Starting Today Lenders Must Provide Credit Scores to Consumers

A provision in the Dodd-Frank financial reform law, which took effect today, is requiring lenders to provide consumers with a free credit score, which will help provide new insights into why they may have been rejected for a loan or did not qualify for the best, lowest rate.

While borrowers can access their credit scores from the credit bureaus, the credit score that a lender uses isn’t always the same one that the credit bureau provides you. According to a report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, some credit bureaus sell consumers “educational” scores that aren’t the same ones used by lenders, or these bureaus may base the score on a different model than the one lenders use.

Now, borrowers for the first time will get a more accurate view of what credit score lenders are using to base their mortgage on.

Under the new provision, lenders will be required to provide potential borrowers with a free credit score whenever they reject an application for a loan. Lenders must provide borrowers with an “adverse action” notice, which will include their credit scores as well as an explanation of why they were rejected for a loan.

Lenders will also be required to provide a free credit score and an explanation whenever they approve a loan but at a higher rate than what is given to their best customers.

Mark Greene, CEO of FICO, says that many borrowers may be surprised to learn that they didn’t qualify for a lender’s lowest rate when applying for a loan.

Source: USA Today (July 21, 2011)

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