Level Credit Rent Reporting

L

Laura clark

Member
I’ve been looking into services that claim they can report rent payments to the credit bureaus, essentially treating rent like a monthly loan payment to help boost your credit score. One company even says they can go back and report the last 24 months of rental history. It sounds promising, but also a little too good to be true.

Does anyone know if this actually works, and whether it makes a difference with FICO scores or just VantageScore?
 
I actually used Level Credit for a while. They did report my rent to Equifax and TransUnion, but not Experian. My VantageScore bumped up like 30 points, but when I applied for a credit card, the lender only looked at my FICO 8, and… zero difference. It’s kind of a looks good on paper thing, but not super practical unless you know your lender uses VantageScore.
 
Be careful with the 24 months of history claim. Some companies charge extra for that, and even then, it’s not guaranteed every bureau accepts it. My friend paid $150 for back reporting and only Equifax updated it. Felt like a scam. If you’re gonna try it, maybe do the month-to-month reporting instead of back pay.
 
My landlord actually uses a service that automatically reports rent. I didn’t even know about it until I got an alert from Credit Karma. It did boost my VantageScore a bit, but like others have said, it didn’t budge my FICO. So, if your goal is mortgage approval, probably won’t matter.
 
Honestly, it seems like a neat way to add positive history, especially if you don’t have much credit. But if you already have a couple cards and maybe an auto loan, it’s not gonna do as much. Rent isn’t weighed the same as revolving or installment debt. It’s like a bonus line but not a heavy hitter.
 
I’m a little skeptical. Like, how is my rent payment, which is just me paying to live somewhere, the same as taking on debt? If it were that impactful, banks would already count it. Feels like these companies are making money off people desperate to fix their credit quickly.
 
To be fair, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac now let lenders consider rental history for mortgage approvals in some cases. So, maybe it’s not totally useless. Even if it doesn’t boost your FICO 8, it might help you in that specific context. That’s worth something if home ownership is your goal.
 
It works, but only depending on what you need. If you’re applying for a credit card → useless. If you’re trying to show consistent rental payment history for a mortgage or lease → could help. Basically, don’t expect miracles with FICO.
 
I think of it like a gym membership. If you actually use it and need the results, it helps. If you expect a six-pack overnight, you’ll be disappointed. Rent reporting is just one tool, not a silver bullet.
 
A lot of the rent reporting companies aren’t even directly tied to the bureaus. They go through third-party processors, which adds extra time and sometimes inconsistency. I’d read the fine print before paying anyone.
 
Honestly, if you’ve got a thin file, like no credit cards or loans, then rent reporting can be clutch. My younger sister started with just rent reporting and a secured card, and now she’s got a 700+ after a year. It helped her build a base.
 
you’re better off getting a secured credit card than paying for rent reporting. At least with the card, you’re learning how to manage revolving credit, which lenders actually care about.
 
Yeah but for people who can’t get approved for even a secured card, this might be their only option to start. Not everyone wants to risk putting down $200+ on a secured card either. Rent reporting is lower barrier.
 
I think people overcomplicate credit building. Use one credit card, pay on time, keep utilization low. Done. These services are like putting sprinkles on a cake that’s already baked. Looks cute, doesn’t change the flavor.
 
Tried Level Credit and RentTrack back-to-back. Level was cheaper, RentTrack seemed more official but harder to set up. Neither updated Experian for me though, which kinda sucked since my mortgage lender pulled Experian only.
 
Anyone else think it’s shady that they charge you to report something that should already count? Like, if utilities and rent are my biggest monthly bills, why do I have to pay extra just to have them noticed? Kinda gross tbh.
 
If you’ve got collections in your history, rent reporting won’t fix that. I tried it when I had a medical collection, and my score barely moved. Landlords love seeing paid rent though when I applied for a new apartment. So it helped me in a roundabout way.
 
People keep forgetting there are multiple versions of FICO. FICO 9 does consider rental data in some cases, but FICO 8 (the most common one) does not. So, it’s kind of a lottery depending on which model the lender uses.
 
I’m actually in the mortgage industry. Rental reporting can help with manual underwriting. If you’re borderline and they need more proof of your reliability, 12–24 months of rental history makes you look better. It’s not pointless, just very niche.
 
I signed up for Level, canceled after a year. The reporting worked, but the subscription fee bugged me. I realized I’d be better off putting that $100/year toward paying off debt faster. That alone helped my FICO more.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top