Experian no longer provides FICO score ~ February 23, 2009

Effective this month you will no longer be able to get your FICO credit score from Experian, one of the three major credit bureaus.

The company notified Fair Isaac Corp., the firm that created the credit-scoring model most used by lenders, that it is terminating its relationship with myFICO.com, a Web site that sold FICO credit scores and other information directly to consumers. This means generally that Experian customers will not be able to see the FICO scores lenders are using in determining their credit levels.

Although there are a number of credit-scoring models available, it's the Fair Isaac technology that is most used by lenders to make millions of credit decisions each year.

Credit-scoring models apply a mathematical formula to a consumer's credit history. For the most part they all use the same range of factors, most importantly late payments and the amount of debt owed, to produce a three-digit score that is supposed to judge a person's likelihood of repaying debt.

This issue isn't about which scoring model is better. It comes down to consumers having access to what most lenders are using to grade them.

Consumers will still be able to obtain FICO scores based on their files at Equifax or TransUnion.

The squabble between Experian and Fair Isaac follows a lawsuit Fair Isaac filed in 2006 against Experian, Equifax and TransUnion after the three developed a model called VantageScore, which uses a different scale than FICO.

In defending Experian's decision, Experian spokeswoman Susan Henson said consumers still will be able to buy credit scores from Experian based on information in their Experian credit file. So where does this all leave Experian customers?

You still may be able to get a look at your Experian FICO score by simply asking your lender. In some mortgage transactions, you are entitled to the credit score without charge.

You also can complain to the company. And you can complain to Congress, which has in its power to make the most widely used credit-scoring system available to the public for free.

Never really understood who the heck this Fair Isaac was and who said it was ok to use this credit rating process. Our Fico scores were available with our yearly credit reports, now one has to purchase your own credit score?

Anyway just sharing info, brb gonna write my Congressman.

thank you for sharing this info Fran when I was clearing my credit a few years back I educated myself on the credit system.I learned how to make settlements with companies I owed I often use the infomation I learned helping others

Hey did ya ever meet Isaac Is he as Fair as he claims


I just think it's a f'ing shame, we must purchase our own credit rating. What next? This is our own information which we must pay for.


Woke up feeling very frugal does it show?

no never met Isaac and I might add getting a morgage company to check your score or any other company stays on your credit report for 2 years If the company you are applying for credit shops you around each inquiry is 2 years on your report

yup aware of that, for those that aren't thanks Tina

Inquiries that count toward your FICO score.

There is only one type of credit inquiry that counts toward your FICO score. When you apply for a mortgage, auto loan or other credit, you authorize the lender to request a copy of your credit report. These types of inquiries, prompted by your own actions, appear on your credit report and are included in your FICO score.


Inquiries that don’t count toward your FICO score.
Your own credit report requests, credit checks made by businesses to offer you goods or services, or inquiries made by businesses with whom you already have a credit account do not count toward your FICO score. Credit checks by prospective employers also do not count. These types of inquiries may appear on your credit report, but they are not included in your FICO score.