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What Credit Bureau Does Affirm Use? Demystifying Affirm’s Credit Check

Affirm is a popular buy-now, pay-later platform that offers customers the option to finance their purchases through short-term loans. 

Affirm users can split the cost of their products into monthly installments. One of the essential parts of the loan approval process is a credit check. 

In this guide, we will discuss what credit bureau does Affirm use, how it impacts your credit, and answer common questions about the Affirm credit check process.

What credit bureau does Affirm use?

When you apply for a loan with Affirm, they perform a soft credit check to determine your creditworthiness. 

Credit bureaus collect and maintain data on consumers’ credit behavior, which lenders like Affirm use to make informed decisions on whether to approve a loan application.

Affirm currently partners with one of the three major credit bureaus in the United States, Experian, to obtain credit history information. 

Experian provides Affirm with a snapshot of your credit history, debt obligations, and payment records. 

This information allows Affirm to decide whether a loan application should be approved and, if so, the terms of the loan.

What Credit Bureau Does Affirm Use? All You Need To Know

Affirm’s Relationship with Experian

Experian is one of the largest credit bureaus in the United States, responsible for collecting, maintaining, and disseminating consumer credit data. 

It has a comprehensive database on millions of customers, which includes records of borrowing, payment behavior, and debt management.

Organizations like Affirm rely on the insights provided by Experian to make key decisions on loan applications.

Affirm reports loan repayment history and other relevant information to Experian, which is then utilized to calculate a user’s credit score. 

Factors such as timely payments, successful loan repayments, and responsible credit management can positively influence an individual’s credit record. Moreover, building a positive credit history will enable users to access better loan terms or lower interest rates with creditors in the future.

When customers apply for a loan with Affirm, the company performs a soft credit check, which is significantly different from a hard credit inquiry.  Soft credit checks involve a high-level review of a user’s credit information without affecting their credit score

This approach by Affirm allows individuals to apply for multiple loans without worrying about a negative impact on their credit status.

Apart from reporting positive payment history, Affirm also maintains records of late payments, missed payments, or loan defaults.  Such negative credit events are reported to Experian and can lead to a lower credit score for the users. 

As a result, it is crucial for customers to prioritize timely payments on their Affirm loans, ensuring that their credit score remains unharmed.

In conclusion, Affirm’s relationship with Experian plays an essential role in the loan-application decision-making process. 

Affirm relies on Experian’s vast credit data to evaluate an applicant’s creditworthiness and determine suitable loan terms. 

Users should be aware of the potential impact on their credit scores, both positive and negative, and manage their loans responsibly to maintain a healthy credit history.

Future Reporting to Other Credit Bureaus by Affirm

At present, Affirm only reports credit information to Experian. However, this doesn’t rule out the possibility of Affirm reporting to other credit bureaus, such as TransUnion or Equifax, in the future. 

Expanding reporting to other credit bureaus can further benefit users who maintain a positive payment history, as this data would then contribute to their credit score with all major bureaus. 

For now, users should focus on managing their loan repayments well and keeping an eye on their Experian credit report.

Affirm

Understanding Credit Checks with Affirm

When you apply for a loan, lenders typically perform one of two types of credit checks: hard or soft inquiries. 

A hard inquiry can temporarily lower your credit score, while a soft inquiry has no impact on your credit score.

Affirm opts for a soft credit check for their loan applications. This means that applying for a loan with Affirm won’t hurt your credit score, unlike a hard inquiry by other traditional lenders. 

This is a significant advantage for users who may explore multiple loan options without damaging their credit profile.

The loan approval process with Affirm can still impact your credit score in other ways. As mentioned earlier, Affirm reports your payment history to Experian. 

Timely payments can contribute to a better credit score, while late or missed payments can have a detrimental effect on your credit standing.

Pros and Cons of Affirm’s Credit Bureau Use

There are several advantages and disadvantages to Affirm reporting to Experian. 

Pros

  • Building credit: Users who make timely payments can improve their credit score, as Affirm reports positive payment history.
  • Soft credit checks: Affirm’s use of soft credit inquiries preserves your credit score during the loan application process.

Cons

  • Negative impact on credit: Late or missed payments can hurt your credit score, especially if you default on your loan.
  • Limited credit reporting: Affirm only reports to one credit bureau (Experian), which means you may still need to build credit with the other major bureaus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Affirm only report to Experian? 

Yes, Affirm currently reports payment information to Experian. They may report to other credit bureaus in the future, but for now, Experian is their primary reporting partner.

Can using Affirm impact my credit score? 

Yes, using Affirm can impact your credit score positively if you make payments on time, as they report payment history to Experian. However, late or missed payments can negatively affect your credit score.

loans

Do all loans from Affirm get reported to the credit bureau? 

Yes, Affirm reports all loans and their repayment history to Experian. This includes both positive and negative payment history.

Will Affirm start reporting to other credit bureaus in the future? 

While Affirm currently only reports to Experian, it’s possible that they may expand their reporting to other credit bureaus like TransUnion or Equifax in the future.

Conclusion

Affirm uses Experian to perform soft credit checks, which enables users to preserve their credit scores as they apply for loans. 

By reporting payment history to Experian, Affirm helps users build their credit by making timely payments. 

However, users should also be aware of late payments’ potential for negatively impacting their credit score. 

While Affirm doesn’t currently report to other major bureaus, it’s essential to monitor your credit report, manage your loans responsibly, and make timely payments.