FICO and VantageScore use different formulas, but both draw from the same five categories of bureau data.
The most widely licensed scoring model among mortgage and auto lenders. Requires at least six months of credit history and one account reported within the last six months.
Developed jointly by the three major bureaus, VantageScore can generate a score with as little as one month of history and no minimum inquiry threshold.
Reported as current, 30/60/90-day late, or in collections — the heaviest single factor.
Charge-offs, collections, and public records carry outsized, long-lasting weight.
The ratio of reported balance to limit across all revolving accounts.
A maxed single card can hurt a score even if the aggregate ratio looks healthy.
Older accounts, especially the oldest open account, support model confidence.
A mix of loan types demonstrates experience managing different credit structures.
New applications trigger a small, temporary dip that typically recovers within months.
Multiple mortgage or auto inquiries within a short window often count as one event.
Closing a long-held card can shorten average age even though it stays on file for years.
Each bureau — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — can hold slightly different data on the same consumer. A basic self-audit compares all three reports for consistency before applying for new credit.