Why is Experian not showing my credit score?

Through December 31, 2023, Experian, TransUnion and Equifax will offer all U.S. consumers free weekly credit reports through AnnualCreditReport.com to help you protect your financial health during the sudden and unprecedented hardship caused by COVID-19.

Dear Experian,

I am trying to get a loan and am being denied because your company doesn't have a credit score for me. Why?

- LRT

Dear LRT,

Credit scores are calculated at the moment your credit report is requested by a lender using the scoring model selected by that lender. In your case, there may be several reasons a score can't be calculated. Read on to find out which explanation may fit your situation.

Your Credit File Is Frozen

People sometimes place a credit freeze on their file to protect themselves from credit fraud and then forget to lift it before applying for credit. That's especially true if it has been a long time since the freeze was added and the person hasn't checked their report or applied for new credit.

If you've placed a freeze on your credit file, the lender will not be able to access your report and so a score cannot be calculated. To lift a freeze, visit Experian's Security Freeze Center.

You Don't Have a Credit Report

A credit score can't be calculated until you have a credit report, and you won't have a credit report until you have an account reported in your name.

To find out if you have a credit history, you can request a free copy of your credit report from each of the three credit reporting companies—Experian, TransUnion and Equifax—at AnnualCreditReport.com. You are also entitled to a free copy of your credit report from the credit reporting agency that your lender used because adverse action has been taken.

"Adverse action" is the term used to describe having your application denied or not receiving the best terms available. Your lender is required by federal law to provide an adverse action notice, which will provide instructions to request your report.

And, you can view your Experian credit history for free anytime on our website or via the Experian mobile app.

Length of Credit History Is Too Short

Many scoring models require that an open and active account be reported for at least three months, and often as long as six months before a credit score can be calculated. If a VantageScore model is used to calculate your score, it may be able to do so with less history.

If you've only recently begun establishing credit in your name, it may just be a matter of time before a score can be calculated.

Once you have ordered a copy of your credit report directly from Experian and you see that there is credit history being reported, you can attempt to order a free credit score yourself. If a score cannot be calculated for you, a reason will be provided.

How Do I Start Establishing Credit?

If you do not yet have any credit accounts and want to begin building your credit history, here are some ways to get started:

• Get a credit card. Without a credit score, you may not qualify for a traditional unsecured credit card right away, so consider opening a secured credit card. These can be easier to qualify for because you give the lender a deposit to secure any charges you make on the account. If you manage the account responsibly and make all your payments on time, the lender may eventually convert the card to an unsecured credit card and return your deposit.
• Ask a family member to cosign for you. You may be able to qualify for the loan you apply with a cosigner. Be sure that your cosigner understands that the account will appear on both your credit history and theirs, and you both will be legally responsible for managing the account. Any missed payments will damage their credit rating as well as yours.
• Ask someone close to you to add you as an authorized user. As an authorized user on a loved one's credit card account, you will get your own card and can make charges on the account, but you are not legally responsible for payments. The account will then likely be added to your credit report, helping you build a credit history. Keep in mind that not all lenders report authorized user accounts to the credit reporting companies, so you'll want to ask the lender before being added to the account.
• Add utility payments to your credit report. With Experian Boost®ø, you can sign up to have your on-time utility, cellphone and streaming service payments added to your Experian credit report. This can help "thicken" a thin file and boost your credit score.

Thanks for asking.

Jennifer White, Consumer Education Specialist

Dear Experian,

I haven't used credit in over 10 years and my score says unavailable. Why?

- IMB

Dear IMB,

If you haven't used credit in more than 10 years, your old accounts have most likely dropped off your credit report by now, which means there's nothing in your credit history to score.

Credit scores represent the information in your credit report. Most credit scoring models need at least one or two active credit accounts to generate a credit score. They also typically require activity for the last three to six months.

Why You May Not Want to Stop Using Credit

You didn't mention why you haven't used credit in over ten years, but one reason some people stop using credit as frequently is retirement.

Retirees who have paid off major debts such as their mortgage and car loans may find that they no longer rely on or use credit as frequently as they once did. They may not realize that when they do need credit, their previous credit history may no longer be available.

Even if your financial situation is solid, you will need at least a couple of active credit accounts in your name to have a good credit score. This does not mean that you need to carry debt.

Simply making small purchases on a credit card and paying the balance in full each month will demonstrate to lenders that you are managing credit responsibly. There is no need to charge large amounts or to carry a balance from month to month.

One important factor in credit scoring is your credit utilization rate — the lower, the better. Therefore, keeping your credit card balances low throughout the month and paying the balance off in full each month is ideal. This way, you can ensure that you are not getting caught paying interest fees and that you are not accumulating debt.

Establishing Your Credit History

Since you stated you haven't used credit in 10 years, you may find that you are essentially starting from scratch when it comes to building credit. If your credit report is a blank slate and you are having trouble qualifying for an account on your own, here are some steps you can take to begin building your credit history:

• Open a secured account. With a secured card , you deposit a certain amount of money into a savings account, and in return you receive a credit card with a credit limit that is a percentage of the deposited amount. Use the account a little each month to make small purchases and then pay off the balance in full to demonstrate that you can manage credit well.
• Ask a family member to cosign. Having a trusted person cosign for you can get your foot in the door and help you begin re-establishing credit. Keep in mind that the account will impact both you and the person who cosigns, and you will both be responsible for any balance on the account. For example, missing a payment will negatively affect both your credit score and theirs.
• Sign up for Experian Boost®ø. Experian has a new service called Experian Boost that can help you improve your credit scores instantly by including your positive utility and cell phone payments in your Experian credit report. Those payments can then be factored into your FICO scores.

You can find more information on building and re-building a strong credit history on our blog.

Thanks for asking,
Jennifer White, Consumer Education Specialist

This question came from a recent Periscope session we hosted.

Why am I not showing a credit score?

How long does it take for Experian to generate a score?

Does Experian show my true credit score?