Why Is My Equifax Score Lower Than FICO?

Equifax scores differ from your FICO because they are generated by a separate scoring engine - often the VantageScore model that Equifax licenses - so the algorithm assigns different weights to payment history, credit utilization, age of accounts, and other factors. Even though both scores use the same 300‑850 range, a version shift (for example VantageScore 4.0 versus FICO 8) can move the same credit behavior up or down by dozens of points.

Equifax also pulls the data snapshot that was current at the moment it calculated the score; if your file was updated later than the one FICO used, recent payments, new accounts, or resolved collections may not be reflected, creating a gap. For a deeper dive into which version and scale Equifax applied to you, see our next section, and later we'll examine how timing differences between Equifax and FICO updates can further widen the gap. (Equifax VantageScore model overview)

Look at the score‑card details that came with your Equifax score - those lines tell you whether you're seeing a VantageScore 3.0, VantageScore 4.0, or the proprietary Equifax model, and they also list the numeric range (most modern scores use the 300‑850 scale, older cards may show 301‑850 or 0‑850).

• Log into the portal where you obtained the score (Equifax Consumer Portal, a credit‑monitoring service, or a lender's website).
• Find the 'Score Card' or 'Score Summary' section; the version name and scale appear right under the score number.
• If the portal only shows a number, download the full credit report PDF - Equifax includes a 'Score Information' page with version and range.
• Call Equifax Customer Care (1‑800‑XXXXXXX) and ask for the 'score version and scale' tied to your file; they'll confirm the model and range used.
• Check the score‑card identifier (e.g., 'VS4' indicates VantageScore 4.0 on a 300‑850 scale).

These quick checks pinpoint exactly which Equifax score version and scale you're being evaluated on, letting you compare apples‑to‑apples with your FICO score.

Yes, Equifax can update your credit file later than the data used for a FICO score, so the Equifax score may appear lower for a short period. This happens because lenders often submit new information to Equifax on their own schedule, while the FICO score you see may be generated from a more recent file that the lender pulled immediately after the update. Equifax reporting schedules show many creditors report weekly or even monthly, whereas some FICO‑based applications use a snapshot taken within days of the report.

The timing gap matters when a negative item - like a missed payment or a new collection - lands on your Equifax file after the lender has already generated the FICO score. In that window, the Equifax score reflects the older, cleaner file, while the FICO score already incorporates the new negative data, or vice‑versa. How FICO scores are calculated explains that the model uses the most current file available at the moment of the pull.

If you suspect a lag, compare the 'file date' on your Equifax report with the date of the FICO score you received; the next section shows how to verify which credit file Equifax actually pulled for your score.

You verify which credit file Equifax pulled by checking the file number on your Equifax report and confirming it with the score source.

• Get your latest Equifax credit report from the free annual credit report site or directly from Equifax; the file identifier appears near the top of the first page.
• Note the 'Equifax File #' (a 10‑digit number) and the date the file was last updated; this number uniquely represents the credit file used for scoring.
• Contact the lender, credit‑card issuer, or online service that gave you the Equifax score and ask them which Equifax file ID they queried.
• Log into the myEquifax portal and request a 'file identification' or a 'score snapshot'; the snapshot shows the exact file number and the score version (VantageScore 3.0, Equifax model, etc.).
• Compare the file number from the report with the one the lender provided; a match confirms you are looking at the same file, while a mismatch indicates a different or merged file may have been used.

Pull your free Equifax credit report and scan it for personal‑data mismatches and duplicate tradelines; those errors often shave points off your Equifax score.

• Visit Equifax online dispute portal or AnnualCreditReport.com and request the Equifax file.
• Confirm name, Social Security number, current address, and date of birth are correct.
• Review each account: match creditor name, account number, balance, and status to your records.
• Spot duplicate entries - identical creditor and account number appearing twice - which can inflate utilization and lower the score.
• Flag accounts you never opened or late‑payment marks that contradict your payment history.
• Submit a dispute for each error, attaching a bank statement, billing statement, or other proof; Equifax must investigate within 30 days.

Cleaning these mistakes clears the path to the next step: see how Equifax treats your collections and late payments.

Equifax adds every collection account and any payment that is 30 days past due into the Equifax score calculation, so each entry pushes the 300‑850 range lower. The model weighs recent derogatory items most heavily; a new collection or a 90‑day late payment can shave dozens of points, while older items lose influence as they age.

A paid collection may stay on the file for up to two years but carries less weight than an unpaid collection or a charged‑off, which can affect the Equifax score for the full seven‑year reporting period.

Late payments remain for seven years, yet the most recent 24 months dominate the score impact; each additional month delinquent adds a few points. Check your Equifax report for duplicate or mis‑dated entries - removing them can instantly improve your Equifax score. For deeper insight see the Equifax scoring methodology details.

Adding an authorized‑user (AU) or a recently closed account can shift your Equifax score up or down, depending on the underlying data that the Equifax model evaluates.

1. Verify AU status - Log into your Equifax report and locate the AU entry. If the primary cardholder's account shows a low balance, on‑time payments, and a long history, the AU addition may boost your Equifax score by up to 20 points.
2. Assess the primary account - If the primary account carries a high utilization ratio (above 30 %) or recent delinquencies, the AU could drag your Equifax score lower, because the model treats the AU as a proxy for the primary's risk.
3. Check closed‑account age - Equifax typically keeps a closed, paid‑off account on your file for 12 months before it stops influencing the score. During that window, the account's positive payment history can improve the length‑of‑credit factor, while any remaining balance continues to affect your utilization ratio.
4. Evaluate leftover balances - A closed account that still shows an outstanding balance is counted in your total revolving debt, raising utilization and potentially lowering your Equifax score. Paying off that balance as soon as possible restores the utilization benefit of the closed‑account status.
5. Monitor credit‑mix impact - Closing a revolving account reduces the diversity of credit types, which may slightly decrease the Equifax score if you have few other installment or revolving accounts. Keeping at least one active revolving line helps maintain a healthy mix.
6. Re‑run the score after changes - Once you've added an AU, paid off a closed balance, or waited the 12‑month aging period, request a fresh Equifax score to see the net effect before moving on to the next diagnostic step (see 'check for mixed or merged credit files hurting your Equifax score').

Mixed or merged credit files show up as duplicate accounts, creditors you never used, or mismatched personal data on your Equifax report; these errors inflate balances and can drag down both the Equifax‑based score and any FICO score that pulls the same file. If you spot a second credit card you never opened, a loan from an unfamiliar bank, or your name spelled differently on two lines, the file is likely merged.

To correct it, file a dispute with Equifax  -  online, by phone, or by certified mail  -  and attach proof of your identity; also dispute the same items with any other bureau that shows the error. The bureau will investigate, delete the duplicate entries, and once the file is cleaned both scores should move closer together. Equifax dispute process

• Recent on‑time payments weigh less in Equifax's VantageScore 4.0 - If your lender reported a rent or utility payment this month, FICO 8 (or 9) may add a small boost, while the Equifax model caps the impact, leaving the Equifax score (300‑850) slightly lower.
• Late‑payment reporting lag - A credit card missed its due date in June but the creditor sent the data to Equifax two weeks after sending it to the FICO bureau. The late stays on the Equifax file for an extra 30 days, dragging the Equifax score down while the FICO score already reflects the resolved status.
• Duplicate or mixed‑file accounts - Equifax sometimes merges two similar‑named consumers into one file. The extra credit line raises the utilization ratio and adds a hard inquiry, which can shave 10‑20 points from the Equifax score, whereas the FICO pull uses a clean file and shows a higher number.

Update an APO, FPO, PO Box, or overseas address directly through Experian's online account portal.

The online tool lets you log into your Experian credit report, replace the current address with the military or foreign format, and upload a single proof document such as a DD‑214, overseas utility bill, or USPS‑issued PO Box receipt; changes appear in the free annual credit report within 24 hours, after which you can verify the update and monitor all three credit bureaus.

If you prefer not to use the portal, call Experian's customer service line or mail a signed request; you must state the full APO/FPO/PO Box/international address, provide two forms of identification, and wait up to 10 business days for the change to reflect, after which you should still verify the update as described in the monitoring section. For detailed steps, see Experian address change help.

A small Equifax gap - often 10‑20 points - usually won't stop a loan because most lenders approve applicants within a score band, combine several credit models, and weigh income, debt‑to‑income and assets as heavily as the raw number, so a 720 Equifax score versus a 735 FICO score typically falls in the same 'good' category;

if the lender specifies a minimum, say 700, both scores clear it, and automated underwriting systems often have a ±20‑point tolerance that smooths out minor differences, meaning you can focus on improving the factors that truly matter rather than obsess over a few points (see how FICO scores are used by lenders).