Frequently Asked Questions
Credit and Reporting
Got questions? We have answers. Find answers to frequently asked questions about our credit and reporting below.
Credit Bureaus
Q: What are the three credit bureaus?
A: The three credit bureaus are Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
Q: Which credit bureau is most important?
A: All credit bureaus serve an important part of the credit reporting process. The three credit bureaus that many people may be familiar with are Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
Q: How often do credit bureaus update?
A: It varies, depending upon the type of information received. Generally, though, customers can see an update* from the credit bureaus within 30-45 days.
American First Finance + Credit Reporting
Q: Does American First Finance report to credit bureaus?
A: Yes, we send updates to credit bureaus no less than once per month.*
Q: What credit bureaus does American First Finance report to?
A: We report to TransUnion, Clarity Services, Inc., and Data X, Ltd.*
Q: Does American First Finance do a soft credit or hard credit check?
A: American First Finance currently does both soft and hard credit checks.
If you submit an application, and you re-submit within a 30-day window, we will not recheck your credit.
Q: Does American First Finance help your credit score?
A: American First Finance does not have direct control over helping improve a customer’s credit score and is not a credit reporting agency.
Q: I missed a payment; can you make a courtesy adjustment and remove it from my credit report?
A: No. AFF reports* accounts accurately and according to regulatory requirements. The information we report is required to be complete and accurate based on regulatory laws and guidelines.
American First Finance + Credit Scores
Q: What is a credit check?
A: A typical credit check is when American First Finance or another company views your history of credit, other accounts, and credit score with a consumer reporting agency, also known as a credit bureau.
Q: What does “No Credit Needed^” mean?
A: “No Credit Needed”^ means that you may be approved for financing or leasing without a credit score or credit history. Applicants with poor, or even no credit, may be approved, but credit is checked as part of the application process. Your credit score is not the sole consideration for qualification. You are invited to apply, no matter what your credit history is.
^Approval is possible without a credit score, but credit history may be checked.
Q: Does American First Finance check credit?
A: Yes. But while we check credit, we also consider other factors when making a decision, such as payment history and other attributes.
Q: How can I get a copy of my credit report?
A: A free copy of your credit report is available annually at http://www.annualcreditreport.com.
Q: What are American First Finance’s credit score requirements?
A: There are no credit score requirements to apply to American First Finance.
We are a “No Credit Needed^” company, and that means you may be approved even with a poor or no credit history. If you have no credit or poor credit, you may be approved, but we will check credit, even though credit score is not the sole consideration for qualification.
Q: How does American First Finance decide if you qualify for credit?
A: We take into consideration more than just your credit history or credit score when making decisions. There are several factors that we look at when making decisions for approval.
Q: Can I still be approved if I have bad credit?
A: Yes, it’s possible to be approved, even with poor credit or no credit. American First Finance looks at several factors beyond credit score during the decisioning process.
Q: Can I be approved with no credit history?
A: Yes, just like with bad credit, it’s possible to be approved without a credit score, as we take into consideration other factors beyond just credit score during our decisioning process.
Credit Bureau + Credit Management
Q: How do I report identity theft to the credit bureaus?
A: Identity theft, unfortunately, happens, even when taking all the steps to protect your identity. If you suspect identity theft is at play, contact the credit bureaus. Contact information for the credit bureaus can be found here.
TransUnion Consumer Solutions
Clarity Services, Inc., A part of Experian Consumer Support Division
DataX, an Equifax Company, Consumer Reporting Division
Additionally, consumers may also report identity theft directly with American First Finance by contacting the customer service team. Another option is to download the Identity Theft Affidavit, and after filling the form out send it to the address listed on our Contact Us page for review.
Q: How do I file a dispute with a credit bureau?
A: Credit disputes should be submitted to each credit bureau, contacting them either via their website or consumer phone line.
TransUnion Consumer Solutions
Clarity Services, Inc., A part of Experian Consumer Support Division
DataX, an Equifax Company, Consumer Reporting Division
Alternatively, you may also file a dispute with American First Finance either verbally, by contacting our customer service team, or in writing.
As a note, if you choose to file a dispute with the credit bureau through American First Finance, this information is necessary to help you with the dispute:
- Information on what is being disputed,
- Why the information is being disputed,
- Any documentation that support the dispute.
Q: How do I confirm my credit dispute is resolved?
A: If you dispute directly with a credit reporting agency, you can expect a response from the credit reporting agency with the results of the dispute. If the credit dispute is directly with American First Finance, you will be sent a written response with the results of the investigation within 30 days.
Q: How do I update incorrect credit bureau information?
A: If you believe the credit bureaus have incorrect information, updates should be submitted to each credit bureau, contacting them either via their website or consumer phone line.
Alternatively, you may report incorrect information with American First Finance either verbally, by calling our customer service team, or in writing to the address on our Contact Us page.
*American First Finance reports to the credit bureaus for all accounts except for new lease-to-own accounts opened on or after January 1st, 2024. Additionally, new Retail Installment Sale Agreements will no longer report to Data X. American First Finance will continue to report to credit bureaus for any accounts opened before this day that were previously reported on. This change does not impact AZ, CA, and FL, given that credit reporting for lease-to-own accounts opened in these states was previously discontinued.
^ Approval is possible without a credit score, but credit may be checked.