An Equifax 'Coding Issue' Messed Up the Credit Scores of Millions of People Applying For LoansSome people saw swings as much as 20 points, WSJ reported.

ByGabrielle Bienasz

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Equifax reportedinaccurate credit scoresfor millions of people in the US looking for loans in three weeks in 2022, theWall Street Journalreported Tuesday. The companyconfirmed the issue on its website.

在传统“Equifax确定了编码问题, on-premise server environment in the U.S. slated to be migrated to the new Equifax Cloud™ infrastructure," the company said Tuesday.

WSJ cited "bank executives and others familiar with the errors."

Lenders use credit scores to help determine whether to approve people for various types of loans. Credit scores can also be an important factor when renting an apartment or leasing a car. They are reported by major three agencies: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian.

What are Equifax's credit errors?

Per the outlet's report, Equifax sent the incorrect scores to lenders including JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo, when folks were looking to apply for mortgages, credit cards, and car loans, with some scores off by as much as 20 points -- enough to change interest rates or cause someone to be rejected.

Equifax said, "initial analysis indicates that only a small number of them may have received a different credit decision."

The company also said in its statement that fewer than 300,000 customers had a score that was wrong by 25 points or more. While scores were sometimes inaccurate, full "credit reports," which scores are calculated from, were not affected, per Equifax.

"We are collaborating with our customers to determine the actual impact to consumers," Equifax's statement added. "We can confirm that the issue has been fixed."

PerCBS News, this waspreviously reportedby National Mortgage Professional in May, and the company later acknowledged the issue.

Gabrielle Bienasz is a staff writer at Entrepreneur. She previously worked at Insider and Inc. Magazine.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

'I Can Feel the Rage': 80-Year-Old Couple Charged $120 to Print Boarding Passes Before Flight

The couple was traveling on Ryanair from London to France.

Business News

Pilot Dies In the Bathroom After Flight Departs from Miami. Airline Is 'Deeply Saddened By This Event.'

LATAM Airlines Captain Iván Andaur Santibáñez collapsed midway through the journey, prompting his co-pilots to make an emergency landing.

Starting a Business

A Retiree in Florida Started This 'Fun' Remote Side Hustle Out of Boredom. Now She Makes Up to $3,000 a Week.

When Chanda Torrey retired, she looked around for an enjoyable hobby that might also bring in some income. Now she's offering up her playbook to others.

Growing a Business

This Nurse Turned $500 in Savings Into $100 Million in Sales After Sharing Her Hair Care Routine on YouTube. Now She's Revealing Her Secrets to Success.

Courtney Adeleye sold $10 million worth of products out of her home within three years of launch.

Living

6 Things Successful People do Before 9 a.m.

Doing something useful when you feel least like doing anything almost guarantees a productive day.

Business News

Remote Employee Fired for 'Low Keystroke Activity' During Working Hours After 18 Years of Employment

The Australian woman is claiming she was wrongfully terminated and surveilled.