
Rent-A-Center reports payments to credit bureaus, which can impact your credit score. This is because they use a type of credit reporting called "rent-to-own" or "lease-to-own" reporting.
Rent-A-Center's reporting policies are not always consistent, and it's not guaranteed that they will report payments to all three major credit bureaus. However, some customers have reported successful credit score improvements after making on-time payments.
If Rent-A-Center does report your payments, it can help build your credit history. This is especially beneficial for those who have limited or no credit history.
Rent-A-Center and Credit Reporting
Rent-A-Center can impact your credit standing only negatively if you don't make payments.
Rent-A-Center does not report your payments to the credit bureaus, which means your on-time payments won't help build your credit score.
However, if you fall behind on payments, your account can be sent to collections, damaging your credit score considerably.
How Rent-A-Center Reports to Credit Bureaus
Rent-A-Center reports to credit bureaus when you miss payments, and collections accounts can severely damage your credit score. Your credit standing can only be negatively impacted by Rent-A-Center.
If you don't make the payments, your merchandise will likely be repossessed. This is a serious consequence of missing payments.
Collections accounts are listed as derogatory marks on your credit report, which can have long-lasting effects on your credit score.
Impact on Credit Scores
Rent payments can have a significant impact on your credit score, but it's essential to understand how it works.
If you're consistently making on-time payments, it can improve your credit score by up to 26 points, with 60% of renters seeing improvements after just one month.
However, falling behind on rent payments can lead to negative reporting and a decrease in your credit score, especially if your debt is sent to a collections agency.
Rent payments are typically not reported to credit bureaus, but there are services like Jetty Credit and RentReporters that can help you get credit for your on-time payments.
These services can send data about your rent payments to credit bureaus, such as Equifax and TransUnion, and may even be offered at no charge in some cases.
RentPlus, a program offered by Rent Dynamics, reports on-time payments to the three credit bureaus without reporting late payments, but it does come with a fee.
The fee for RentReporters, another service that reports rent payments to credit bureaus, is $94.95 for two years of past data, then $9.95 per month to maintain the service.
Rent Payment and Credit
Rent payments can have a positive effect on your credit score, but only if they're being reported. RentReporters sends data about your rent payments to two credit bureaus: Equifax and TransUnion.
Rent payments are typically the largest monthly expense for households, and getting credit for paying on time could help you qualify for a credit card, car loan, mortgage, or other future loan.
Rent payments can improve your credit scores by up to 26 points, with 60 percent of renters seeing improvements after only the first month. Falling behind on your rent payments can lead to negative reporting and a decrease in your credit score.
You can get rent reporting from your landlords if they use RentRedi and offer the Credit Boost feature as part of their lease. RentRedi's Credit Boost feature reports on-time rental payments to Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.
RentReporters tracks your rent payments by contacting your landlord directly to verify that on-time payment has been made. The sign-up fee is $94.95, which will get you two years of past rent data reporting, then $9.95 per month to maintain the service.
Rent payments will only really have a positive effect if you are consistent with your payments. If you ensure that your payments are being reported, they can have a positive effect on your payment history and add another element to your credit profile, increasing your credit mix.
Credit Reporting Agencies
Jetty Credit is a great option for renters, automatically reporting rental payments to all three credit bureaus. This service is part of Fannie Mae's pilot program and may be provided to residents at no charge in certain instances.
The specific fee for Jetty Credit may fluctuate based on your property or state of residence. You'll receive pricing details during the sign-up process.
Experian RentBureau is another way your rent payment data can be reported to Experian for incorporation into your credit report. Your property management company or landlord must work with Experian's RentBureau for this to happen.
If your landlord doesn't report through RentBureau, you can sign up through a rent payment service like PayYourRent, ClearNow, or RentTrack.
Rent Payment Reporting Services
Rent Payment Reporting Services can be a game-changer for your credit score.
Rent Dynamics offers a program called RentPlus, which reports on-time payments to the three major credit bureaus. The specific cost will vary depending on your property management company.
RentReporters is another service that tracks rent payments and reports them to Equifax and TransUnion. The sign-up fee is $94.95, which gets you two years of past rent data reporting.
With RentReporters, you can also choose an annual plan at $7.95 per month to maintain the service. This can be a cost-effective option for those who want to keep their rent payments on record.
RentReporters tracks rent payments by contacting your landlord directly to verify on-time payment, making it a reliable service.
Sources
- https://wallethub.com/answers/cs/does-rent-a-center-build-credit-2140645841/
- https://www.nationalcreditdirect.com/rent-a-center
- https://www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/credit/how-to-report-rent-payments-to-credit-bureaus/
- https://rentreportingcenter.org/renters/
- https://af-rentall.com/blogs/news/does-rent-to-own-furniture-build-credit
Featured Images: pexels.com