topic Re: Lenders that offer Free FICO scores! in General Credit Topics

Lenders that offer Free FICO scores!

DaveSignal — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:14:41 GMT

Ok, so most of us know that a free EX FICO can be obtained from PSECU, a free TU FICO from WalMart, and a free EQ FICO from DCU. What other banks or credit unions offer this service?

I think I could get into PSECU if I really wanted by joining PA Parks and Recreation, but would take an inquiry hit for membership + an inquiry and new account hit for opening a credit card since you have to have some type of active TL or checking account with them to use the FICO service. But I am not switching my checking account and I don't need a new credit card. Wouldn't it be really awesome if an actual bank, like USAA, offered an EX FICO.

So I guess I am asking why don't more lenders offer this service? Especially big banks that do periodic credit reviews. They probably get scores at this time. Why not make them available to the customers? Does anybody belong to a lender that offers these scores? What were the requirements?

Re: Lenders that offer Free FICO scores!

jd5189 — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:26:31 GMT

DaveSignal wrote:
Ok, so most of us know that a free EX FICO can be obtained from PSECU, a free TU FICO from WalMart, and a free EQ FICO from DCU. What other banks or credit unions offer this service?

I think I could get into PSECU if I really wanted by joining PA Parks and Recreation, but would take an inquiry hit for membership + an inquiry and new account hit for opening a credit card since you have to have some type of active TL or checking account with them to use the FICO service. But I am not switching my checking account and I don't need a new credit card. Wouldn't it be really awesome if an actual bank, like USAA, offered an EX FICO.

So I guess I am asking why don't more lenders offer this service? Especially big banks that do periodic credit reviews. They probably get scores at this time. Why not make them available to the customers? Does anybody belong to a lender that offers these scores? What were the requirements?

I did not receive an inquiry for my application/membership into PSECU. I have both the checking and savings accts set up ($5 in each), no inquiry either. I receive the free fico score monthly. So, you could get the free fico score without an inquiry (at least in my case that is how it happened).

I imagine though when I open the Visa CC it will be an inquiry, but I do not plan to do that until maybe December.

Re: Lenders that offer Free FICO scores!

DaveSignal — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:35:38 GMT

jd5189 wrote:
DaveSignal wrote:
Ok, so most of us know that a free EX FICO can be obtained from PSECU, a free TU FICO from WalMart, and a free EQ FICO from DCU. What other banks or credit unions offer this service?

I think I could get into PSECU if I really wanted by joining PA Parks and Recreation, but would take an inquiry hit for membership + an inquiry and new account hit for opening a credit card since you have to have some type of active TL or checking account with them to use the FICO service. But I am not switching my checking account and I don't need a new credit card. Wouldn't it be really awesome if an actual bank, like USAA, offered an EX FICO.

So I guess I am asking why don't more lenders offer this service? Especially big banks that do periodic credit reviews. They probably get scores at this time. Why not make them available to the customers? Does anybody belong to a lender that offers these scores? What were the requirements?
I did not receive an inquiry for my application/membership into PSECU. I have both the checking and savings accts set up ($5 in each), no inquiry either. I receive the free fico score monthly. So, you could get the free fico score without an inquiry (at least in my case that is how it happened).

I imagine though when I open the Visa CC it will be an inquiry, but I do not plan to do that until maybe December.

Wow. Thats awesome! So I can join, put $5 in a checking (with no penalty), and not take any hard pulls? That sounds great! I will have to call them immediately and see if I actually qualify, because my military home of record is PA, but its been years since I lived there.

Re: Lenders that offer Free FICO scores!

jd5189 — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:45:49 GMT

As always, it could be different for any case. They could have softed me, but that won't be visible to any other lenders. But if you can get in too w/o the inquiries, it is not a bad deal.

Re: Lenders that offer Free FICO scores!

Walt_K — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:54:38 GMT

PSECU discontinued allowing membership via PA Parks and Recreation quite a while ago if I remember correctly.

Re: Lenders that offer Free FICO scores!

jd5189 — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:00:15 GMT

They stopped it for a little while because out of state people were getting through. They have re-vamped it and allow you to join through PRPS again only if you carry a PA i.d. It's actually an option when you apply:

"I would like to join Pennsylvania Recreation & Parks Society Incorporated (PRPS) to receive their benefits and to be eligible to join PSECU. The PRPS Friend membership dues are $20. I authorize PSECU to collect and forward $10 from me to PRPS. PSECU will match with another $10 to pay the total Friend membership dues. In addition, I authorize PSECU to send my name, address, e-mail address and phone number to PRPS. To learn more about PRPS, visit prps.org. Please note: A PRPS member who wishes to join PSECU must be a permanent Pennsylvania resident."

Re: Lenders that offer Free FICO scores!

DaveSignal — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:19:40 GMT

I just applied. I have a PA drivers license, but it has a VA address on it. I talked to rep on the phone who transferred me to another rep and neither could say for sure whether I would get in but just that I should fill out the application using a PA address and leave a comment at the bottom that I am active military... and then change it later if approved. I hope it works.

Re: Lenders that offer Free FICO scores!

jd5189 — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:24:02 GMT

DaveSignal wrote:
I just applied. I have a PA drivers license, but it has a VA address on it. I talked to rep on the phone who transferred me to another rep and neither could say for sure whether I would get in but just that I should fill out the application using a PA address and leave a comment at the bottom that I am active military... and then change it later if approved. I hope it works.

Good luck!

Re: Lenders that offer Free FICO scores!

ninjamike81 — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:27:20 GMT

good luck

Re: Lenders that offer Free FICO scores!

jd5189 — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:43:14 GMT

Oh yeah, whatever address you app'd for make sure there is someone there that can forward mail to you because they send a Signature Sheet that you have to sign in 10 days of receiving it.

Re: Lenders that offer Free FICO scores!

DaveSignal — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:50:37 GMT

jd5189 wrote:
Oh yeah, whatever address you app'd for make sure there is someone there that can forward mail to you because they send a Signature Sheet that you have to sign in 10 days of receiving it.

Yeah, I put my mother's address since my home of record is an apartment address in PA where no one I know currently lives. I don't know if I can make a 10 day turnaround with my mother forwarding that mail to an APO address in UK. I will worry about that later though. Right now, I am just hoping they approve my application, because it is kind of stretching the rules into a grey area.

Re: Lenders that offer Free FICO scores! PSECU applied!

DaveSignal — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 15:05:25 GMT

UPDATE: just verified SOFT-PULL on EX! Yippie! I hope I get in, but thanks jd for the great info!

Re: Lenders that offer Free FICO scores! PSECU applied!

jd5189 — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 15:59:59 GMT

Good news. Once the soft goes through that typically means they found you eligible location-wise otherwise they would have not have pulled. Your scores are similar to mine so I don't see why they would deny you credit-wise. Keep us updated!

Re: Lenders that offer Free FICO scores! PSECU applied!

DaveSignal — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 16:44:15 GMT

jd5189 wrote:
Good news. Once the soft goes through that typically means they found you eligible location-wise otherwise they would have not have pulled. Your scores are similar to mine so I don't see why they would deny you credit-wise. Keep us updated!

I don't think this means anything. I think they pulled the EX report immediately when I clicked the 'submit' button because thats when it started asking questions to verify identity related to my report. But, yes, maybe the info I put in passed some sort of cursory computer-based check. I think they are going to manually review everything within the next 3 days though before giving me a membership number or reason for denial. I do, however, see 2 soft-pulls on the EX report:

... so I'm not sure why the pulled it 2 times. Maybe one is for the manual review.

Re: Lenders that offer Free FICO scores! PSECU applied!

jd5189 — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 17:51:11 GMT

I had received an email right after I app'd:
PSECU : Your Account Application has been received.

Two minutes after that I got approved:
PSECU : Account Application Acceptance Notification

So keep an eye out in your email inbox for updates!

Re: Lenders that offer Free FICO scores! PSECU applied!

DaveSignal — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 18:00:40 GMT

I just called them again and they confirmed that my application was approved! woo hoo! Unfortunately, they did not give me my member number and told me to wait until I get it in the mail. So it is a good thing that I used my mother's address and she can forward that mail to me. Awesome. Thanks for your help jd!

Re: Lenders that offer Free FICO scores! PSECU applied!

jd5189 — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 19:21:13 GMT

Congrats on the approval and you're welcome. Glad I could help and give you some info into it! As for the signature sheet, she could probably scan it, email it to you and have you sign it, email it back to her and she could print then send it out for you.

Re: Lenders that offer Free FICO scores! PSECU applied!

DaveSignal — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 20:06:08 GMT

jd5189 wrote:
Congrats on the approval and you're welcome. Glad I could help and give you some info into it! As for the signature sheet, she could probably scan it, email it to you and have you sign it, email it back to her and she could print then send it out for you.

I don't think PSECU is going to close my account if they get the signature card late. It is much easier for my mother to just mail it to me. I am not rushing to open a credit card or get any kind of loan, so I can wait. The sole purpose of having this account, at this point in time, is to get free EX FICO scores.

Re: Lenders that offer Free FICO scores! PSECU applied!

pozativelyliving — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 20:23:07 GMT

So aside from PSECU, any other places offer this service?

Re: Lenders that offer Free FICO scores! PSECU applied!

DaveSignal — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 20:42:29 GMT

PSECU is the only credit union I know of that openly advertises that they will give out regular free Experian FICO scores. AFAIK, nobody else does it for EX.