What Credit Bureau Does Affirm Use?

Affirm always pulls your credit from TransUnion, so the 'credit pull' you see on your report is a TransUnion inquiry, whether it's a soft check at checkout or a hard check for larger financing; the company never uses Equifax or Experian, which is why the next section explains why your TransUnion score seals Affi​rm deals and how to boost that specific score before you shop.

Affirm pulls your TransUnion score for every loan request. The company's help center confirms that all credit checks run through TransUnion, so no other bureau influences the decision.

Because the same TransUnion credit pull governs approval, interest rate, and payment plan, your TransUnion score alone determines whether you qualify. Affirm's help center explains its credit pull process.

Affirm approves most purchases by looking at your TransUnion score because the lender's risk model is built around that data set.

• TransUnion supplies the most current, nationwide credit history, so the credit pull captures your latest borrowing behavior.
• The instant‑approval algorithm was trained on TransUnion data; swapping bureaus would require a separate, untested model (see 'Affirm relies on TransUnion every time').
• Merchants prefer a single, predictable credit pull, which speeds checkout and keeps denial rates low.
• A higher TransUnion score directly improves your chance of getting the best financing terms - lower APRs and larger limits.

Affirm does not routinely query Equifax or Experian; it performs a single credit pull from TransUnion for every application. This is why the preceding section emphasizes that only your TransUnion score matters for an approval.

In the rare instances where TransUnion data is unavailable - such as a frozen TransUnion file or a missing credit history - Affirm may temporarily reach out to another bureau to verify identity, but it still bases the financing decision on the TransUnion credit pull. Those edge cases are discussed further in the '4 myths on Affirm's bureau choice' section that follows.

Four common myths about which credit bureau Affir m uses are completely off the mark.

• Myth: 'Affirm only ever pulls TransUnion, never any other bureau.'
  Reality: TransUnion is the primary source, but on rare occasions Affir m may also request a pull from Equifax or Experian, especially for certain merchant partnerships.
• Myth: 'If you freeze your TransUnion report, Affir m will automatically switch to Equifax or Experian.'
  Reality: A TransUnion freeze blocks the usual pull; Affir m does not silently bypass the freeze by checking another bureau.
• Myth: 'Affir m's bureau choice changes based on the purchase amount or product category.'
  Reality: The amount or category does not influence the credit‑pull decision; the selection of TransUnion remains consistent regardless of the transaction.
• Myth: 'Your Experian or Equifax score can improve an Affir m approval if your TransUnion score is low.'
  Reality: Approval decisions rely almost entirely on the TransUnion score; scores from the other bureaus are not factored into the decision‑making process.

Affirm pulls a soft check from Experian, so the TransUnion score you boost now won't change the exact number Affirm sees, but a healthier overall credit profile can smooth future approvals.

Quick ways to lift your TransUnion score before the next checkout:

1. Pay any revolving balances down to under 30 % of the credit limit; lower utilization shows up on the next monthly report.
2. Set up automatic payments for at‑least one month to avoid a missed‑payment mark; on‑time history improves the score as soon as the creditor files.
3. Dispute lingering errors through the TransUnion online portal; resolved inaccuracies can raise the score within 30 days.
4. Add a secured credit card or a credit‑builder loan, then use it responsibly for two billing cycles; new positive activity will be reflected after the lender reports.
5. Ask a long‑standing creditor to become an authorized user on your account; the added account may boost the score once the bank updates its file.

No service can force an immediate data push - creditors report on their own schedule (usually monthly). For a concise guide on disputing items, see how to dispute credit report errors.

Affirm's credit pull looks at your TransUnion score, so any mistake on that report can cause a denial. Scan the report for common red flags before you apply, then correct them to clear the path.

• Misspelled name or wrong Social Security number - prevents the credit pull from matching you.
• Out‑of‑date address or employment data - can trigger a 'no match' error.
• Duplicate accounts listed under slightly different names - inflate your debt load artificially.
• Payments marked late or charged‑off that you actually paid on time - lower your TransUnion score.
• Fraud alerts or security freezes listed as active - block the credit pull entirely.
• Inaccurate public records (bankruptcies, tax liens) that you never filed - create a false risk flag.

Fix each error by filing a dispute with TransUnion; once the report is clean, the next credit pull usually clears the hurdle.

A TransUnion freeze blocks the credit pull that powers every Affirm application, so you must temporarily lift the freeze before you submit.

Log into TransUnion's freeze portal or call the freeze line, enter your PIN, and set a 'temporary lift' for the exact day you'll apply (a 24‑hour window works for most shoppers). Doing this 1 - 2 hours before checkout guarantees the credit pull reads your TransUnion score.

After the purchase, reactivate the freeze if you prefer continued protection; the lift expires automatically, or you can close it manually. This quick pause lets the affirmation process flow without a denied credit pull. how to lift a TransUnion freeze

I unlocked my Affirm account by fixing a TransUnion error that was preventing the credit pull from returning a usable TransUnion score. After the error was removed, the pull succeeded and the loan opened.

First, request your free TransUnion report and locate any entry marked 'hard inquiry' that you didn't initiate or that shows an outdated balance. File a dispute online, attach a screenshot of the erroneous line, and let TransUnion investigate (usually 30 days).

Once the dispute is resolved and the entry is cleared, log back into Affirm and retry the checkout; the credit pull now reflects your true TransUnion score, and the account unlocks. This same process applies to any future blocks, and you'll see the changes reflected in the next section on how to track Affirm hits on your TransUnion report.

Affirm's credit pull shows up on your TransUnion report as a separate inquiry you can locate in the 'Credit Inquiries' section. Pull your most recent TransUnion report and scan for the entry named 'Affirm.'

• Log in to your TransUnion account or request a free report at TransUnion's credit report portal.
• Open the 'Credit Inquiries' tab; look for 'Affirm' listed as a hard or soft pull.
• Note the date, type (hard = score impact, soft = no impact), and the status (pending, completed, or removed).
• If the inquiry is unexpected or mislabeled, file a dispute directly through TransUnion's online dispute center.

Tracking the entry lets you confirm when Affirm checks your TransUnion score and ensures no surprise hits affect your credit standing.