MyFICO is the consumer division of Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO). FICO is one of the leaders in detailing and scoring credit risks for home purchases, bank loans, credit cards, automobile loans, and retail.
MyFICO is one of the leading credit scoring services that analyzes consumer credit data into a numerical score used by creditors.
Over 90% of lenders and credit card issuers obtain financial information about you from FICO and other sources to determine your creditworthiness. FICO analyzes the information on your credit reports from three main credit reporting bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, to determine your fate.
Whether it comes to securing a loan or renting an apartment, most lenders pull your FICO score. So what do you as a consumer need to know about MyFICO? Keep reading to find out.
What is FICO?
FICO is a data analytics company that has been around since the 1950s. Based in San Jose, California, they’ve been helping to evaluate credit risk for decades.
The company uses complex analytics software to determine the likelihood of you paying back a loan or credit card balance. While Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax created a similar company called Vantage back in 2006, FICO is still the dominant source lenders use to evaluate creditworthiness.
FICO introduced individual consumer credit scores in 1989. Today, credit scores vary per credit bureau because some creditors prefer reporting your payment history to just one or two.
Overall, FICO scores range from 300 to 850. Industry-specific scores, like ones for mortgages or car loans, can range from 250 to 900. The higher your credit score, the better and the more likely you’ll be approved for a loan, receive favorable interest rates, or finance a car.
What products can you purchase from MyFICO as a consumer?
MyFICO offers credit monitoring products to help individuals get a better handle on their credit history.
While you can get a free credit report from each of the main bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, once per year, they don’t include your actual credit score. MyFICO offers a range of packages that are more robust than this free offering.
MyFICO breaks its credit monitoring offerings down into two groups. These two groups are one-time credit reports and scores and ongoing reports and scores. Within both of these groups, you have the option to receive your information from a single credit bureau or all three credit bureaus.
All four credit monitoring products from MyFICO are designed to cater to your specific needs. So let’s look at each one a little more closely.
One-Time Credit Reports & Scores
A one-time report from MyFICO is just that: a single purchase for $19.95, giving you one-time access to your true FICO scores and either one or all three credit reports from the credit bureaus.
FICO scores you differently for different industries, and besides your FICO Score 9 report, MyFICO gives you access to more widely used industry reports for mortgages, automobiles, and credit card lending.
In addition to your FICO scores, purchasing the one-time single bureau report gives you access to one report from the bureau of your choosing. Select between Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion and get instant access to your credit report.
MyFICO also helps explain the main factors that affect your credit score from the bureau that you chose. If you’re looking for a comprehensive snapshot of your credit picture, then you may want to choose the one-time three-bureau report.
Because you’re going from one credit report and FICO score to three, the price goes up to $59.85. With that, however, you’ll gain access to all three major credit reporting bureaus, including Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
You’ll still get access to all of your available FICO scores, and MyFICO shows you the major factors that determine your credit score with the three credit bureaus. With their three-bureau report, MyFICO also gives you a side-by-side comparison of your credit report from each one, as well as your FICO Score 8.
Ongoing Reports and Scores from MyFICO
MyFICO’s ongoing reports and credit score products offer a subscription model with similar options to the one-time reports. You can order an ongoing single bureau report for $19.95 per month, but right now only Equifax is available.
You get access to all the same offerings as the one-time report but on a monthly basis so that you can monitor your credit continually.
Multiple FICO scores and your Equifax report are updated monthly. Additionally, MyFICO offers a historical tracking graph for both your FICO Scores and your Equifax report. MyFICO also monitors your Equifax report for changes and sends FICO Score alert updates.
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MyFICO also adds identity theft protection at this level with its $1 million identity theft insurance, 24×7 Identity Restoration, and Lost Wallet Protection.
If your wallet is lost or stolen, MyFICO helps you cancel and replace missing items. If your identity is stolen, MyFICO helps you get back on track and provides identity theft insurance of up to $1 million dollars.
The Lost Wallet protection providers coverage for some of the following items:
- credit cards
- debit cards
- checkbooks
- driver’s licenses
- Social Security number
- passports
- military identification cards
- traveler’s checks
Interestingly, the three-bureau report, for $29.95 a month, drops from a monthly credit report to a quarterly report. Unlike the single credit report with Equifax, this option adds TransUnion and Experian to the available credit reports, although they’re only issued three times per year.
While it’s understandable considering the cost of adding two more credit bureaus, it feels like a step backward from the single credit bureau offering with Equifax.
But with the three-bureau credit monitoring plan, you do get quarterly updates to 28 FICO score versions, as well as Identity Monitoring. Rather than just passively monitoring your credit report, MyFICO.com actively monitors the Dark Web to see if your personal information has been stolen.
Bonus Features from MyFICO
When buying a house, qualifying for the best possible interest rate can make a huge difference in your monthly payment as well as the quality of the house you’re able to purchase.
MyFICO’s Loan Savings Calculator shows you how your FICO Score can affect the rate of your loan and your monthly payment. It also helps you to better understand what you can do to qualify for lower interest rates.
The FICO Score Simulator can also be a helpful tool for understanding how to improve your creditworthiness. If you’ve ever wondered how a new credit card affects your credit score or what would happen to your credit when you take out a mortgage, then this feature is helpful. You can also explore 24 simulations to see how your actions would affect your credit score before deciding.
MyFICO Mobile App
In addition to the website, MyFICO has also developed a helpful app (pictured above) for Android and iOS.
You can get access to all the same information, robust reports, and side-by-side comparisons all from your smartphone.
You can use the MyFICO app to review your credit report with your loan officer on the go. Or use it as a tool to ensure that you get the best rates while negotiating auto financing. You’re able to access all the information you need at any time easily and can trust that it’s completely accurate.
Common Complaints About MyFICO.com
While MyFICO does offer some interesting and valuable products, it is not without its faults. FICO has been around for over 50 years, and they’ve been compiling credit scores for nearly 30 years. They do this with ever-advancing algorithms.
These techniques change over time, and as a result, so does your credit score. Each time FICO changes the rules by which they base their calculations, your FICO score changes too. With each new version, FICO aims to improve the way they measure your creditworthiness.
For instance, FICO Score 9, which was recently released to the public, places less emphasis on medical debt. This is terrific news for those with good credit who are saddled with medical or hospital bills that have been incurred by circumstances outside their control.
Different FICO Scoring Versions
Problems have arisen, however, because not every lender is using the same FICO scoring version. Some may choose to stick with FICO Score 8, which places a higher emphasis on medical debt. Some may decide to use a FICO score directly related to their industry, such as auto loans or mortgages.
This can lead to confusion and even seeing a different credit score than the one your lender uses. The frustrating thing is that both credit scores are technically correct. FICO Score 8, and even version 5, are still considered a valid measurement of your creditworthiness.
Older versions haven’t been deemed obsolete just because FICO changed the formula. The frustration that this can cause is completely understandable, and until they can remedy this issue, it will continue to confuse customers who use their services.
Which MyFICO product is right for you?
If you are preparing for an event such as purchasing a house or a car and need to know your credit score and view your credit reports, you may just choose MyFICO’s one-time option. This saves you the recurring billing while still giving you a snapshot of your credit in real-time.
MyFICO arms you with the information you need to get better interest rates for a loan or get more favorable terms for a credit card. The most economical option is the one-time, single bureau report.
If saving money is important to you while at the same time receiving a comprehensive snapshot of your current credit status, try augmenting this option with freely available credit reports. You are entitled to a free credit report from each of the three main credit bureaus every 12 months.
One-Time Access
Choosing the one-time plan still gives you access to one bureau plus multiple FICO Score options. If you use this in conjunction with the free credit reports available from the other two, you can get the same credit report as the $59.85 option, but at one-third the cost.
If you’re interested in repairing your credit or are concerned about becoming a victim of identity theft, the ongoing products offered by MyFICO.com may be right for you. While the three-bureau version is only quarterly, it still keeps you up to date on any changes that occur to your credit.
Additionally, the added bonuses to their packages can help you predict how your actions can affect your credit in the future. It also enables you to make decisions that can save you money with features like the FICO Score Simulator.
MyFICO: Bottom Line
Whichever option you choose, remember that MyFICO is the official consumer division of FICO itself, so you can have peace of mind knowing you’re paying for a reputable credit monitoring service.
MyFICO has a US-based customer service team that you can contact via email or phone, plus an online community where you can ask questions. This explains why MyFICO has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.