Equifax produces credit scores, but not the score most lenders use
Equifax is one of three major credit reporting agencies in the United States. It collects payment history, debt levels, and other financial data on millions of people, then sells credit scores based on that data to lenders, employers, and landlords. However, Equifax does not produce the score that most mortgage lenders rely on — that is the FICO score, which comes from Fair Isaac Corporation and uses data from all three bureaus.
Equifax does produce its own scoring model called the Equifax Credit Score, which ranges from 280 to 850. It also licenses other scoring models, including Equifax Beacon and Equifax Auto Score. The score a lender sees depends on which model they purchase and which bureau they pull from. This means your Equifax score may differ from your TransUnion score or Experian score, even though all three are based on similar payment history.
The confusion arises because Equifax advertises credit scores directly to consumers through its website and third-party services, but those consumer-facing scores are often not the same scores that lenders see when they pull your credit report. A score you see on Equifax.com may be educational or a different model than what a mortgage company requests.
Key Takeaways
- Equifax is a credit reporting agency that collects financial data and produces credit scores, but most mortgage lenders use FICO scores instead, which are produced by a different company.
- Equifax scores range from 280 to 850 and are based on payment history, debt levels, and other information in your Equifax credit file.
- The Equifax score you see on a consumer website may not be the same score a lender sees, because lenders purchase specific scoring models.
- You can view your Equifax credit report for free once per year at AnnualCreditReport.com, which is the only federally authorized source.
- Errors on your Equifax report can be disputed directly with Equifax, and the agency must investigate within 30 days.
How Equifax scores differ from FICO scores
FICO scores are the industry standard for mortgage lending, auto lending, and credit card decisions. FICO is owned by Fair Isaac Corporation and is not affiliated with any of the three credit bureaus. When a mortgage lender says they pulled your credit, they usually mean they purchased a FICO score from one or more of the three bureaus — Equifax, TransUnion, or Experian.
Equifax's own scoring model uses similar inputs to FICO — payment history, amounts owed, length of credit history, credit mix, and new credit inquiries — but the weighting and calculation differ. This is why an Equifax score and a FICO score based on the same Equifax data can be 50 or more points apart. Neither is wrong; they are simply different models trained on different historical data.
Most lenders do not ask for an Equifax score specifically. They ask for a FICO score pulled from whichever bureau they prefer. Some lenders pull from all three bureaus and use the middle score. This means the Equifax score you see on a consumer website is useful for understanding your general credit standing, but it is not predictive of what a lender will see.
What information Equifax uses to calculate your score
Equifax builds your credit score from data in your Equifax credit report. That report includes payment history on credit cards, loans, and other accounts; the total amount you owe; how long you have held credit accounts; the mix of credit types you use; and recent credit inquiries. Equifax also notes public records like bankruptcies, tax liens, and court judgments if they appear in your file.
Payment history is the largest factor — accounts that are current or only slightly late help your score, while accounts that are 30, 60, 90, or 120+ days late hurt it significantly. Amounts owed (your credit utilization) also matters: using less than 30 percent of your available credit is better than maxing out cards. Older accounts help more than new ones, and having different types of credit (credit cards, installment loans, mortgages) is better than having only one type.
Equifax does not see income, employment, savings, or assets unless you volunteer that information. It also does not see utility bills, rent payments, or medical debt unless those accounts are sent to a collection agency. This is why two people with identical income can have very different Equifax scores.
Where to view your Equifax credit report and score
You have the right to one free Equifax credit report per year from AnnualCreditReport.com, which is the only federally authorized website for free reports. This report does not include a score — it is the raw data that Equifax uses to calculate scores. To see a score, you must either pay Equifax directly or use a third-party service that has purchased a score from Equifax.
Many banks and credit card companies now offer free credit scores to their customers, and some of those scores come from Equifax. Credit Karma, NerdWallet, and other free credit monitoring sites also display Equifax scores. These free scores are usually educational versions and may not match the score a lender sees, but they give you a sense of where you stand.
If you pay for a score directly from Equifax through its website, you are purchasing a consumer version of the Equifax Credit Score. This is different from the score a lender purchases, which is a more detailed version with additional data. The consumer version is useful for tracking your progress, but do not assume it is identical to what a lender will see.
How to dispute errors on your Equifax report
If you find an error on your Equifax credit report — a late payment that was not late, an account that is not yours, a balance that is wrong — you can dispute it directly with Equifax. You do not need to hire a credit repair company or pay a fee. Equifax is required by law to investigate disputes within 30 days and to remove or correct information that is inaccurate.
To dispute, contact Equifax in writing or through its website dispute portal. Include a clear description of what is wrong, copies of documents that support your claim (like a bank statement or payment confirmation), and your contact information. Equifax will then contact the creditor or data furnisher to verify the information. If the creditor cannot verify it, Equifax must remove it.
If Equifax does not resolve the dispute to your satisfaction, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which oversees credit reporting agencies. You can also dispute the same information with TransUnion and Experian if it appears on their reports as well. Errors often appear on multiple reports, so checking all three is worth the time.
Why your Equifax score might be different from other scores
Your Equifax score can differ from your TransUnion score or Experian score for several reasons. First, each bureau may have different information in your file — one might have an account that another does not, or they might have different payment histories for the same account. Second, each bureau uses its own scoring model, so even identical data produces different scores. Third, the timing of updates differs; one bureau might have updated your account status while another has not.
Lenders sometimes pull from only one bureau, which is why a mortgage company might see a different score than an auto lender. If you are shopping for a major loan, it is worth checking your score at all three bureaus to understand the range. A 50-point difference between bureaus is normal and does not mean one is wrong.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my Equifax score the same as my FICO score?
No. Equifax produces its own credit score, while FICO is produced by Fair Isaac Corporation. Both use similar data from your Equifax credit report, but they calculate scores differently. A lender asking for your FICO score is not asking for your Equifax score, though both may be based on Equifax data.
Can I get my Equifax credit report for free?
Yes. You can view your Equifax credit report for free once per year at AnnualCreditReport.com. The report does not include a score, but it shows all the data Equifax has on you. You can also dispute errors on this free report without paying anything.
What if my Equifax score is lower than my TransUnion score?
Score differences between bureaus are normal because each bureau may have different information and uses a different scoring model. If the difference is large, check your reports at all three bureaus to see if one has errors or outdated information. If all three reports are accurate, the score difference is just how the models work.
Do employers see my Equifax credit score?
Employers do not see credit scores. They may request a credit report (with your permission) to see payment history and public records, but they do not receive a score. The score is only for lending decisions. Employers also cannot see accounts that are current or recent inquiries — they see a limited version of your report.
How long does it take Equifax to update my credit score?
Equifax updates credit reports when creditors report new information, which typically happens monthly. Your score can change within days of a payment or new account, but it may take 30 to 45 days for all creditors to report and for Equifax to recalculate. Checking your score weekly will not show changes faster than this.