The world of credit is often a confusing place to find yourself in. You might grow up telling yourself that you are never going to use credit, but it is actually a lot more common than you think.
A lot of people are under the impression that credit in any form is bad, but this isn’t the case. There is good credit, and there is bad credit.
As long as you keep up your credit repayments, and do not fall behind, then credit isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But it is very important to know what you are getting yourself into.
One company that you might have considered using is Acima. Acima is a little different to other credit agencies as they specialize in lease-to-own agreements, but they are still considered to be a credit agency.
In this guide, we’ll be taking a look at what Acima is, and more importantly whether, or not, they report to credit bureaus. So to find out more, keep on reading.
What Is Acima?
According to the Acima website, they are a company that utilizes credit to make people’s lives better. Acima specializes in being accessible for people of all backgrounds, unlike many credit agencies who frown upon those with poor credit scores.
Unlike many credit agencies who offer credit, loans, and financing to their customers, Acima instead offers lease-to-own agreements.
The theory behind these agreements is that they aren’t actually credit. While they work in the same way as credit, Acima has designed their system so that it will encourage people to be more responsible with their money.
Acima encourages responsible repayments, and offers rewards in return for this. In fact, if you make good repayments to Acima, then it could actually strengthen your credit rating.
But for customers, one of the biggest appeals of the Acima is how convenient they are to use. Acima is used through the internet or through an app, and you can easily apply for lease-to-own agreements on whatever it is you wish to buy.
In fact, you will usually be accepted pretty quickly.
However, if you are someone who has a difficult past with credit agreements, then you might be wondering if Acima reports back to credit bureaus.
Likewise, if you have never used credit before, you might be uncertain about applying for a lease-to-own agreement with Acima as this could impact your credit score. So, let’s take a look if Acima reports back to credit bureaus.
Does Acima Report To Credit Bureaus?
As you have probably guessed from what we have already said, yes, Acima does report to credit bureaus.
One of the major benefits of Acima is that they report back to credit bureaus, because this allows you to actively use credit to improve your credit score.
A lot of people assume that if a credit agency reports back to credit bureaus, then this is a bad thing. But the simple fact is that most credit agencies will report back to bureaus.
At first, the idea that a credit agency will report your situation back to a credit bureau can be quite scary. But like we have said, this doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Credit will only have a negative impact on your credit score if you have an excessive amount of credit or if you are not paying back the money as agreed.
Yes, Acima does report back to credit bureaus, but this is done with your best interests at heart. If you make responsible and regular repayments on the money that you have borrowed, then this will be viewed as a good thing. Acima will note this, and it will have a positive impact on your credit score. But who does Acima report to? Let’s take a look.
Who Does Acima Report To?
There are a couple of major credit bureaus that Acima could report to, but they actually only pass your information back to one credit bureau, and this is Experian. Experian is perhaps the biggest credit bureau, and they are definitely one of the most commonly used by consumers.
When it comes to applying for mortgages and future credit, it is usually your Experian credit score which financial advisors will want to see, so it is good that this is the agency which Acima reports back to.
The Experian credit score works in bands, so if you take out an Acima lease-to-own agreement and make responsible payments back on this, you could find that your credit score will begin to increase and move up the bands. This will happen simply because you are making good financial decisions.
How Often Does Acima Report To Credit Bureaus?
Should you have used credit agreements in the past, then you will probably be familiar with how credit bureaus, like Experian, work.
If you are new to this, then it is worth noting that your credit rating with Experian will be reanalyzed on the same date every single month.
If you have made good financial decisions within that month, then you might see your credit score improve. But remember, it can take months for hard checks to reflect on your credit score.
In line with the fact that Experian renews your credit score every single month, Acima also reports back to the bureau once a month. This can seem a bit too often, but it is actually beneficial that Acima reports back monthly.
As we have said, it can take a while for your decisions to be reflected in your credit report, so by reporting monthly, there is a much better chance of your credit score improving quicker.
Summary
In short, Acima does report back to credit bureaus with information surrounding your lease-to-own agreement. A lot of people automatically assume that this is a bad thing, but this isn’t necessarily the case. Acima reports back to Experian with the intention of allowing you to improve your credit score.
So, as long as you are responsible with your agreement, and make regular repayments, then Acima reporting back to Experian will not be an issue. But if you do not keep up your monthly payments, then your credit score will suffer.
