Experian 2020 Review
Founded in 1996, Experian is one of the the three major credit bureaus and offers three-bureau credit monitoring to assist you with informed financial decisions.
Experian’s credit monitoring products send you immediate alerts when they find changes in your credit reports, suspicious activity on your reports, or identity fraud.
These alerts are based on key changes in your Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax credit reports.
Contact Experian: Phone: 888-397-3742 Address: Experian National Consumer Assistance Center P.O. Box 4500 Allen, TX 75013
Experian Pros
- Accreditations: Experian is accredited with an A- rating from the Better Business Bureau.
- Alerts: Experian’s alerts will inform you of changes in your credit reports or suspicious activity like fraud.
- Experian Credit Lock: This tool allows you to control who has access to your Experian credit report.
- Updates: Depending on the plan you choose, you can get an updated Experian credit report and FICO® Score daily or monthly when you sign in.
- Identity Theft Insurance: You can receive up to $1 million identity theft insurance.
- Fraud Resolution: Experian’s fraud resolution agents assist you in restoring your identity after your information has been compromised. Costs like electronic fund transfers, lost wages, legal fees, and travel expenses are covered.
- Quarterly Three Bureau Updates: Receive updated credit reports and FICO® scores from all three bureaus every 90 days.
- Easy To Read Dashboard: Experian’s online dashboard show an easy to read credit score overview and additional factors that can affect your credit score.
- Easy Cancellation: Because there are no contracts, it is easy to cancel your monthly membership by canceling online with your account or calling the toll-free line that is available seven days a week.
- Dark Web Surveillance: Experian tracks your personal information on the dark web to catch thieves selling your identity.
Experian Cons
- Lenders may use a different score than the one provided by Experian.
Experian Pricing
- Experian CreditWorks Basic: This plan is free and no credit card is required. It provides your Experian credit reports every 30 days on sign in, Experian credit monitoring with alerts, and toll-free phone support.
- Experian CreditWorks: This plan is $4.99 for the first month and $24.99 for each additional month to gain access to quarterly 3-bureau credit reports and FICO® Scores, 3-bureau credit monitoring with alerts, daily Experian credit reports and FICO® Scores, Experian FICO® Score tracking with alerts, Experian CreditLock with alerts, fraud resolution support, and $1 million identity theft insurance.
- One-time Credit Reports And Scores: For $19.95, you receive your Experian credit report and FICO® Score along with toll-free phone support.
- One-time 3-Bureau Credit Report And FICO® Scores: For $39.95, you receive your Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion Credit Report and FICO® Score along with toll-free phone support.
Summary
Experian provides credit monitoring and some identity theft support, but their pricing is higher than some of their competitors.
Note: Identity Theft Insurance underwritten by insurance company subsidiaries or affiliates of American International Group, Inc. (AIG). The description herein is a summary and intended for informational purposes only and does not include all terms, conditions and exclusions of the policies described. Please refer to the actual policies for terms, conditions, and exclusions of coverage. Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Experian's trial period?
There is a seven day trial of Experian CreditWorks when you order your $1 credit report and FICO® Score 8. If you don’t cancel during the trial period, you are billed $21.95 for that month and full price for each month you continue your membership.
How frequently does Experian update my credit score?
Depending on which plan you purchase, you can either receive daily or monthly updates.
What other services does Experian provide?
Experian provides some basic identity theft protection and restoration services.
How do I request a credit report from Experian if I live outside of the US?
If you are a US citizen living abroad, you can order a copy of your credit report by sending the following information to Experian, PO Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013:
- Your full name (including your middle initial and generation)
- Your date of birth
- Your Social Security number
- Two proofs of your current mailing address, which can include a copy of your driver's license, bank statement, insurance statement, phone bill, or utility bill that contains your name and current address
- Your previous US address
- A copy of a government-issued ID card
Can I get a free copy of my credit report if I was turned down for a loan?
Due to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you can request a free copy of your credit report if you were declined for credit, employment, or housing in the past 60 days. You can request a free credit report online or by phone.
Why are my rental payments included only on my Experian credit report?
Experian is the only major credit bureau that incorporates positive rental payments into your credit report.
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2 Experian Consumer Reviews and Complaints
Marlene Lewis, on March 02, 2020
I purchased a 3-report update from Experian Creditworks one month ago. Neither Equifax nor Transunion have been updated yet. They show 43 and 42 days until the next update. What gives?
Kathie Bell, on March 06, 2020
I am a USAA member. Several months ago, USAA changed the credit monitoring service to Experian. I set up an online profile but have never been able to get past verifying my phone # to complete the process. I'm getting notifications in my email. I would love to access this information.