Tag: credit reporting

Decoding Your Credit Score: FICO vs. VantageScore
November 21, 2025 Off

Decoding Your Credit Score: FICO vs. VantageScore

By The Admiral Staff

The article clarifies that free credit scores offered by sites like Credit Karma and Credit Sesame aren’t “fake” or inflated, despite advice to the contrary. While these scores, often based on VantageScore models, differ from the FICO scores lenders typically use, they still provide valuable insight into your credit standing. The main reason for the difference is that various credit reporting agencies and scoring models (FICO, VantageScore, and others) use different formulas to calculate scores, much like grading systems can vary

HOA Payments & Your Credit Score: What You Need to Know
June 2, 2025 Off

HOA Payments & Your Credit Score: What You Need to Know

By The Admiral Staff

Homeowners association (HOA) payments could potentially impact your credit score, but only if the HOA reports them to credit bureaus (TransUnion and Equifax for on-time payments, Experian only for late/missed payments). This reporting practice began in 2016 and is facilitated by Sperlonga Data and Analytics, but HOA boards ultimately decide whether to report. To find out if your payments are being reported, check your credit reports or ask your HOA board.