In the world of personal finance and credit reports, it’s almost like they intentionally make certain things hard to understand. If you have ever tried to apply for a loan for a home or a car, then you might have heard the term tri-merge credit. What exactly is tri merge credit mean and how does that impact your credit?
What is Tri Merge Credit?
A tri merge credit report is simply a combination of all of your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus. Your credit score is calculated and determined by three major bureaus, namely Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Each of these credit bureaus calculates your credit score differently. Because of this, lenders might want to see a combination of all three reports to get an accurate picture of your credit.
Does a tri merge credit report affect my credit?
Yes, when a lender requested a tri merge credit report, it will affect your credit. Whenever you apply for a loan, That application will result in a hard credit pull. This is a little flag to alert other lenders that you are actively looking for credit.
When you apply for a loan and the lender request this kind of report, this will result in a small ding on your credit score, typically a few points. However, this typically falls off your credit over time.
What is a good tri merge credit score?
As I mentioned earlier, a tri merge credit report is a combination of the three major credit bureaus. It will show the three credit scores separately on the report. Tri merge credit is not a credit score on its own. It is a combination of all three major credit reports.
All of the three major credit bureaus calculate your credit report slightly differently but are fundamentally similar.
| Bureau | Low Score | Max Score |
|---|---|---|
| Experian | 330 | 830 |
| Equifax | 300 | 850 |
| TransUnion | 300 | 850 |
How do I check my Tri Merge Credit Report?
The simplest and easiest way to acquire a tri merge credit report is to go to annualcreditreport.com. This website is completely free and has no strings attached. It allows you to download all three of your credit reports from all the major credit bureaus.
I like going to eat credit bureau separately, they might charge you a fee to download your credit report. To avoid these fees, annualcreditreport.com is a website that was created for the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
One thing to remember is that annualcreditreport.com will only allow you to download your credit report once a year. So, to keep up with your credit score from all major bureaus, make sure to download your report from this website every 12 months. It’s free and it’s easy.
Final thoughts
When it comes to your credit score and your credit report, lenders always want to have a clear picture to assess the risk you have as a borrower. The easiest way they can do this is to check your credit score and your credit report. Since your credit score is determined by three separate organizations, sometimes they would rather combine all three than pick one.
A tri merge credit report simply Aggregates the three credit reports from the major bureaus and gives them a good and clear picture of your credit history. They then use that to determine your level of risk and if you qualify for the credit you are applying for.
