FHFA Chief Targets Credit Bureaus and FICO in Monopoly Critique

Fair Isaac shares plunged 18% to $922.67, leading the sector downward as investors reacted to the regulatory pressure. Equifax dropped 7.9% to $174.26, TransUnion fell 8% to $78.09, and Experian retreated 4.8% to $37.91. The volatility follows Pulte’s declarations on social media, where he directed mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to broaden their approval of the rival VantageScore model.

Pulte accused the major credit bureaus of operating in a cartel-like fashion and overcharging consumers for years. He signaled that the agency is exploring alternative scoring solutions to ensure the system remains safe and sound. While Fair Isaac defended its position by citing the predictive power of its FICO Score 10T and expressing support for a competitive environment, the credit bureaus involved—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—did not immediately address the allegations of predatory pricing and stalling tactics.