The same consumer may present very different degrees of risk for different credit products, even if offered by a single lender. For example, the same consumer might present a 1 in 10 risk of defaulting on an unsecured credit card obligation, but a 1 in 100 risk in defaulting on a first mortgage obligation. Lenders use scores differently. Different credit grantors have very different standards for what level of risk they will accept. A credit score that one lender considers satisfactory may be regarded as unsatisfactory by other lenders for comparable credit instruments.
Scores can change often.
The score from any given system for a consumer depends on the information available at the time a credit report is compiled. Other information and criteria besides credit scores are used in making lending decisions. A consumer can have a very good credit score and still not be approved for a loan due to other reasons, such as insufficient income or down payment. In addition, credit scoring systems are designed to predict long-term credit performance. If a scoring system is subject to attempted manipulation, the integrity of the credit risk evaluation could be damaged.