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Experian Credit Report credit score and monitoring review September 2020
Last updated:
Get access to your credit report and the gold standard of scoring: Your FICO Score.
Details
| Starting price | $19.99 |
|---|---|
| Credit scores | TransUnion, Equifax, Experian |
| Credit monitoring | Yes |
| Trial period | 30 days |
| Update frequency | Monthly, Annually |
What's in this review?
What is Experian Credit Report?
Experian Credit Report is among the three major credit reporting agencies in the US, monitoring the financial histories of some 220 million Americans.In addition to providing free annual credit reports, Experian Credit Report offers tools that help people and businesses protect their financial data to minimize identity theft and credit fraud.
How can I check my credit score with Experian Credit Report?
Experian Credit Report offers three services — Experian Credit Report CreditWorks Premium, Experian Credit Report and FICO Score and 3-Bureau Credit Report and FICO Scores — to monitor your credit score including what in your credit history helps your score and what might need improvement.All of its services use the FICO Score 8 model to determine the score it reports, which is the one most widely used by lenders and creditors.
What is FICO Score 8?
Among the many proprietary FICO Scores, FICO Score 8 more strongly considers your credit utilization while also weighing less heavily the sporadic late payment or small-dollar collections accounts on your record. It also excludes shared accounts from reflecting on your overall credit history.
Experian Credit Report claims the model it uses to determine your FICO Score 8 results in a score that better predicts your future financial behaviors.Compare each Experian Credit Report service
| Experian Credit Report service | Benefits | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Experian Credit Report CreditWorks Premium |
| $4.99 for the first month and $24.99 each additional month |
| Experian Credit Report and FICO Score |
| One-time $$19.99 fee |
| 3-Bureau Credit Report and FICO Scores |
| One-time $39.99 fee |
What other services does Experian Credit Report offer?
Like the other major credit reporting bureaus, Experian Credit Report aims to provide you control over your financial information, offering services that include:
- Free access to your credit report. Request a monthly look at your credit report to analyze open accounts, your payment history and credit limits.
- IdentityWorks. Thwart ID theft through 24/7 monitoring and alerts anytime there’s a change to your three credit reports.
- Free support and education. Get help with credit disputes, learn how to control your personal info on the web and find tools to stay on top of personal finance.
Is there a way to get my credit score for free?
Yes. There a many credit cards that offer credit scores whether you’re a cardholder or not, including Discover, Capital One and Chase.
Pros and cons
Experian Credit Report can help you save time by allowing access to your credit history through all three reporting bureaus. But you’ll want to weigh whether the convenience is worth the cost.Pros
- Flexible options. Sign up for ongoing access to your FICO Score and reports, or take a one-time look before applying for a loan.
- Reports FICO Score. Unlike other bureaus, Experian Credit Report reports the score most widely used by the lending community.
- Easy-to-use dashboard. Conveniently compare your financial information across the three bureaus, learning what’s affecting your score.
Cons
- Not your cheapest option. While you might find services valuable, an annual subscription with CreditWorks will run you about $280.
- You must cancel by phone. You can sign up for services online, but you’ll need to speak with an Experian Credit Report rep to cancel ongoing charges.
Compare Experian Credit Report with other credit score services
How do I sign up?
To sign up for Experian Credit Report‘s credit score and monitoring services, go to its site and click Reports & Scores.
From there, you’ll be able to decide which service you’re interested in — monthly or annually. Next, you’ll enter such information as:
- Your full name and contact information, including your phone number and email address.
- Your Social Security number and date of birth.
- Your payment information.
For subscriptions, you’ll create a user name and password for future access. You also need to answer additional security questions to verify your identity.
Is Experian Credit Report legit?
Yes. Experian Credit Report is an established credit reporting agency that’s among the top three used by lenders when determining whether to take you on as a borrower.
To avoid signing up for services you’re not interested in, read the fine print on each page before confirming your information. Make sure you understand the charges you face — including what you’ll pay after any introductory months.
Customer service
Help is available by phone or online to help you resolve questions with your credit report, membership, disputes and more:
- Phone. Reps are available at 479-343-6239 weekdays from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. PT and weekends from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT. For disputes, call 888-397-3742.
- Online. Start your query from Experian Credit Report‘s Contact Us page with your name and contact information.
- Help database. Find answers to common questions through the Ask Experian Credit Report Team tool.
Bottom line
Experian Credit Report appears to offer more comprehensive reporting and monitoring tools than competitors. And it gives you access to your credit score, providing a more accurate idea of the score potential creditors will see when you apply for credit.But you’ll pay nearly $20 or $40 for one-time access and up to $280 for an annual subscription.
