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At Experian we have an unwavering commitment to help consumers and clients manage through this unprecedented period. We are actively working with consumers, lenders, lawmakers, and regulators to help mitigate the potential impact on credit scores during times of financial hardship. In response to the urgent and rapid changes associated with COVID-19, we are accelerating and enhancing our financial education programming with the goal of helping consumers maintain good credit and gain access to the financial services they need. This is in addition to processes and tools the industry has in place to help lenders accommodate situations where consumers are affected by circumstances beyond their control. These processes will be extended to those experiencing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19. As the Consumer’s Credit Bureau, our commitment at Experian is to inform, guide and protect our consumers and customers during uncertain times. With expected delays in bill payments, unprecedented layoffs, hiring freezes and related hardships, we are here to help consumers in understanding how the credit reporting system and personal finance overall will move forward in this landscape. One way we’re doing this is inviting everyone to join our special eight-week series of #CreditChat conversations surrounding COVID-19 on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. ET on Twitter. Our weekly #CreditChat program started in 2012 to help the community learn about credit and important personal finance topics (e.g. saving money, paying down debt, improving credit scores). The next several #CreditChat events will be dedicated to discussing ways to manage finances and credit during the pandemic. Topics of these #CreditChats will include methods and strategies for bill repayment, paying down debt, emergency financial assistance and preparing for retirement during COVID-19. “As the consumer’s credit bureau, we are committed to working with consumers, lenders and the financial community during and following the impacts of COVID-19,” says Craig Boundy, former Chief Executive Officer of Experian North America. “As part of our nation’s new reality, we are planning for options to help mitigate the potential impact on credit scores due to financial hardships seen nationwide. Our #CreditChat series and supporting resources serve as one of several informational touchpoints with consumers moving forward.” Being fully committed to helping consumers and lenders during this unprecedented period, we’ve created a dedicated blog page, “COVID-19 and Your Credit Report,” with ongoing and updated information pertaining to how COVID-19 may impact consumers’ creditworthiness and – ultimately – what people should do to preserve it. The blog will be updated with relevant news as we announce new solutions and tactics. Additionally, our “Ask Experian” blog invites consumers to explore immediate and evolving resources on our COVID-19 Updates page. In addition to this guidance, and with consumer confidence in the economy expected to decline, we will be listening closely to the expert voices in our Consumer Council, a group of leaders from organizations committed to helping consumers on their financial journey. We established a Consumer Council in 2009 to strengthen our relationships and to initiate a dialogue among Experian and consumer advocacy groups, industry experts, academics and other key stakeholders. This is in addition to ongoing collaboration with our regulators. Additionally, our Experian Education Ambassador program enables hundreds of employee volunteers to serve as ambassadors sharing helpful information with consumers, community groups and others. The goal is to help the communities we serve across North America, providing the knowledge consumers need to better manage their credit, protect themselves from fraud and identity theft and lead more successful, financially healthy lives. COVID-19 has impacted all industries and individuals from all walks of life. We want our community to know we are right there with you. Learn more about our weekly #CreditChat and upcoming schedule here.  

Whether due to job loss, shortened working hours, or the need to take off time from work to care for ill family members, the current COVID-19 outbreak will undoubtedly cause financial hardship for millions of Americans. Understandably, the current situation is causing some consumers to fear losing something they’ve worked incredibly hard for – their home.    For many, a home is the largest purchase they’ll ever make. We spend many years of our lives working to purchase a home and then many years after working to fill it with memories.   We understand how important it is for you to protect your home. Thankfully, we’re seeing mortgage lenders, federal associations and the financial industry working together in truly unprecedented ways to help consumers cope with new financial challenges brought on by COVID-19.    Last week, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — two of the largest mortgage services in the county — announced they are suspending foreclosures and evictions for at least 60 days. You can read more about this announcement here.  This was followed by New York, an area hit particularly hard by COVID-19, urging mortgage servicers to refrain from reporting late payments for 90 days. The order outlines ways lenders can provide support to consumers who are unable to make timely mortgage payments, including forbearing mortgage payments for 90 days from their due dates. As part of this, late payments would not be reported to credit reporting agencies like Experian for 90 days and consumers would not have to pay late or online payment fees. The order also postpones foreclosures and evictions for 90 days and requires lenders to proactively outreach to consumers, through text, email or other means to ensure they’re aware of the assistance that’s being offered. Los Angeles, Miami and other cities across the U.S. are now also halting evictions.   This news was shared in conjunction with Bank of America announcing additional support to borrowers, including the option to defer, or essentially pause, mortgage payments during the current outbreak. Many of the largest mortgage lenders in the country are offering the same support to consumers. Please note, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac acted fast, and these are the guidelines as of the time when this article was written.  As things are still early, our Experian mortgage team will stay abreast with potential new developments and update this information if or as things will change.   These are unprecedented times and we are starting to see lenders and consumers engage in equally unprecedented ways as we work to overcome the new reality we’re all facing.   At the same time, we are seeing interesting trends unfold in terms of mortgage lending activity. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, as of March 25, 2020, these include:   Refinancing existing mortgages, which has been booming with interest rates at historically low levels, declined almost 35% compared to the previous week, but is still twice as high as it was the previous year.  Not surprisingly, the states with the biggest declines are the states hardest hit by the COVID-19 outbreak (i.e. New York, Washington, and California)  In addition, with the economy under pressure, there was a nearly 30% decline in weekly new mortgage applications. If you or someone you know is a homeowner, I hope you found this information useful. Remember, if you are concerned you may miss a mortgage payment, the first and best move you can make, to protect your home and your financial health, is to contact your mortgage lender as soon as possible. Lenders do not want you to miss a payment any more than you do. They can discuss options for navigating these unusual circumstances.   Keep in mind, these programs are available to you if you are facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 crisis, for example, if you lost your job or had to be hospitalized.  Of course, we’re all hoping not to be in either of these categories.  If you haven’t been financially impacted by the current COVID-19 crisis, you are expected to continue to make your mortgage payments (and meet all your other financial obligations).   You should feel good about being able to do that as it will make you part of the important group of individuals who can keep contributing to sustaining the American economy. 

Last year we revealed that there were around 5.8 million people in the UK who were virtually invisible to the financial system. These ‘credit invisibles’ might have limited financial data because they just turned 18 and are new to credit, or they may have recently moved to the UK. Alternatively, perhaps they conduct most of their transactions in cash or simply haven’t used credit for a long time.   Either way, we wanted to spotlight the issue, to explain how we can help people regain control of their financial footprints and ensure more people get access to affordable financial products and services. So, as our support for Credit Awareness Week moves into its fourth year, we decided to check in on our progress.   The positive news is that we have managed to reduce this financially excluded population by nearly half a million in the last 12 months, to just over 5.3 million – as the map below shows.   Credit Awareness Week 2020 offers us all the chance to reflect on all the hard work that so many of us have put into tackling financial exclusion. As a result of this work, more people can access the mainstream services they need, and many are paying less than they otherwise would have. Yet there is much more which needs to be done.   We need to continue to innovate and find new solutions to help widen affordable financial access for all. Promoting a better understanding of the things that people can do to help improve their financial track record. Together we can continue our mission to bring more people into the mainstream financial system and deliver better, more affordable products and services for everyone.