Equifax score a fair bit lower than Experian

[neighbours123]

My Experian is 972 and my Equifax 699.

I gather having a credit card and paying it off can be beneficial, so I have just done that to try and improve the Equifax one.

Has anyone else had a similar difference before and do you know if a CC alone could help? Plan is to pay off in full each month. I have a store card I rarely use. Single income household with one child. Mortgage payment is under 20% my net pay and I get maintenance from her dad on top.

No debt besides mortgage. Have a phone contract and the standard bills. No late or missed payments. Been on the electoral roll for ages, lived in the same home 5+ years.

Looking to move house in the next couple of years and a bit worried about my options if I can’t get the Equifax one up. When I took the mortgage on as a sole applicant when I divorced I failed the initial check then passed when it went to the underwriters (I was told that isn’t uncommon in my sort of situation). Never had credit refused etc either.

Debt advisor here. Ignore the 'score' - it is a made-up number that no one except the credit reference agency, and you, see.

What matters is the content on the report. Any CCJs, any insolvencies, are you on the electoral role, any defaults, are you up to date with payments - that's what lenders will see and base decisions on.

I'm not sure why but mine differ too. I'm with Lloyds bank and there's tells me why it went up or down. It sits around 680. It suggested I took out a credit card so I did, I pay it off each month in full. This month it's gone down 11 points because 'you’re not using your available credit.' I think I spent £100 on it.
I know things like being on the electoral register and how long you've been at an address will contribute positively to your credit score.

Experians maximum score is 999 and Eqifax's maximum is 700.

So actually, your Equifax score is better than your Experian!

This is helpful, thank you! I am good on those fronts.

Interesting! This is why I got rid of lots of cards and reduced limits on store cards…

My new CC has £1k limit and I am going to put all my groceries etc on it and clear it each month. Basic expenditure like that, fuel, days and food out will use a fair bit of that up each month.

This made me really hopeful! But via Clearscore tells me it is out of 1000…

Oh God sorry op!

Equifax did use to be out of 700 but I just googled and they changed it in 2021 to 1000 - so my info was really out of date 🤦🏻‍♀️

Haha no problem. You temporarily lifted my spirits anyhow! 😆