When you’re getting your credit score from multiple sources, it’s not uncommon to see slight differences in your scores. We’ll briefly explain a few of the reasons why here, but if you’d like to learn more, take a look at our article FICO vs. VantageScore: What’s the Difference?

For one, there are several credit scoring models in use, and they all weigh the factors that affect your credit score differently. If one source you’re getting your credit score from uses a different credit scoring model than another, it’s likely that you’ll see minor variations in your scores.

In addition, not all lenders report to all three major credit bureaus – some may only report to one or two. The bureaus calculate your score using the information provided to them, so if they’re not all receiving the same information, there’s bound to be differences in your scores.

Finally, it can take some time for credit bureaus to receive up-to-date information from your lenders. When you’re checking your credit scores, it’s important to note the date they were last updated. If you’re comparing your scores across bureaus, make sure they were all updated around the same time.

With all that said: Credit reports sometimes include mistakes that can affect your credit scores. If you find information on your credit report that’s incorrect, you can request to have it removed or corrected by contacting the credit bureau whose report has the error. While each bureau has their own process for submitting disputes, you can generally initiate disputes online, by phone, or by mail.