What should I do if I think my credit score is wrong?

If you think your credit score is wrong, the first thing you should do is check your credit reports for inaccuracies and recently added negative information, then dispute any errors you find with the credit bureaus. The top reasons why your credit score could be wrong are inaccurate credit report information and technical issues, so you’d also be wise to try to check your score on multiple free credit score websites. Otherwise, it’s possible that your credit score is accurate but slightly outdated or just not where you expected it to be.

If your credit score is wrong because of inaccurate information on your credit report, you can dispute it through the credit report tab in your WalletHub account. Simply click the “Report to TransUnion” link in the bottom-right corner of your account’s expanded view. You may also need to follow identity theft protocol, if the case warrants it.

Reasons why your credit score might look wrong or lower than expected:

• Your credit score has not been updated. Your credit score may look wrong if it hasn’t been updated for recent activity, such as payments on your credit account. WalletHub provides daily credit score updates, while other sites update weekly or monthly.
• You checked a different type of credit score. Your credit score might appear incorrect if you start looking at a different scoring model. For example, if you have traditionally checked your VantageScore credit score, your FICO score might appear incorrect. Both types of scores are likely correct; they just weigh items in your credit profile differently, which can result in different credit scores.
• You checked your credit score with a different credit bureau. If your credit score was calculated with a different credit bureau’s report than you’ve used in the past, your credit score may appear incorrect since credit bureaus (and their reports) can have different information.
• You were a victim of fraud. If your credit score is lower than expected, it could be an indication that your identity has been compromised. One of the easiest ways to determine if this is the case is by reviewing your credit reports; if there are any inquiries or accounts that you did not initiate or apply for, these items could be weighing your score down. If that’s the case, you should take the necessary steps to address your identity theft and guard yourself against future fraud.
• You haven’t checked your credit score in a while. If it’s been a while since you checked your credit score, it may appear incorrect when you do check it. For instance, 30% of people haven’t checked their credit score in over a year, according to a WalletHub credit score survey. Your score is bound to look different after that length of time. We recommend checking your credit score often, so you always know where you stand and can dispute any incorrect items that pop up.

Ultimately, good news might seem limited when you’re faced with a lower-than-expected credit score, but the great thing about using WalletHub is that you won’t have to wait long for your credit report to be updated and your score to be recalculated. WalletHub is the only website that offers free credit scores and full credit reports that are updated on a daily basis. So, while we’re just the messenger for your credit information, with both your score and report coming from TransUnion, we’re the best messenger in the business.