Beyond the ability to boost your credit score, Experian Boost provides updates to your Experian credit report and FICO® score every 30 days.
The process takes about five minutes, and you'll see any changes to your credit scores instantly. Most people who try Experian Boost see their credit scores improve immediately. Average users boosted their FICO® Score☉ 8 based on Experian data by 13 points. Some may not see improved scores or approval odds.
Account information is typically updated every month, but each account on your report may be updated on different days, depending on that creditor's reporting cycle.
Experian updates your credit report each time it receives information from an information furnisher. As mentioned earlier, this is typically every 30 to 45 days but could vary.
Yes, Experian Boost is safe to use. Boost only adds on-time payments to your credit report, so it cannot hurt your credit score.
Bottom Line. Experian Boost is a well-intentioned feature. If you're someone who has a thin credit history who pays their phone or utility bill with a bank account, Experian Boost might be a good option to build up your FICO Score. However, with the average credit score increase of 13 points.
Experian Boost also isn't permanent. If you decide it isn't for you, you can remove your data via Boost at any time. It's important to note, however, that the credit score calculated through Experian Boost is based off the FICO Score 8 model and works with FICO 9, VantageScore 3 and VantageScore 4.
To get a rapid rescore, you must ask a lender to apply for it on your behalf. You can't initiate the process yourself. A lender may recommend rapid rescoring if your current credit score is a few points below the score necessary to get a lower interest rate and other desirable loan terms.
Our Verdict: Credit Karma has better credit monitoring and more features, but Experian actually gives you your “real” credit score. Plus it offers the wonderful Experian Boost tool. Since they're both free, it's worth it to get both of them.
In fact, some consumers may even see their credit scores rise as much as 100 points in 30 days. Learn more: Lower your credit utilization rate.
Consequently, when lenders check your FICO credit score, whether based on credit report data from Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion, they will likely use the FICO 8 scoring model. FICO 8 scores range between 300 and 850. A FICO score of at least 700 is considered a good score.
Weekends. The credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) update the reports and scores that lenders use to make underwriting decisions over weekends. While the consumer agencies are not open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays, their computer systems run seven days a week.
Is Experian Accurate? Credit scores from the credit bureaus are only as accurate as the information provided to the bureau. Check your credit report to ensure all the information is correct. If it is, your Experian credit scores are accurate.
Credit scores help lenders evaluate whether they want to do business with you. The FICO® Score☉ , which is the most widely used scoring model, falls in a range that goes up to 850. The lowest credit score in this range is 300. But the reality is that almost nobody has a score that low.
This is due to a variety of factors, such as the many different credit score brands, score variations and score generations in commercial use at any given time. These factors are likely to yield different credit scores, even if your credit reports are identical across the three credit bureaus—which is also unusual.
Once the mortgage lender begins the rapid rescore process with the credit reporting agency and submits the necessary documentation, it is often completed within two to three days.
Your credit reports are updated when lenders provide new information to the nationwide credit reporting agencies for your accounts. This usually happens once a month, or at least every 45 days. However, some lenders may update more frequently than this.
Lenders and brokers cannot charge you for any part of the rapid rescoring costs. As such, not all providers offer this program. The rapid rescore service can be fairly expensive. Fees can run anywhere from $25-$40 per credit file, per bureau.
Experian Boost may pull positive payment data as far back as 24 months. Any late payments on linked accounts won't be reported through this feature. (However, you should still pay outstanding bills quickly to avoid late fees.)
In short—yes, Experian Boost is safe. Experian utilizes read-only access to your bank statement data to find your qualifying payments made to telecom and utility companies. This process is secure, and Experian does not store any consumer bank credentials—it only stores a record of any qualifying on-time payments.
About Experian Boost
For example, utility bills, phone payments, and even Netflix and other streaming subscriptions can all be added to your Experian credit file with Experian Boost. Good payment history on your credit accounts is created when you pay these obligations on time.