How Does Affirm's Experian Credit Reporting Work?

Affirm posts each payment in its internal ledger, then once a month batches the activity and pushes a standard credit‑bureau file to Experian; Experian incorporates the file into your credit report within a few days.

• Payment amount and date are recorded as they post
• Status is flagged as on‑time, late (30, 60, or 90 days) or missed
• Current balance and original loan amount are included
• Account open date and loan term are reported
• Any charge‑offs or settled amounts are sent as final updates

Affirm sends a concise set of loan details to Experian for each active account.

• Account opening date - the day the loan was funded.
• Original loan amount and installment terms - total financed amount, number of payments, and monthly payment amount.
• Payment history - each month's payment status (on‑time, 30‑day, 60‑day, or 90‑day delinquent).
• Current balance and account status - outstanding balance, whether the account is open, paid in full, or closed.
• Merchant name and loan identifier - the retailer associated with the purchase and a unique loan ID.

Affirm activity shows up on your Experian credit report during the next monthly reporting cycle, typically within 30‑45 days after a payment is posted. The lender sends the payment amount, due date and status (on‑time, late or charged‑off) to Experian, and the entry appears once Experian processes that batch.

Because reporting is monthly, you'll see the new entry after that window and can verify it before the next section on hard pulls explains whether any new request affects your score. For details, see Affirm credit reporting explained by Experian.

Using Affirm does not generate a hard pull on your Experian credit report; the company runs a soft inquiry to verify identity and assess risk, which does not affect your score, and only the payment activity it later reports appears on your credit file, as explained in the earlier section on how affirm reports your payments to experian.

A hard inquiry would only occur if you apply for an affirm loan that explicitly requires a traditional credit check, which is rare and usually disclosed at checkout, see Affirm's credit check policy; otherwise, your credit remains untouched until monthly payment data is sent, which you'll see discussed in the next section on how affirm can raise or lower your experian score.

Affirm can raise your Experian score by reporting on‑time payments, and can lower it by reporting missed or late payments.

When every payment arrives before the due date, Affirm sends a positive installment record to Experian each month. The credit report then shows a clean payment history, adds an installment‑type account to your credit mix, and displays a decreasing balance. Those factors together typically lift the payment‑history and credit‑mix components of the Experian algorithm, nudging the score upward.

If a payment arrives after the due date or is skipped entirely, Affirm reports the delinquency to Experian. The credit report records a missed payment, flags the account as past‑due, and may later show a collection entry if the debt is sold. Those negative marks hurt the payment‑history and public‑record sections of the score, often causing an immediate dip.

Missing an Affirm payment triggers a chain of events that can affect your Experian credit report. If you don't pay the scheduled installment within 30 days, Affirm flags the account as late and sends that status to Experian.

• A late‑fee (typically $10‑$30) is added to the balance.
• After the 30‑day window, the late status appears on your credit report as a '30‑day delinquent' entry.
• The delinquent entry can drop your Experian score by 20‑40 points, depending on your credit profile.
• Continued non‑payment may lead to collection activity; the collection entry is reported separately and stays on the report for up to 7 years.
• Paying the missed installment (and any fees) before the 30‑day mark prevents a negative entry; contacting Affirm's support can sometimes halt reporting if you arrange a payment plan.

Understanding these consequences explains why timing matters, as covered in when your affirm activity appears on experian, and sets up the next discussion on how long affirm accounts remain on your Experian report.

Affirm accounts remain on your Experian credit report for up to seven years from the date of the last reported activity. A fully paid loan stays for seven years after the final payment posts, while a missed or charged‑off payment stays for seven years from the delinquency date.

For example, if you complete a six‑month Affirm purchase in March 2023, the positive line will vanish in March 2030. If you default in June 2022, that negative entry will drop in June 2029. The removal happens automatically; you don't need to dispute it after the period expires. See how long credit items stay on your report for the full timeline.

If Affirm sells your debt, Experian records a new collection tradeline from the buyer and marks the original Affirm account as closed or transferred.

For example, a credit report might show:

• Affirm -  Closed -  Balance $0 -  Status 'Transferred' (date of sale).
• XYZ Collections -  Open -  Balance $1,200 -  Status 'Past due' -  Account type 'Collection'.

If the debt had already been charged off, the original line reads 'Charged off' and the buyer's line appears with the same balance and a 'Collection' status. The new entry follows the same monthly reporting schedule described earlier, affecting utilization and payment history calculations in the same way as any other collection account.

Affirm entry errors are fixed by filing a dispute directly with Experian.

1. Pull your latest Experian credit report, locate the inaccurate Affirm line, and note the account number and reporting dates.
2. Collect supporting documents - payment receipts, bank statements, or a letter from Affirm confirming the correct balance and payment history.
3. Submit the dispute online at Dispute a credit report entry with Experian. Upload the documents, describe the mistake, and select 'Affirm' as the creditor.
4. If you prefer paper, mail a certified‑return receipt letter to Experian's dispute department, attach copies of your evidence, and keep the tracking number.
5. Experian investigates within 30 days, then updates the credit report. Review the revised report; if the entry remains wrong, repeat the process or contact Affirm for a corrected report submission.

After your first Affirm payment, log into Experian and verify five key details. These checks confirm that the loan is recorded accurately and that your credit report reflects the true impact of your payments.

• Payment status appears as 'Paid on time' or 'Current' for each month.
• Remaining balance matches the amount shown in your Affirm account.
• Account type is listed as 'Installment loan' and the creditor name is 'Affirm'.
• Reporting date aligns with the monthly cycle described in 'how affirm reports your payments to experian'.
• No duplicate or erroneous entries, such as a missed‑payment flag you never received.