Major credit agencies adopt uniform credit scoring system

Tuesday, March 14th 2006, 9:49 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ The three major consumer credit reporting agencies announced Tuesday that they have created a new credit scoring system aimed at simplifying the loan process for both lenders and borrowers.

The announcement by Equifax, Experian and TransUnion said the new ``VantageScore'' was ``a direct result of market demand for a more consistent and objective approach to credit scoring.''

The agencies in the past each used their own proprietary formulas to create their own scores, meaning that a lender dealing with a consumer's application for a credit card or a mortgage might have to reconcile three widely different scores.

With the new system, a single methodology will be used to create the scores.

``Under the new scoring system, credit score variance between credit reporting companies will be attributed to data differences within each of the three consumer credit files and not to the structure of the scoring model or data interpretation,'' the agencies said in a joint statement.

It added that VantageScore ``will provide consumers and businesses with a highly predictive, consistent score that is easy to understand and apply.''

Credit scores are important because they measure how much debt a consumer is carrying and how well the consumer keeps up with bills.

The higher the score, the more creditworthy the consumer is considered and the lower the interest rate the consumer is likely to be charged.

The three credit agencies termed the move to a unified score as ``unprecedented.''

The scores will range from 501 to 990. The top end is slightly higher than scores currently in use.

In a separate statement, Experian said the new scores will be grouped on ``the familiar academic scale.'' Experian gave these groupings:

A _ 901-990

B _ 801-900

C _ 701-800

D _ 601-700

F _ 501-600

Experian said it was hoped that ``as consumers increase their awareness of the importance of credit scores and credit reporting, the consistency of VantageScore will provide the type of information they need to evaluate their credit standing and make sound financial decisions.''

Kerry Williams, group president of Experian's Credit Services, said in the statement that the new approach ``is a further progression of our efforts to satisfy client and consumer needs.''

VantageScore is being independently marketed and sold separately through each of the three national credit reporting companies via licensing agreements with VantageScore Solutions LLC, the joint announcement said.

It said the new scores would be available immediately.

The credit reporting agencies are operated by Equifax Inc. of Atlanta, Experian Information Solutions Inc. of Costa Mesa, Calif., and TransUnion LLC of Chicago.