Yes, there are downsides to using Experian Boost. The biggest drawback is that Experian Boost only affects your FICO Score 8 credit score and only when it’s calculated using your Experian credit report, which many lenders will not use.
Downsides to Using Experian Boost
Does not affect most credit scores: Experian Boost only impacts your FICO 8 credit score calculated with Experian data. Your scores calculated based on your TransUnion or Equifax credit report or other credit scoring models are unaffected.
May not count with some lenders: Some lenders may use credit scores that are not affected by Experian Boost. Therefore, when you apply for credit cards or loans, your boosted score may not be considered.
Not all payments are eligible: You can only add the payments Experian deems eligible and asks you to confirm once you’ve hooked up your bank/credit card accounts. Qualifying bills include:
- Residential rent with online payments
- Mobile and landline phone
- Cable and satellite
- Gas and electricity
- Power and solar
- Video streaming services
- Water
- Trash
- Internet
You can check the accounts listed on your credit report and get personalized credit-improvement tips for free here at WalletHub.
This answer was first published on 02/03/23. For the most current information about a financial product, you should always check and confirm accuracy with the offering financial institution. Editorial and user-generated content is not provided, reviewed or endorsed by any company.
FAQs
Experian Boost works best for those with no credit, bad credit or thin credit files. The main drawback is that it only works for your Experian credit report and has no effect on our Equifax and Transunion reports.
Is there any risk to Experian Boost? ›
Yes, Experian Boost is safe. Protecting customer data is Experian's top priority. Experian Boost uses multiple layers of security technology, including bank-level SSL security encryption, to safeguard your personal information when you connect your accounts and add your bills.
What are the disadvantages of Experian? ›
The main disadvantage of Experian is that, unlike FICO, it is rarely used as a stand-alone tool to make credit decisions. Even lenders that review credit reports in detail rather than go off a borrower's numerical score often look at results from all three bureaus, not just Experian.
Should I boost my credit score with Experian? ›
Boost takes more into account
Previously, regular payments like your monthly Council Tax bill had no influence on your Experian Credit Score. Boost changes that. By sharing payments like this, and showing how you manage your money, you could boost your credit score by up to 101 points.
Is it safe to link bank account to Experian boost? ›
The links power the Experian Boost and Personal Finances tools, and they're generally safe and secure. However, there's always a risk with sharing information, and you can unlink accounts at any time and request Experian to delete your personal data.
Can Experian boost backfire? ›
In short—yes, Experian Boost is safe.
Will Experian hurt my credit? ›
Doing so will never hurt your credit score and, in fact, checking your Experian credit report can help you protect your credit and promote long-term credit score improvement.
Is it worth paying for Experian? ›
Ultimately, whether it's worth paying for a premium Experian account or not will depend on how closely you need to monitor your credit record. Since a general overview of your credit score is free, if you only require a cursory look at your credit report then these premium features might not be worth the investment.
How to raise your credit score 200 points in 30 days? ›
How to Improve Your Credit Score
- Review Your Credit Reports. The best way to identify which steps are most important for you is to read through your credit reports. ...
- Pay Every Bill on Time. ...
- Maintain a Low Credit Utilization Rate. ...
- Avoid Unnecessary Credit Applications. ...
- Monitor Your Credit Regularly.
Which lenders use Experian Boost? ›
These firms are Clydesdale Bank, EE, Nationwide, Santander, Three, Virgin Money,Vodafone and Yorkshire Bank. However, none of these ruled out the possibility of using Experian Boost when assessing customers in future.
Unlike credit repair companies, Experian Boost is completely free and can increase your credit scores fast. Credit repair may cost you thousands of dollars and only help fix inaccuracies, which you can do yourself for free.
Is it safe to give Experian your social security number? ›
Is Your Information Secure with Experian? Experian prides itself on providing exceptional service without compromising the personal information of its customers. The privacy policy outlines how information is used and how the credit reporting agency complies with both legal requirements and consumers' expectations.
How trustworthy is Experian? ›
Credit scores from the three main bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion) are considered accurate. The accuracy of the scores depends on the accuracy of the information provided to them by lenders and creditors.
Is it safe to give my information to Experian? ›
We take privacy and security very seriously. When we request personal information from you, it is to provide you with safe and secure access to features on Experian Connect, such as ordering your credit report. Under no circumstances will we resell or provide your personal information to any third-party marketers.
Is the Experian app safe to use? ›
The bottom line on Experian's safety
Experian, like most global companies, has a number of protections in place to prevent bad actors from accessing your personal financial information.
Is it illegal to boost your credit score? ›
No. Credit repair is a legal way to improve a damaged credit history and raise your credit score. You can hire a professional firm to help you repair your credit, but it won't be able to do anything you can't do for yourself.