Why Is My FICO Score Higher or Lower Than TransUnion?

• TransUnion shows either a FICO Score or a VantageScore, depending on the product you pull.
• Open your myTransUnion account; the score label appears directly under the number (for example, 'FICO® Score 8' or 'VantageScore 3.0').
• If the label reads VantageScore, request the FICO version through the same portal or a paid credit‑monitoring service, because most lenders still use FICO.
• Verify the model before you compare it to scores from other bureaus - next we'll examine how different FICO versions affect your points.

FICO Score versions are not interchangeable; each one tweaks the weighting of the five pillars. Version 8 still penalizes high balances but forgives paid medical collections; Version 9 adds a modest boost for on‑time rent or utility payments; Version 10 introduces 'trended' utilization trends over 12 months, and Version 11 gives extra credit for consistent rental‑history reporting.

Because the underlying credit file stays the same, swapping from version 8 to version 11 can swing a score by 20‑30 points - sometimes more for thin files.

That swing explains why your TransUnion number may look higher or lower than a lender's figure. The bureau always supplies the raw data, but each lender selects the FICO version they trust for underwriting; if the lender runs version 11 while your TransUnion portal shows version 8, the scores will differ even though the data line‑up. In the next section we'll compare exactly what data each bureau holds, so you can pinpoint where the gap originates.

TransUnion's file shows every reported trade line, payment status, credit limit, balance, hard and soft inquiries, public records, collections, and the alternative data it has purchased from utility, telecom and rent‑reporting partners; updates arrive daily but may lag on newer accounts.

Equifax and Experian often receive the same trade lines but differ in reporting windows, may omit some collections, and include or exclude alternative data sets, so their copies of your credit history can vary enough to shift a FICO Score. For a deeper dive, see Differences between the three major credit bureaus.

TransUnion often receives creditor data later than the other bureaus, so delays in posting can temporarily depress your score.

• Payment status updates - a month‑end payment may not appear on your TransUnion file for 30‑45 days, even though it's reflected elsewhere.
• Balance changes - high credit‑card utilization can stay hidden until the creditor's next reporting cycle, masking a spike in risk.
• New account openings - hard inquiries and newly opened tradelines may be added to TransUnion weeks after they show up on Experian or Equifax.
• Closed or paid‑off accounts - removal of a settled loan can take up to 60 days, keeping an old balance in the mix.
• Public records and collections - county filings often enter the TransUnion system several weeks after the court records are posted.
• Dispute resolutions - once you correct an error, the updated information may not propagate to TransUnion instantly, extending the dip.

For a deeper look at typical reporting windows, see Credit reporting timeframes explained by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Soft pulls and hard pulls can show different scores because scoring models treat them differently and they may reach the credit bureaus at different times.

• Inquiry type: Hard inquiries are factored into most FICO Score versions, typically lowering the score by up to five points; soft inquiries are excluded from the formula and never cause a drop.
• Reporting lag: Lenders often send hard inquiries immediately, while soft checks (e.g., pre‑approval screens) may be recorded later or not at all, creating a timing mismatch between the two scores.
• Model version: Some FICO Score versions (such as 8 vs. 9) ignore certain soft pulls entirely, whereas older versions might assign a minimal weight, leading to variance across the same bureau.
• Bureau‑specific data: A hard pull reported to Experian might also appear on TransUnion, but a soft pull performed by a fintech that only shares data with one bureau will affect only that bureau's score view.

Understanding these nuances helps you interpret why the same credit file can produce a higher score after a soft check and a slightly lower one after a hard inquiry, a point we'll explore further when isolating collections and public records that drag your TransUnion score down.

Collections and public records sit on your TransUnion file and can shave dozens of points from your score, especially if they appear as recent, large‑amount, or unpaid items.

1. Pull your TransUnion credit report and locate the 'Collections' and 'Public Records' sections. Highlight any entry that is older than seven years, settled, or marked as a duplicate.
2. Verify each item's accuracy. Call the creditor or collector to confirm the balance, dates, and account status. Request a written statement if the report's details differ.
3. If a collection is paid, ask the creditor to send a 'Paid in Full' update to TransUnion; the entry will then convert to 'Paid' and lose more weight in the scoring model.
4. For public records (bankruptcy, tax lien, civil judgment), check the filing date. If the record is beyond the seven‑year reporting window, file a dispute citing the statute of limitations.
5. Use TransUnion's online dispute portal to submit each error with supporting documents - payment receipts, court dismissals, or letters from the original creditor.
6. After TransUnion processes the disputes, review the updated report. A cleaned‑up collection or removed public record can boost your TransUnion score by 10‑30 points, narrowing the gap you saw in the earlier 'compare credit data' section.

Mixed files and identity‑mix errors occur when TransUnion incorrectly combines your credit activity with another consumer's file, which can cause your FICO Score to diverge from the scores you see at other bureaus.

Pull your TransUnion consumer report and look for tell‑tale signs: (a) accounts you never opened, (b) a name or address that matches a spouse, sibling, or former roommate, (c) more than one Social Security number listed under the same profile, (d) duplicate credit cards that show the same creditor but different account numbers. These clues usually appear in the 'Personal Information' and 'Account History' sections and signal that the bureau has merged two identities.

When you identify a mix, dispute it directly with TransUnion: attach a copy of a government‑issued ID, a recent utility bill proving your residence, and a concise letter stating that the file is mixed and requesting separation. Ask for a new consumer file identifier and verify that the corrected report no longer shows the foreign accounts before moving on to quantifying the point gap.

A one‑point difference in your TransUnion FICO Score can shift the interest rate tier you receive, so measuring the gap tells you how much money you might lose or gain.

Definition:

The 'point gap' is the numeric distance between your current FICO Score and the next cut‑off used by lenders to assign a lower APR. Most banks price rates in 5‑point bands, and every 20‑point climb typically trims about 0.125 percentage points off the offered rate. Because monthly payments compound, that small percent can translate into sizable savings over the life of the loan.

Examples:

• A 680 score versus a 700 score (20‑point gap) might move a 30‑year mortgage from 6.5 % to 6.375 %. On a $200,000 loan this saves roughly $30 each month, or $9,000 over 30 years.
• An auto loan at 710 versus 730 could drop the APR from 5.0 % to 4.875 %, shaving $75 per year on a $25,000 vehicle.

These illustrations show why narrowing the gap - by fixing errors or lowering utilization - directly improves the rates lenders are willing to offer, a theme explored in the upcoming 'dispute errors with TransUnion' section. For detailed rate‑gap calculations see Experian's guide on how credit scores affect loan interest rates.

File a dispute straight to TransUnion and attach copies of the bill, bank statement, or court document that proves the line is wrong. Start by downloading your TransUnion report, highlighting the inaccurate item, then send a letter or use the online portal, citing the specific account number and stating why the entry is erroneous. Include a clear, legible copy of the supporting evidence and keep a dated copy for yourself.

TransUnion must investigate within 30 days and send you a written outcome; if they verify your proof, they will delete or correct the record, which may raise your FICO Score. Save the dispute reference number, watch for the updated report, and then proceed to the next step - quick fixes lenders notice, such as lowering utilization.

Lowering your credit‑card utilization instantly raises the portion of your FICO Score that lenders watch most closely.

Pay down the highest‑balance revolving accounts first, aim for a utilization below 30 % (10 % is even better), and avoid adding new charges until after the loan inquiry. If you have good payment history, ask the issuer for a temporary credit‑limit increase; the higher limit alone can drop the ratio without extra cash outlay.

Because utilization carries roughly 10 % weight in the FICO algorithm, a 5‑point swing can move you into a lower‑rate bracket, and the updated ratio shows up on the next reporting cycle, so lenders see the improvement right away. For a deeper dive, see how utilization affects your FICO Score.