This guide explains how to read and interpret key sections of the TransUnion Full Credit Report.
Section 1: Personal Information
SSN Message
During the identity verification process, the applicant enters their SSN which is compared to the SSN in their TransUnion file. The message in this field will tell you the comparison results.
"Exact SSN Match" – The SSN entered is an exact match to their TransUnion credit file.
"Partial SSN Match" – The SSN entered differs slightly from TransUnion records, often due to a typo. This does not indicate an incorrect credit report. TransUnion has still verified the identity and provided the correct file.
Address History
Lists current and previous addresses reported to TransUnion.
Addresses appear when reported through credit applications, public record filings, etc.
The reported date indicates when the applicant was first associated with the address.
Section 2: Profile Summary
Record Counts
Tradelines – Total number of credit accounts (credit cards, car loans, etc.).
Collections – Total number of accounts in collection.
Public Records – Total number of public records (bankruptcies).
Inquiries – Number of credit inquiries (typically 2 years of history).
Derogatory Items
Summary of negative marks, such as late payments or accounts in collections.
Tradeline Summary
Quick view of all accounts, broken down by the type of account
Revolving Accounts – Credit accounts with changing balances and due amounts.
Installment Accounts – Loans with fixed payments (car loans, personal loans, etc.).
Section 3: Resident's Score
What Is the Resident's Score?
A rental-specific risk score developed by TransUnion.
Based on credit data from 2.9 million individuals who experienced negative rental outcomes.
Key Factors
List of factors that impacted the score.
More about Resident Scores:
A ResidentScore is a credit score specifically designed by TransUnion for tenant screening, focusing on how likely a tenant is to pay rent on time. It takes into account factors like rental history and evictions. Additionally, the ResidentScore ranges from 350 to 850, with 850 being the highest score, reflecting a tenant's likelihood to fulfill rental obligations. It also takes into account factors like payment history, outstanding debts, and open credit lines, while explicitly excluding criminal history.
A FICO score, on the other hand, is a general credit score used by lenders to assess overall creditworthiness for loans and credit cards. It looks at factors like payment history, credit utilization, and types of credit used. Unlike the FICO score, which evaluates a borrower's overall creditworthiness across multiple financial contexts, the ResidentScore is exclusively tailored for assessing tenant reliability and predicting rental payment behavior.
In short, ResidentScore is tailored to rental decisions, while FICO is for broader financial decisions like loans. When using the ResidentScore, landlords should incorporate it as part of a holistic approach, combining it with rental history, employment verification, and personal references to gain a full perspective on a tenant's reliability.
Section 4: Individual Tradeline Details
Detail Provided for Each Account
Important dates, terms, credit limits, account type, current status, and balances.
Payment History
A visual graph showing monthly payment history, including late payments.
Section 5: Inquiries
Understanding Credit Inquiries
Hard inquiries appear when a lender checks the applicant’s credit for a loan or credit card application.
Only hard inquiries from the past two years are displayed.
Section 6: Collections
Collection Overview
Snapshot of collection accounts and the total balance owed.
Individual Collection Account Details
Displays open date, original lender, account status, and balance amounts.
Medical and student loan collections do not impact the score.
