Experian CreditWorksSM is a service offered by Experian, a credit reporting company, to help you access your credit reports, monitor your credit history to avoid fraud, and view your credit scores for a better financial future.
Experian CreditWorks
Credit & Identity Theft Protection
The basic subscription is entirely free and features Experian credit report monitoring for new inquiries, new accounts, balance changes, credit utilization, dormant accounts or positive activity. Plus, Experian will track your credit score and send you alerts whenever it changes. And you’ll have the ability to use Experian Boost, a tool that uses alternative credit data to possibly improve your credit score from Experian instantly.
Or you can opt-in for a paid plan to access credit report monitoring for the three major credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. You’ll also get access to extra features, like identity theft insurance, lost wallet assistance, a FICO® score simulator, Experian CreditLock and more.
Monitoring Your Credit Score for Financial Security
Monitoring your credit score is an essential part of maintaining your financial security. Your credit score not only affects your ability to obtain a loan or credit card, but it can also impact other areas of your life, such as leasing an apartment or getting a low rate on your car insurance policy. By keeping a close eye on your credit profile, you can be aware of any potential issues when they surface and take steps to address them before they become bigger problems.
Experian CreditWorksSM is a valuable tool for monitoring your credit score. It sends you alerts, monitors your credit report(s), and updates you on your current status. Its insights are helpful because your score is not permanent and can change at any time. But by knowing where you stand, you can take proactive steps to improve your score and prepare for critical financial moves in your life.
If you know your rating isn’t as stellar as you would like, you have time to repair it to position yourself for better approval odds and interest rates on debt products. Likewise, if you were unaware of mistakes or fraud, you could be in for a surprise when you apply for a loan. A low score could cause you to get declined or to receive a higher loan rate, both of which are scenarios you want to avoid.
Credit monitoring is especially important in today’s world, where identity theft and fraud are prevalent. By receiving alerts and reviewing your credit report regularly, you’ll quickly notice any suspicious activity and can take the necessary steps to protect your credit rating and overall financial health.
What is Experian CreditWorksSM?
Experian CreditWorksSM is a comprehensive credit monitoring service that gives you access to your free credit report and FICO® score. With a paid subscription, you can also unlock a plethora of additional services that can help boost your credit score from Experian and preserve your financial health.
As one of the three major players in the credit bureau arena, Experian understands the importance of having your credit monitored on an active, routine basis. With CreditWorksSM, they streamline the monitoring experience, providing all the necessary tools in one dashboard or mobile app. This makes it easy to stay on top of your credit health and quickly identify any potential issues.
Signing up for your preferred subscription plan is quick and straightforward. You can choose from a variety of plans that offer different levels of monitoring and additional services, depending on your needs and budget. The plans are designed to suit a variety of users, from those who want basic credit monitoring to those who need more comprehensive protection.
With CreditWorksSM, you can receive alerts for any suspicious activity on your credit report, monitor your credit score, and access your credit report anytime, anywhere. You can also take advantage of additional services, such as CreditLock, which ensures that your credit report is secure and that inquiries cannot be made without your involvement.
Services For Each Plan
Experian CreditWorksSM offers two different plans, each with its own set of features designed to meet different needs and budgets. While both plans provide credit monitoring and access to your credit report and FICO® score, the Premium plan offers a suite of additional services that can help you improve your credit score and protect your financial health.
The Basic plan is a free option that provides you with alerts for any suspicious activity on your credit report, access to your credit report and FICO® score, and the ability to lock and unlock your credit report as needed. This plan is ideal for those who need basic credit monitoring and protection.
The Premium plan is a paid subscription that offers a range of additional services, including credit card and loan suggestions that match your credit standing and positive reinforcement to keep you on track by notifying you when your score has reached a goal you set for yourself. This plan also includes CreditLock, which ensures that your credit report is secure and that inquiries cannot be made without your involvement.
Both plans provide access to your credit report and FICO® score, but the Premium plan offers more comprehensive credit monitoring and protection. It is designed for those who want a more proactive approach to managing their credit score and financial health.
Below is a closer look at what each plan offers.
Experian CreditWorksSM Basic
The free plan will get you access to basic features, including:
- Monthly access to your Experian report and score (calculated based on FICO® Score 8 model)
- Experian credit report monitoring
- Free FICO® Score alerts
- Score tracking
- Matched credit card and loan offers
- Experian Boost
- One dark web surveillance report at initial sign-up
Experian CreditWorksSM Premium
Pay for a premium monthly subscription to access extra features to get better credit like:
- Daily access to your Experian report and score
- Monthly access to all three bureau reports and scores (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion)
- Three-bureau credit monitoring
- Auto, Home & Bankcard industry-specific FICO® scores
- Identity Theft Protection, which includes dark web surveillance, up to $1,000,000 of identity theft insurance and fraud resolution
- Ability to lock and unlock your credit report with Experian CreditLock
- FICO® simulator (allows you to see how different actions may impact your standing)
Pricing and Tiers of Experian CreditWorksSM
The CreditWorksSM service is available in two tiers: Basic and Premium. There are significant differences in both coverage and price, depending on the plan you choose.
- CreditWorksSM Basic: The basic subscription is a genuinely free service with no strings attached. In fact, they don’t require a credit card or bank account information to enroll.
- CreditWorksSM Premium: With the premium option, you receive a free 7-day trial period; after that, the fee increases to $24.99 per month. To avoid the recurring charge, you can cancel the trial membership within the first seven days. You also have the option to pay one lump sum annually, which reduces your cost by 17% per year. A credit card is required to be linked for payment when signing up for this membership tier.
Features of Experian Credit Monitoring
Experian credit monitoring offers a range of features to help you keep tabs on your credit health.
Credit Score Tracking
You can track your credit score in real time. Doing so helps keep you in the loop so you can make informed financial decisions. You can also view insights that further explain the different factors impacting your credit score.
Credit Report Alerts
You’ll be notified any time activity takes place in your credit profile. This includes new accounts opened in your name or late payments that appear. These alerts allow you to take swift action if needed.
Identity Theft Protection
The service offers tools that help you protect sensitive information like your Social Security Number. It looks for signs of identity theft and provides quick alerts to unusual activities that could indicate fraud. Identity protection includes features like regular scans for unauthorized use of your personal details.
Dark Web Surveillance
Experian goes beyond standard credit monitoring by offering dark web surveillance. This feature checks the dark web for any unauthorized use of your information, like your Social Security Number or bank account details. The dark web is where stolen data is often bought and sold, so monitoring it can prevent serious issues.
Experian CreditWorks
Credit & Identity Theft Protection
Credit Score Simulator
It helps you explore how different financial actions might impact your credit score without actually affecting it. For example, you can see how opening a new credit card or paying off a loan might change your score.
Benefits of Using Experian Credit Monitoring
There are several upsides to using Experian credit monitoring to stay on top of your credit health.
Early Detection of Fraud
If unusual activity occurs in your credit file, you get an alert right away. This feature allows you to respond quickly and protect yourself from further financial harm.
Regular Updates on Credit Status
Again, you can stay informed regarding your credit health. That way, you’ll know what actions are needed on your part to improve your score.
Educational Resources and Tools
Experian offers tools and resources to help you understand your credit. You can access articles, tips and guides to learn more about ways to optimize your credit health.
Personalized Recommendations
Experian provides personalized tips and suggestions to help you improve your score. These recommendations focus on your unique financial situation.
How to Set Up Experian Credit Monitoring
It’s simple to set up Experian credit monitoring and takes just a few minutes of your time.
- Step 1: Visit the website or download the mobile app.
- Step 2: Select the “free credit monitoring” option.
- Step 3: Set up a free account.
- Step 4: Log in to the online dashboard to begin tracking your credit score.
- Step 5: Begin receiving alerts in real time.
Experian Credit Monitoring vs. Other Providers
Experian is a popular choice for credit monitoring. It offers free monitoring services and more comprehensive features than you’ll find with other providers should you decide to purchase a paid plan.
Is Experian CreditWorksSM Worth It?
Routine monitoring of your credit is vital to your financial health but can be time-consuming. In 2020, there were 1.4 million documented identity theft cases in the U.S. Having CreditWorksSM in your corner can help protect you from identity theft and help you resolve issues if you become a victim. With access to your FICO® score at your fingertips, you can prepare in advance for important financial decisions, such as buying a home. It also allows you to keep your finger on the pulse of your credit with a simple glance at your score.
Some of the benefits of using CreditWorksSM are:
- Peace of mind: You’ll be notified of any suspicious credit inquiries, ensuring that you are aware of any potential fraud early on. This can help you take the necessary steps to prevent any damage to your credit score and financial health.
- Boost your credit health: You can also stay up-to-date on your credit score and gain valuable insights into how to improve it. By staying in the know, you can take the necessary steps to boost your credit score and secure better terms if you decide to apply for debt products in the future.
- Lock and unlock your credit report 24/7: This feature can save you time and reduce stress, as you can easily manage your credit report at your fingertips anytime, anywhere. This can be especially helpful when you need to apply for a loan or credit card quickly.
- Access CreditLock: This feature ensures that inquiries cannot be made without your involvement, reducing the risk of fraudulent accounts. You can feel protected knowing that your credit report is secure and that you have control over who can access it.
- Real-time alerts: You can take swift action when you receive a concerning alert or see suspicious activity. This can help you take the necessary steps to protect your credit score and financial future.
It’s essential to be aware of the shortcomings as well:
- No bank account monitoring: This means that if Experian detects any fraudulent activity on your bank account, you will not be notified. Consequently, you may need to use other services or tools to monitor your bank accounts for any suspicious activity.
- Credit report variances: If items on your report differ between the three bureaus, you will not see the differences if you’re using the Basic plan, as it strictly monitors Experian credit reports. Therefore, if the lender you are applying with uses a different bureau for your information, it could have some inaccuracies or items you were unaware of, as well as a different score.
- Monthly fee: The monthly fee of $24.99 is also high enough to turn some people off. While the service offers many benefits, the cost may not work for cash-strapped consumers. However, it is important to note that the free plan is still a viable option for those who want to monitor their credit score and receive alerts for any suspicious activity.
How to Get Started with Experian CreditWorksSM
Visit the Experian website to sign up for an account after determining the best plan for your needs. If the basic options meet your needs, then the CreditWorksSM Basic option will work just fine for you. The Basic plan is also a good choice if providing credit card information for recurring charges makes you hesitant. If price is not an issue, and you are looking for a comprehensive monitoring option, then the CreditWorksSM Premium service may be worth the money. Regardless of your chosen plan, having quick access to your report and FICO® score is essential in managing your overall credit standing.
Experian also offers other credit solutions like the ones listed below:
- Experian Boost: Link your bank accounts to automatically report positive payments for eligible utility, phone and streaming services to potentially improve your credit score from Experian faster.
- Experian CreditMatch: Get matched with loans and credit cards based on your financial situation and credit scores.
- One-time Credit Report and Scores: Access either Experian credit report and FICO® Score or all three bureaus’ credit report and FICO® scores.
- Experian IdentityWorks: Protect yourself and your family from identity theft.
- Experian CreditLock: Lock your credit file to protect yourself from identity theft.
- Experian For Business: Discover how they can help you with all your credit business affairs.
- Experian Auto Insurance: View affordable auto insurance options free of charge from reputable providers.
Experian CreditWorks
Credit & Identity Theft Protection
