Experian BOP Factor Codes

This reference consolidates the adverse and positive factor-code content used with Experian Personal Credit. A factor explains why a score was not higher or, for optional VantageScore positive factors, what supported the score. It is not an approval or decline reason by itself.

How to use factor codes

Rule	Guidance
Keep model context	Interpret a code only with the model that returned it.
Preserve ordering	Earlier factors generally had more influence than later factors.
Preserve leading zeroes	FICO code `01` is a string identifier, not integer `1`.
Recognize positive factors	VantageScore positive codes use the `P` prefix, such as `P03`.
Do not infer missing values	An empty factor list does not mean no risk.

VantageScore 4.0 adverse factors

Code	Meaning
`3`	Average age of accounts is too recent.
`4`	Account balances are too high relative to limits or loan amounts.
`5`	Too many recent delinquencies.
`6`	Too many accounts were opened recently.
`7`	Too many delinquent or derogatory accounts.
`8`	Too few accounts were recently paid as agreed.
`9`	A delinquent or derogatory account is present.
`10`	Too few accounts are paid as agreed.
`11`	The oldest account was opened too recently.
`12`	Delinquent or derogatory status is too recent.
`13`	Balances on delinquent or derogatory accounts are too high.
`14`	The proportion of recently opened accounts is too high.
`15`–`18`	Recent reporting, total credit, open-account, or account-information history is insufficient.
`20`–`29`	Bankcard delinquency, balances, limits, utilization, or account age adversely affected the score.
`30`–`44`	Revolving-account availability, age, history, balances, limits, or derogatory status adversely affected the score.
`45`–`49`	Retail or revolving payment history is insufficient or balances were not paid down enough.
`50`–`58`	Installment-account balances, delinquency, payment history, or available history adversely affected the score.
`59`	Retail-card balances are too high relative to limits.
`60`–`68`	Real-estate or mortgage balances, delinquency, age, payment history, or available history adversely affected the score.
`69`	Too much balance is from loans not secured by real estate.
`70`–`78`	Auto-account delinquency, balances, payment history, or available history adversely affected the score.
`80`–`82`	Student-loan delinquency, paydown, or recent reporting adversely affected the score.
`84`	The number of inquiries affected the score.
`85`	Too many inquiries.
`86`	Derogatory public records.
`87`	Unpaid collections.
`88`	Bankruptcy.
`90`–`93`	Open revolving or first-mortgage status, derogatory balances, or mortgage paydown adversely affected the score.
`96`	Too few open accounts.
`97`	Too few accounts.

Blank legacy entries (19, 79, 83, 89, 94, and 95) had no published text in the consolidated source and should remain unmapped.

VantageScore 4.0 positive factors

Positive factors mirror much of the adverse vocabulary with a P prefix.

Codes	Meaning
`P03`–`P18`	Account age, balances, payment behavior, limits, or available account information supported the score.
`P20`–`P44`	Bankcard and revolving balances, utilization, limits, age, availability, and non-derogatory behavior supported the score.
`P45`–`P59`	Retail and installment paydown, payment behavior, and balances supported the score.
`P60`–`P69`	Real-estate loan balances, age, paydown, and non-derogatory behavior supported the score.
`P70`–`P82`	Auto and student-loan payment, balance, and non-derogatory behavior supported the score.
`P85`	Few or no inquiries.
`P86`	Few or no derogatory public records.
`P87`	Few or no unpaid collections.
`P88`	No bankruptcy.
`P92`–`P94`	No delinquent or derogatory first-mortgage or revolving account, or strong first-mortgage paydown.
`P95`–`P97`	Few recent revolving openings and enough open credit accounts.

Some positive codes retain insufficient-history wording or had blank legacy text. Interpret the exact returned provider description when present.

FICO 8, FICO 9, and FICO v2 factors

These models share most of the following two-digit vocabulary.

Code	Meaning
`01`	Amount owed on accounts is too high.
`02`	Level of delinquency on accounts.
`03`	Too few bank or national revolving accounts.
`04`	Too many bank or national revolving accounts.
`05`	Too many accounts have balances.
`06`	Too many consumer-finance-company accounts.
`07`	Account payment history is too new to rate.
`08`	Too many inquiries in the last 12 months.
`09`	Too many accounts were recently opened.
`10`	Revolving balance-to-limit ratio is too high.
`11`	Amount owed on revolving accounts is too high.
`12`	Revolving accounts have not been established long enough.
`13`	Time since delinquency is too recent or unknown.
`14`	Accounts have not been established long enough.
`15`	Lack of recent bank or national revolving information.
`16`	Lack of recent revolving-account information.
`17`	No recent non-mortgage balance information.
`18`	Number of accounts with delinquency.
`19`	Too few accounts are currently paid as agreed.
`20`	Time since a derogatory public record or collection is too short.
`21`	Amount past due on accounts.
`22`	Serious delinquency, derogatory public record, or collection.
`24`	No recent revolving balances.
`25`	Installment loans have not been established long enough.
`26`	Number of revolving accounts.
`28`	Number of established accounts.
`30`	Time since the most recent account opening is too short.
`31`	Too few accounts have recent payment information.
`32`	Lack of recent installment-loan information.
`33`	Loan balances are too high relative to loan amounts.
`34`	Amount owed on delinquent accounts.
`36`	Open installment loans have not been established long enough.
`37`	Finance-company account count is high relative to credit-history length.
`38`	Serious delinquency and a public record or collection.
`39`	Serious delinquency.
`40`	Derogatory public record or collection; used by FICO 8 and FICO v2.
`49`	Derogatory public record or collection; used by FICO 9.
`96`	Too many mortgage loans with balances; FICO 9.
`98`	Lack of recent auto-loan information.
`99`	Lack of recent consumer-finance-company account information.

FICO Advanced2 factors

FICO Advanced2 uses alphanumeric codes. The optional FICO mapping identifies the closest standard factor when the source supplied one.

Advanced code	Meaning	Related FICO code
`A0`	Account payment history is too new to rate.	`07`
`A3`	Amount owed on accounts is too high.	`01`
`A6`	Amount owed on delinquent accounts.	`34`
`B5`	Amount owed on revolving accounts is too high.	`11`
`B6`	Amount past due on accounts.	`21`
`D4`	Derogatory public record or collection.	`40`
`D6`	Level of delinquency on accounts.	`02`
`D7`	Serious delinquency.	`39`
`D8`	Serious delinquency and public record or collection.	`38`
`F4`	Lack of recent auto-loan information.	`98`
`F6`	Lack of recent consumer-finance-company information.	`99`
`F7`	Lack of recent installment-loan information.	`32`
`G1`	Lack of recent revolving-account information.	`16`
`G4`	No recent non-mortgage balance information.	`17`
`G6`	No recent revolving balances.	`24`
`J4`	Length of installment-loan history.	`25`
`J6`	Length of open installment-loan history.	`36`
`J9`	Time since account activity is too long.	`12`
`K0`	Time since delinquency is too recent or unknown.	`13`
`K1`	Time since public record or collection is too short.	`20`
`K2`	Time since most recent account opening is too short.	`30`
`M1`	Number of accounts with delinquency.	`18`
`N0`	Consumer-finance account count relative to history length.	`37`
`N2`	Number of established accounts.	`28`
`N7`	Number of revolving accounts.	`26`
`P5`	Revolving balances relative to limits are too high.	`10`
`P9`	Loan balances relative to loan amounts are too high.	`33`
`R0`	Too few accounts are currently paid as agreed.	`19`
`R2`	Too few accounts have recent payment information.	`31`
`R4`	Too few bank or national revolving accounts.	`03`
`T0`	Too many accounts were recently opened.	`09`
`T1`	Too many accounts have balances.	`05`
`T2`	Too many bank or national revolving accounts.	`04`
`T3`	Too many consumer-finance-company accounts.	`06`
`T5`	Too many inquiries in the last 12 months.	`08`
`X0`	Payments due on accounts.	`46`

Advanced codes without a related FICO code are still valid provider factors. Use the provider’s returned description and do not manufacture a numeric mapping.

FAQ

Why can the same number mean something different across models?

Factor dictionaries are model-specific. Always retain the selected consumerScoreModel with the score and factors.

Are P-prefixed codes adverse-action reasons?

No. In VantageScore 4.0 they are optional positive score factors describing behavior that supported the score.

Should I convert factor codes to numbers?

No. Store them as strings so leading zeroes and alphanumeric prefixes are preserved.

What if a returned code is not in this table?

Preserve the code and provider description, then confirm it against the provider documentation for the exact model version. Do not apply a description from another model.