Your credit report contains information about your credit history. A credit score is a number generated by a scoring model using information from a report. The score is not a permanent number attached to you.
Why can scores differ?
Different scoring models can use different formulas, and scores can be calculated from different credit bureau files or at different times. The score you see in an app may therefore differ from one a lender uses. A credit report may also contain an error that affects a score, which is why reading the underlying report matters.
What should you check first?
Request your reports through the official route, review the accounts and payment information, and dispute possible mistakes. If you are planning a loan application, give yourself time to address errors before applying. A service advertising a “free score” is not the same thing as the authorized free-report service.
Read the underlying report even when you regularly check a score. A number cannot tell you exactly which entry is wrong.
Source and review
Based on official consumer guidance ↗. Last editorial review: September 2026. Check the source for current details.