Experian

Experian: credit information and financial tools for consumers

Experian is a consumer-oriented financial services company that provides users with free credit reports and their FICO® Score. Its activity is organized around several areas: credit, identity protection, money management, credit cards, loans and insurance. The company also offers services for small businesses and has a consumer support section.

Credit and scores

The site allows you to check your free credit report and see your FICO® Score. Featured tools include Experian Boost®, which helps raise credit scores instantly using bills such as mobile phone, utilities, streaming platforms and eligible rent payments, and Experian Go™, aimed at establishing and building a credit history. The company also offers informational resources on what is a good credit score, credit score ranges, how to improve credit, how to build credit, the impact of credit utilization, how to remove credit inquiries, collections, charge-offs, bankruptcy and how to get reports from the three major credit bureaus.

Identity protection and privacy

In the area of protection, Experian provides identity monitoring, alerts and protection, a free dark web scan to search for your Social Security number, phone and email, and a personal privacy scan to find information on people finder sites. It also offers support in cases of identity theft, security freeze, fraud alert and disputes. The advice section covers topics such as what is identity theft, differences between fraud alert and credit freeze, how to remove fraud from your report, identity theft statistics, latest scams, how to protect your identity, cybersecurity, what is the dark web, dark web monitoring, what to do about a data breach and how to protect personal information online.

Money management and digital accounts

Within the money area, the company offers tools to manage expenses, save on monthly bills and cancel unwanted subscriptions. It also provides access to cash with no interest or late fees, a digital savings account and a digital checking account with no monthly fees. Informational resources include comparisons of high-yield savings accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts, budgets, emergency funds, debt consolidation and strategies such as the debt snowball.

Credit cards and loans

Experian offers comparison and matching of all types of credit cards: balance transfer, cash back, for bad credit, low interest, rewards and secured. One of its offerings is No Ding Decline™, which matches the user with cards that won't hurt their scores if not approved. In loans, it covers debt consolidation, personal loans, fast loans, emergency loans, for bad credit, unsecured and small loans, among others. It also provides calculators and guides on interest rates, APR and the impact of loans on credit.

Insurance

In the insurance section, the company allows you to compare, switch and save on car insurance. It offers advice on the average cost of car insurance, cheapest states, bundling home and auto insurance, top discounts, how to save and factors that affect rates. The site states that members can save over $700 on subscriptions and bills, and over $1,000 a year on insurance, according to results that may vary.

Small business services and support

Experian also serves small businesses with business credit solutions. For consumers, it offers support with free annual credit report, disputes, fraud alert, security freeze, credit denied, assistance to identity theft victims, active duty military and exclusion of prescreened offers. The company operates globally with international sites.