When does Discover report to credit bureaus?

In order to report to the credit bureaus, a business must first qualify as a data furnisher. Depending on the credit bureau, the business may need a minimum number of customer accounts in order to achieve data furnisher status. For example, TransUnion requires a business to have at least 100 customer accounts. So, a local credit union, for instance, would need at least 100 customers with credit accounts to become a data furnisher with TransUnion.… read full answer

The process of becoming a data furnisher also requires meeting minimum standards set forth by the Fair Credit Reporting Act, including making regular data uploads and meeting certain technological requirements. The business must become a paying customer of one of the three major credit bureaus, too.

You can contact each credit bureau’s sales department for more information regarding your specific situation.

Experian

1-800-831-5614

Equifax

1-800-879-1025

TransUnion

1-800-813-5604

Ultimately, it may be worthwhile to become a data furnisher if your business regularly provides credit to customers. But the cost of becoming a data furnisher could be prohibitive if you just want to report a small number of customers who are delinquent on payment. In that case, you would be better off turning the accounts over to collections.

You can legally turn a customer account over to collections once the account is 31 days past-due. Once you select a collection agency to take over your customer debt, you will agree on payment for their services, which is usually charged as a percentage of your customers’ debt. After the collection agency takes responsibility for the account, you will write off the account as a bad debt expense.

To report rent payments to the credit bureaus, sign up for a rent-reporting service such as LevelCredit. These services report on-time rent payments to the major credit bureaus for inclusion on your credit report. Some require your landlord to create and maintain an active account, while others just require verification that they own or manage the property and have an active lease with you.… read full answer

Subscription Services to Report Rent Payments to Credit Bureaus:

These services vary in terms of functionality and price, costing as much as $145 per month. But they all report rent payments to at least one of the major credit bureaus.

If you are interested in free services, you have a few options, too.

Free Services to Report Rent Payments to Credit Bureaus:

Things to Look For in a Rent-Reporting Service:

With so many different services available for reporting your rent payments to the credit bureaus, there are a few key things to consider when deciding which one is right for you.

• How much effort does my landlord need to go through to sign up, and will the landlord provide all of the information needed? Some services just require a phone call or an email. Others require a driver’s license or a copy of the lease. In many cases, the landlord will have to sign up for and maintain an account with the service. Individual landlords may not want to sign up with a new service just to potentially help out your credit score.
• How much does the service cost for a year? Payment options for these services vary. Some require a large initial deposit while others charge monthly or require a contract. The best way to report rent payments to the credit bureaus for free is to sign up for a service like MoCaFi, which offers free reporting to Equifax if you use its phone app.
• Does the service include rental history? Depending on how the service tracks rent, it may be capable of checking past payment history. Others only begin tracking rent payments once you’ve signed up for the service.
• Which credit bureaus does the service report to? Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion. Some services only report to a single credit bureau, while others report to multiple.
• When will your rent appear on your credit report? It could take days, weeks or even months to be added to your credit report.
• How can you cancel the service? Some services require contracts and others are only valid while you live at a certain address. Check if you can update your account when you move or if you need to cancel.

The value of reporting your rent will vary based on your current credit score, but TransUnion research found that renters with subprime credit scores who made timely rental payments could see their credit scores increase by 26 points after a year of rent payment reporting. You can track your progress with free credit reports and scores through your WalletHub account, all for free.

You can attempt to add positive accounts to your credit report by requesting that your lender report your account to the three major credit bureaus. Some lenders report to just one or two of the major bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion), so your credit report may vary based on which company is putting it together. Others may choose not to your report at all, as there is no law that requires lenders to report information to the credit bureaus.… read full answer

Most major lenders report to at least one of the major credit bureaus, so you are only likely to run into this issue with smaller, local lenders. If you are hoping to add more open accounts to your credit report, there are also services available to add rent payments and utilities to certain score calculations.

You can apply for a secured card and use it responsibly, too. This will help you boost your credit score organically.