What Is Equifax FICO 9 Score?

The Equifax FICO 9 score measures five weighted categories: payment history (35 %), credit utilization (30 %), length of credit history (15 %), new credit (10 %), and credit mix (10 %). These percentages reflect how Equifax evaluates your credit behavior across its database (Equifax FICO 9 factor breakdown).

Missed payments shrink the 35 % payment‑history slice; a balance that equals 40 % of your total limits drags down the 30 % utilization slice. A 10‑year‑old credit card adds to the 15 % length‑of‑history component, while three hard inquiries in a month lifts the 10 % new‑credit factor, reducing the score. Holding both a mortgage and an auto loan improves the 10 % credit‑mix portion.

Equifax FICO 9 stands apart because it discounts paid medical collections after 180 days, pulls optional rent‑and‑utility payments into the credit file, and evaluates 24‑month trended data so recent behavior carries extra weight  -  as we explained in the 'what Equifax FICO 9 measures' section.

Older models such as FICO 8 or VantageScore 4.0 treat medical debt like any other delinquency, ignore non‑traditional payments, and calculate scores from a single point‑in‑time snapshot, resulting in a narrower view of risk. Learn more about FICO 9's algorithm.

The five biggest drivers of your Equifax FICO 9 are payment history, credit utilization, length of credit history, new credit, and credit mix.

• Payment history (≈35%) - on‑time payments raise your score; any missed or late payment pulls it down.
• Credit utilization (≈30%) - the ratio of balances to limits on revolving accounts; staying below 30 % is ideal.
• Length of credit history (≈15%) - older accounts and a long average age boost your score; closing old cards can hurt it.
• New credit (≈10%) - recent hard inquiries and newly opened accounts lower the score temporarily.
• Credit mix (≈10%) - having a variety of installment and revolving accounts signals responsible handling of debt.

Medical debt hurts the Equifax FICO 9 less because the model excludes any medical collection that's been paid (in full or partially) and delays reporting an unpaid medical collection for 180 days, giving insurers a chance to intervene.

Lenders read your Equifax FICO 9 to gauge credit risk, set interest rates, and decide whether to extend credit.

They apply the score in several concrete ways:

• Risk‑based pricing - Higher FICO 9 numbers earn lower APRs on mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards; lower numbers trigger higher rates or denial.
• Pre‑qualification thresholds - Many banks require a minimum FICO 9 (often 680 for conventional loans) before pulling a full application.
• Credit line decisions - Card issuers use the score to determine initial limits; a rise of 50 points can add several hundred dollars to the limit.
• Medical‑debt treatment - Because FICO 9 excludes paid medical collections, lenders see a cleaner risk profile compared with older models.
• Score‑based product eligibility - Some 'good‑credit' rewards cards and low‑down‑payment mortgages open only to borrowers with FICO 9 above 720.

These actions rely on the five‑factor weighting that defines FICO 9: payment history 35 %, amounts owed 30 %, length of credit history 15 %, new credit 10 %, and credit mix 10 %. Understanding how each factor feeds the score helps you predict lender behavior and tailor your credit strategy.

Next, we'll show how to pull your Equifax FICO 9 instantly so you can monitor these lender thresholds in real time. FICO 9 usage by lenders

You can view your Equifax FICO 9 score instantly through the myEquifax portal.

1. Open Equifax FICO 9 score portal and create an account or log in.
2. Verify your identity with Social Security number, date of birth, current address, and answer security questions.
3. Purchase the single‑time FICO 9 report or subscribe to the monthly service; the score appears on your dashboard with a trend graph.
4. If you have a credit‑card or banking app that lists 'Equifax FICO 9' under its credit‑score feature, log in to that app and view the score at no extra charge.
5. For a free monthly refresh, enroll in a reputable credit‑monitoring service that includes the Equifax FICO 9 in its package; the score updates each month after new data is reported.

Equifax FICO 9 updates generally appear within 30 days of a creditor's reporting cycle; most changes - new accounts, balance adjustments, on‑time or late payments - refresh on the next monthly batch, and the model recomputes the FICO 9 within 24‑48 hours, so the new score shows on consumer portals in 2‑3 days. Hard inquiries register instantly, but their impact is reflected at the next calculation.

If the change concerns medical‑debt deletions or a disputed error, verification adds 15‑30 days, extending the total refresh to 45‑60 days from the initial request; the previous Equifax FICO 9 stays visible until the verification completes. Check the Equifax FICO 9 update schedule and note each creditor's reporting date to anticipate when your score will shift.

Fixing Equifax reporting errors that lower your FICO 9 begins with pulling your Equifax credit report, scanning it for mistakes, and disputing any inaccurate items.

1. Order the free Equifax report - visit Equifax's dispute portal or use AnnualCreditReport.com to download the latest file.
2. Highlight every error - look for wrong personal info, accounts you don't recognize, missed payments that never occurred, or outdated balances.
3. Gather supporting documents - collect statements, bank letters, or payment confirmations that prove the correct information.
4. Submit a dispute online - fill out Equifax's form, attach PDFs of your evidence, and clearly state why each item is wrong.
5. Mark the deadline - Equifax must investigate within 30 days; set a calendar reminder to check the status.
6. Review the investigation results - if the item is corrected, verify that the change appears on your updated report and that your FICO 9 reflects the improvement.
7. Escalate if needed - if Equifax rejects a valid claim, resend the dispute with additional proof or contact the creditor directly and ask them to correct the data at the source.
8. Document everything - keep copies of disputes, correspondence, and final reports; these records protect you if the error resurfaces.

After the corrections post, the 'timeline for FICO 9 updates after changes' section explains how quickly the new data reflects in your score.

• Lower revolving‑card balances so utilization falls below 30 % on each account; this factor weighs about 30 % in the Equifax FICO 9 model.
• Bring any past‑due debts current and keep them current; payment history contributes roughly 35 % of the FICO 9 score.
• Dispute inaccurate negative items on your Equifax report; clean data instantly removes points‑dragging errors.
• Add a mix of credit types (installment, retail, revolving) if you lack them; a healthy mix can lift the 'types of credit' component.
• Request a higher credit limit on existing cards without increasing spend; higher limits improve utilization without extra debt.
• Pay off small medical collections or arrange a 'paid‑in‑full' status; FICO 9 treats medical debt more leniently, but clearing it still benefits the score.
• Avoid opening new credit inquiries within 30 days; each hard pull temporarily dents the 'new credit' factor.

• If Experian doesn't list your student loans, it usually means the lender hasn't reported the account yet, the loan is newly disbursed, or it's in a deferment/forbearance that temporarily halts reporting.
• The missing loan reduces the total debt shown on your Experian credit report, which can slightly lift your credit score, but it also hides your payment history, so future lenders may request additional verification.
• Check with your loan servicer to confirm they report to Experian, request a recent statement, and if needed send a 'self‑reported loan' letter; many borrowers see the account appear after the first on‑time payment is submitted.
• Reporting typically occurs within 30‑45 days of the first payment; missed payments show after 30 days of delinquency and remain for seven years, while closed loans stay for seven to ten years on the report. Consumer Finance Authority explains reporting timelines

If your Equifax FICO 9 drops because you have a thin or mixed file, the model simply does not have enough recent, positive data to calculate a robust score.

Effective fixes include:

• Open a secured credit card and use it responsibly.
• Ask a trusted family member to add you as an authorized user on their long‑standing account.
• Enroll in a rent‑or‑utility reporting service that sends data to Equifax.
• Keep any older tradelines open, even if you seldom use them.

These actions add fresh, positive tradelines that strengthen the 'payment history' and 'credit mix' factors highlighted earlier, and Equifax FICO 9 usually reflects the changes within 30‑90 days.