Who should applicants contact regarding questions about their credit score?

Applicants should contact a credit reporting agency regarding questions about their credit score because these agencies are the entities responsible for compiling and maintaining individual credit reports. Each agency collects data from various financial institutions and provides consumers with their credit scores and reports. If an applicant has questions about the accuracy of their credit score or if they want to understand how their score is calculated, the credit reporting agency can provide the necessary insights and guidance.

While lenders and mortgage brokers may have a vested interest in an applicant's credit score as it relates to loan approval, they do not have the authority to modify or provide details about the score itself. Attorneys typically handle legal matters and may not have specific knowledge about credit reporting and scoring. Thus, the most direct and appropriate source for inquiries specifically about credit scores is the credit reporting agencies.