher than credit karma

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What’s a good credit score?

 FICO credit scores have the following ranges:

  • Below 580 = Poor
  • 580-669 = Fair
  • 670-739 = Good
  • 740-799 = Very Good
  • Above 800 = Exceptional

Meanwhile, VantageScore 3.0, which Credit Karma uses, has the following ranges:

  • Below 500 = Very Poor 
  • 500–600 = Poor
  • 601–660 = Fair
  • 661–780 = Good
  • 781–850 = Excellent

The key differences are that VantageScores don’t have a Very Good category, and scores generally are about 20 points lower to receive the same designation as a FICO score.  

What to do when applying for a loan

When you’re preparing to apply for a new loan for a mortgage, car, or another type of loan, you might want to check your FICO score in addition to Credit Karma’s VantageScore. You can try tips for raising your credit scores like checking your credit report for errors, keeping unused credit cards open, and adding utility and phone bills to your credit record.  

Is Credit Karma score usually lower than FICO?

Credit Karma compiles its own accurate VantageScore based on that information. Your Credit Karma score should be the same or close to your FICO score, which is what any prospective lender will probably check.

Is the FICO score on Credit Karma accurate?

Here's the short answer: The credit scores and reports you see on Credit Karma come directly from TransUnion and Equifax, two of the three major consumer credit bureaus. The credit scores and reports you see on Credit Karma should accurately reflect your credit information as reported by those bureaus.

How far off is Credit Karma from your FICO score?

Credit Karma touts that it will always be free to the consumers who use its website or mobile app. But how accurate is Credit Karma? In some cases, as seen in an example below, Credit Karma may be off by 20 to 25 points.

Why is my FICO score higher than my other scores?

Your score differs based on the information provided to each bureau, explained more next. Information provided to the credit bureaus: The credit bureaus may not receive all of the same information about your credit accounts. Surprisingly, lenders aren't required to report to all or any of the three bureaus.