A person researching credit repair versus authorized user tradelines on a tablet. The screen shows a comparison guide from OptimizeCredit.net regarding fast vs. slow credit improvement strategies.

How Lenders Use Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion Scores

How Lenders Use Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion Scores in 2026 TL;DR: When you apply for credit, lenders don’t look at just one score. They may review scores from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion (and sometimes different scoring models). Authorized user (AU) tradelines typically report to all three bureaus and can help by lowering overall utilization, increasing […]