What Bills Report to Credit Bureaus and Why It Matters

Credit bureaus use a wide range of bills to calculate your credit score. These bills report to credit bureaus, which can significantly impact your credit score.

Payment history makes up 35% of your credit score, and on-time payments from bills like rent, utilities, and phone bills can help improve your score.

Late payments from these bills can have the opposite effect, so making timely payments is crucial.

Some bills, like credit cards and loans, are more influential on your credit score than others, like gym memberships and streaming services.

Some bills report to credit bureaus, while others don't. Car payments, mortgage payments, student loan payments, and credit card payments are often reported to the bureaus.

Traditional lenders usually report these payments to all three credit bureaus. However, not all of them do, so it's not a guarantee that these payments will be reported.

Bills like rent, insurance, and utility payments may or may not be reported to credit bureaus. The default is usually not to report these payments, but you can invest in a service like Build It to ensure your on-time payments are added to your report.

Some bills, like municipal fees, tax liens, and civil court liens, don't usually make it to your credit report. The credit bureaus changed this policy in 2017 and 2018, but they can always make changes in response to updated laws and regulations.

Medical bills also don't usually get reported on your credit profile. Your doctors' offices or hospital typically don't bother to make this kind of report.

Here are some common bills that report to credit bureaus:

Credit reporting is a complex process, but it's based on simple principles. Credit scoring companies use statistical analysis to predict whether you'll pay back money you've borrowed.

They base their credit score calculations on the contents of your credit reports, specifically the records of your payment history compiled at the three national consumer credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.

Third-party reporting services can be a great way to boost your credit score by adding non-traditional payment history to your credit report. These services verify and report payments on your behalf to the credit bureaus.

Some examples of non-traditional payments that can be reported include phone service payments, utility payments, cable and internet payments, and streaming service payments. These payments can help increase your credit score if you pay them on time each month.

To use a third-party reporting service, you typically sign up for the service itself and then link the accounts or bills you want to report. For some services, you'll link the bank or credit card account used to pay those bills, rather than linking the billing accounts themselves.

Some services will retroactively scan account history, reporting up to two years of payments. Others, like Experian Boost, will only report on-time payments, skipping late payments. eCredable Lift, on the other hand, reports all payments, good or bad.

Rent reporting services work a bit differently, typically contacting your landlord each month to verify on-time rent payments. Some services require your landlord to set up their own account with the service.

Your credit score is a complex number, but it's based on simple facts. Payment history is a major factor in determining your credit score.

Credit scoring companies use statistical analysis to predict whether you'll pay back money you've borrowed. They base their credit score calculations on the contents of your credit reports, specifically the records of your payment history compiled at the three national consumer credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.

Certain bills and how you pay them can affect your credit scores. Creditors, such as banks and credit card companies, report your bill payment information to the credit bureaus.

Debt collection companies also report payments they're seeking to the credit bureaus. Collections can include any unpaid bills, not just those related to loans or credit, and tend to hurt your credit scores.

Here are some bills that can impact your credit score:

Note that only debts and payments reported to the credit bureaus can impact your score.

Payment history accounts for 35% of your credit score under the FICO 8 credit scoring model. This means that making on-time payments can significantly boost your credit score.

To start building your credit history, you can report your non-traditional payments to the credit bureaus. These payments can include phone service, utility, and streaming service bills. By linking these accounts to a third-party reporting service, you can instantly add up to two years of payment history to your credit file.

Some reporting services, like Experian Boost, only report on-time payments, while others, like eCredable Lift, report all payments. This means that even if you've made late payments in the past, you can still start building your credit history by reporting your current on-time payments.

Rent reporting services operate differently, typically contacting your landlord each month to verify that you paid your rent on time. Before signing up for a rent reporting service, make sure your landlord is on board with participating.

You can also self-report your payment activity to the credit bureaus, using your monthly bills to help build your credit history and increase your credit score. This way, you can boost your credit without taking on any additional debt.

Here are some common bills that are reported to credit bureaus:

Certain bills can affect your credit scores, including utility bills, rent, and insurance. By adding eligible non-credit monthly bill payments to your Experian credit report, you can help your credit scores based on Experian data.

You can find out which of your accounts are currently being reported to which credit bureaus by reviewing your credit reports. You’re entitled to a free credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies every week.

Some types of financial accounts are almost always automatically reported to the credit reporting agencies, including mortgages, auto loans, student loans, personal loans, major credit cards, and most other revolving credit accounts. Recurring expenses, such as rent payments, are also being reported to the credit bureaus.

Here are some examples of accounts that are commonly reported to the credit bureaus:

Keep in mind that not all creditors report to all three bureaus, so each of your three credit reports could contain different information.

Accounts impacting scores can be broken down into two main categories: installment loans and revolving credit accounts.

Installment loans include student loans, car loans, and mortgages, which are all lump sums of money borrowed and repaid in a series of equal payments over a set number of months.

Revolving credit accounts, on the other hand, allow you to borrow against a set credit limit and make repayments of varying amounts, as long as you meet a required minimum payment each month. Examples of revolving credit accounts include credit card accounts and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs).

Paying your car payments on time every month can give your credit score a boost, but missing a payment can cause a high credit score to drop by triple-digit points. A late payment on your auto loan remains on your credit report for seven years, affecting your credit score during that time.

Here are some examples of accounts that can impact your credit score:

Some types of payments may or may not be reported to the credit bureaus, including regular payments for rent, insurance, or services like utilities, cellphones, internet, or cable.

These types of companies have a default of not reporting payments to credit bureaus, but you can invest in a service like Build It to ensure your on-time payments are added to your report.

Municipal fees like library fines and parking tickets, as well as tax liens and civil court liens, don't generally make it to your credit report.

Medical bills are also typically not reported by doctors' offices or hospitals.

On-time rent payments haven't been reported to the three credit bureaus, but this is starting to change as Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion now include rent payments in your credit reports.

Utility bills, cable, internet, and phone bills are usually not reported to the credit bureaus, but services like Experian Boost can add your utility and telecommunications payments to your credit report.

Even if a bill doesn't directly affect your credit score, missing payments can lead to an account being sent to a collection agency, which will lower your credit score.

Payment history accounts for 35% of your credit score under the FICO 8 credit scoring model. This makes it a crucial factor in determining your credit score.

Paying your bills on time is essential, as it shows lenders you can manage your debt responsibly. This can be especially beneficial if you're just starting to build your credit history.

Experian Boost allows you to get credit for your on-time utility and cell phone payments. You can sign up for Experian Boost for free and link your bank account to verify your payment history.

Having a strong payment history can help counteract negative items in your credit report. The longer you keep self-reporting your payment activity, the stronger your scorable payment history will become.

You can report various types of bills to credit bureaus, including car payments, mortgage payments, student loan payments, and credit card payments. However, not all lenders report to all three major credit bureaus.

Some lenders and service providers only report to the credit bureaus if you're late with your payments. This means that making on-time payments can help boost your credit score, but only if the creditor reports to the credit bureaus.

Here are some examples of bills that can affect your credit score:

Remember, payment history is just one factor that affects your credit score. By paying your bills on time and reporting your payment activity, you can take control of your credit score and improve your financial health.