There are also very many derivatives, developed by FICO and lenders themselves, that are used by lenders to judge a consumer. The increased competition, especially in credit card lending, has forced lenders to rethink their practices. Increasingly, they are hiring consultants and scientific staff to add more and more scores to their decisions. They seek to differentiate their decision-making. Some do not use it at all.
Some lenders build their own proprietary scores.
It's a little like me finding out that my glybudium blood level is 253. FICO will disclose its basic score, the factors behind it, and consumers will learn little than the number itself. Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken had his secret blend of herbs and spices. McDonald's has its secret sauce. Lenders have their secret scores .