Does Klarna Affect Your FICO (Fair Isaac) Credit Score?

Yes, Klarna can affect your FICO score, but only under specific conditions: the company never performs a routine hard credit pull, so signing up or using a soft‑check plan leaves your score unchanged; however, if you let a Klarna installment become 30 days past due, Klarna may report the delinquency to the major bureaus and that entry can lower your FICO score; on‑time payments and refunds do not register, and any impact stops when the debt is resolved.

We'll explore in the next section how Klarna's credit‑check process works, then detail which plans appear on reports and what happens when you miss a payment.

Klarna usually runs a soft credit check for its standard Pay in 4 and 'Pay later' purchases, so no hard credit check appears on your credit report and your FICO score stays unchanged.

A hard credit check can occur if you choose a longer‑term installment plan (such as 6‑ or 12‑month financing) or apply for a high‑value credit line; in those cases Klarna may pull a hard inquiry, which can temporarily lower your FICO score. For details, see the Klarna FAQ on credit checks.

• Klarna can appear on your FICO score only for its longer‑term financing or credit‑line products, and only when the account is past due for 30 days or more.
• Installment plans such as 'Pay in 4' or 3‑month/6‑month 'Pay later' may be reported if you miss a payment and the delinquency exceeds 30 days.
• Full‑term financing options (e.g., 12‑month or longer loans) are treated like a loan and can be sent to the bureaus after a 30‑day default.
• A Klarna credit line or revolving account (offered in limited U.S. markets) may be reported under the same 30‑day rule.
• On‑time payments on any Klarna plan usually stay off your credit report, so they do not affect your FICO score. Klarna US terms on credit reporting

Missing a Klarna payment can trigger a delinquency report after 30 days past due, and that report may lower your FICO score; as noted earlier, Klarna does not perform a hard credit check for approvals, but it can still affect your score through negative reporting.

• Reporting starts only after the account is 30 days overdue; on‑time payments never appear on your FICO.
• A single 30‑day delinquency can drop a FICO score by roughly 20‑100 points, depending on your credit profile.
• The negative entry stays on the credit report for up to seven years, with the biggest impact in the first few years, even after you pay the balance.

When a Klarna payment defaults, the FICO score can drop anywhere from a handful of points to over 30 points, based on how long the debt remains unpaid and the borrower's overall credit profile.

Most lenders report a delinquency only after it reaches 30 days past due; before that, Klarna's missed payment usually stays invisible to the bureaus. Once reported, the impact mirrors any other revolving‑credit late entry: a modest dip for those with scores above 750, a steeper decline for sub‑prime users, and a possible 'hard inquiry'‑like effect if multiple accounts slip simultaneously.

• Case A - 28‑day miss, score 780: No entry was made, FICO score stayed at 780. After the payment cleared, the account showed as 'current' in Klarna's internal record only.
• Case B - 45‑day miss, score 710: Experian flagged the delinquency; the FICO score fell 12 points to 698. The hit persisted for 12 months before gradually recovering as the balance was paid.
• Case C - 90‑day miss, score 640: All three bureaus recorded a severe delinquency; the FICO score plunged 28 points to 612. The account entered collections, extending the negative mark to seven years.

These examples illustrate why the timing of a missed Klarna payment matters as much as the existing credit health. For a deeper look at how juggling several Klarna accounts can shape your new credit, see the next section.

Opening multiple Klarna accounts can affect your new FICO score, but the impact depends on the type of accounts and how you manage them.

If you open several Klarna financing plans that require a hard credit inquiry, each hard pull can shave a few points from a thin‑file FICO, and juggling four active plans may push your overall utilization higher. For example, a user who opened three 'Pay Later' plans and one 'Slice It' plan saw utilization rise to 45% after a missed payment, and the FICO dropped about 12 points.

In contrast, opening multiple Klarna accounts that only use soft checks does not generate a hard inquiry and often stays off the credit report. Keeping all payments on time and keeping utilization below 10% can actually broaden your credit mix, which may modestly improve the FICO over time. A shopper who opened two installment plans, paid each on schedule, and maintained low utilization saw no change - or a slight rise - in their score. This sets up the next tip: five ways you can use Klarna without hurting your FICO.

You can use Klarna without hurting your FICO score by keeping every interaction within the non‑reporting thresholds.

1. Choose 'Pay in 4' or other interest‑free plans. These options trigger only a soft inquiry, not a hard pull, so your FICO score remains unchanged (Klarna credit check policy).
2. Pay each installment on or before the due date. Klarna reports to credit bureaus only after a payment is 30 days past due, so timely payments never appear on your file.
3. Keep your total Klarna balance low relative to your overall debt. Even if a delinquency eventually shows, low utilization lessens any negative effect on your FICO score.
4. Limit yourself to one Klarna account per household. Opening multiple accounts can generate additional hard pulls if you apply for 'Pay later' financing, which may lower your new‑credit component.
5. Enable reminders or autopay. Automation eliminates missed payments, the primary cause of the FICO drops illustrated in the real‑example section.

Yes, a return or refund can still affect your FICO score, but only if the related payment becomes late or goes unpaid.

When you initiate a return, Klarna may still report a delinquency if any of the following occur:

• the merchant processes the refund after the payment due date, leaving the balance past‑due for 30 days or more
• you do not pay the scheduled installment before the due date, even though the item is being returned
• the refund is disputed and the account is sent to a collections agency
• you close the Klarna account while an outstanding balance remains

In those cases Klarna can send a '30‑day late' or 'collection' record to Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion, which may lower your FICO score.

Avoiding a hit is simple: pay the installment on time, confirm the refund timeline with the merchant, and monitor your Klarna dashboard for any pending balances. If you suspect an erroneous report, see the next section on how to verify whether Klarna has reported you to the credit bureaus.Klarna's U.S. help center explains its reporting policies.

Klarna will only appear on your credit file if it sends a delinquency report, typically after a payment is 30 days past due, so the first step is to pull your credit report and look for a Klarna entry.

Get a free copy at free annual credit report, then scan the 'personal loans' or 'installment accounts' section for 'Klarna' and note the reported status and balance.

If the report shows no Klarna line, the company has not reported anything yet; you can also log into your credit‑monitoring app to see recent FICO score changes and any new hard inquiries that might be linked to Klarna.

When you do find a Klarna record, verify the dates and amounts against your own payment history; any error becomes the basis for a dispute, which we cover in the next section.

Dispute a Klarna entry as soon as you spot an inaccuracy - missed‑payment marks that appear before 30 days overdue, a delinquency you never incurred, or a plan you never opened. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act you have up to 60 days from the date the error shows on your credit report to file a dispute with the bureau and with Klarna directly.

Provide the exact payment dates, transaction amounts, and account identifiers that prove the reporting mistake. Attach your monthly Klarna statement, the email receipt confirming on‑time payment, and a screenshot of the account showing 'Paid' status. Include any prior correspondence where Klarna acknowledged the correct status. A copy of the disputed line from your credit report ties the evidence to the claim and speeds resolution. (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau guide to credit disputes)