How Does Experian Boost Work?

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Last updated on September 1st, 2023

Experian Boost is a free service that allows consumers to instantly improve their FICO Score by adding phone bills, utility bills, and other monthly payments to an Experian account. But how exactly does Experian Boost work? Is it effective? And should you sign up?

What Is Experian Boost?

Making your payments on time is essential for building a good credit score. Experian, one of the three major credit bureaus, probably understands this better than anyone and wants to make the process easier. Experian Boost is its solution to helping consumers build their credit score faster than before. Experian Boost is a free service that helps “boost” a person’s FICO Score through adding utility and services payments to their credit file. Individuals can raise their credit score with these newly connected accounts by an average of 19 points (according to Experian).

How Does Experian Boost Work?

So, how does Experian Boost actually work?

To add Experian Boost, all you need to do is connect a relevant checking account to your Experian file. An appropriate checking account is one that you use to pay utility bills (such as water, gas, or electricity bills), streaming service bills, or mobile phone or internet bills. After linking the checking account, you can select which payment histories you want added to your Experian credit file. Users have the choice between telecom, utility providers, and video streaming services. Experian does not look for negative payment histories, and the boost is immediate. As stated, the average credit score increase from Experian Boost is around 19 points – with some users reporting more significant gains, while other report little-to-no FICO Score movement.

Experian Boost FAQs

While Experian’s Credit Boost service is straightforward to use, there are numerous questions about the process – namely, how it works and its impact on your FICO Score. Here are some answers to popular questions regarding the service:

Boost is ideal for people with a thin credit file. A thin file is one where a person has a short credit history, too few credit accounts, or a poor mix of credit types. Lenders prefer to work with borrowers with a robust combination of credit, such as mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards.

Related Article: How to Fix a Thin Credit File

No. One of the downsides to the Experian Boost service is that it only allows users to add mobile phone, telecom, streaming, and utility bills to their Boost account.

Not everyone will see a “boost” from the service. People who have many credit cards, a long history of on-time payments, or a high credit score most likely won’t experience a big jump in their credit score.

It is also worth noting that Experian Boost only works with your Experian credit score. The other major credit bureaus (Equifax and TransUnion) will not report any changes to your credit file based on what services are added to Boost. Because of this, your credit score may appear different depending on where you look.

Yes, Experian Boost is 100% free to use.

To receive your Experian Boost, you’ll need to sign up for a free Experian account.  New users can sign up here and then add their relevant checking accounts.

Experian uses the FICO Score 8 credit scoring model. Over 90% of lenders use the FICO Scoring model, making the Boost program a great way to increase your odds of approval for your next credit card application.

Should You Consider Signing Up for Experian Credit Boost?

Signing up for Experian Boost won’t get you from bad credit to good credit overnight. However, it is a useful service that can significantly raise your credit score. Since the service is free, it’s something of a no-brainer to join. This is the case for those with a limited credit history or a thin credit file, as it can help you raise the number of on-time payments on your Experian file. Adding multiple on-time utility payments can reduce the impact of past late payments significantly.

Related Article: How to Freeze Your Credit With Experian

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About: Cory Santos
Cory Santos

Cory is the senior credit card editor at BestCards, specializing in everything credit card-related. He’s worked extensively with credit cards and other personal finance topics, including nearly five years at BestCards. Cory’s extensive knowledge is an essential part of the BestCards experience, helping readers to live their best financial lives with up-to-date insights and comprehensive coverage of all facets of the credit card space, including market trends, rewards guides, credit advice, and comprehensive credit card reviews.

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