Credit Karma

[ripper1]

Has anybody heard of Credit Karma? Or has anybody used this site?

 

[2017ish]

I've used it for some time to keep an eye on things. With the increasing prevalence of FICO/Credit score availability through credit card banks, however, I don't know how much use it really is anymore.

 

[Sue J]

I've been using it for a couple of years. I find that it's pretty accurate. Free, too.

 

[Nodak]

I've been using it for a couple of years. I find that it's pretty accurate. Free, too.

+1

 

[Sarah in SC]

Me, too. It is easy and convenient for me to monitor credit reports and scores.

 

[Chuckanut]

In these days of identity theft, it's another tool one can use to see if anything suspicious has happened to one's credit record. Its not perfect, but it is a useful tool in the arsenal.

 

[ripper1]

Thanks Folks. I think i'm going to check it out.

 

[Blaineatk]

I use it quite often and have for a few years now. It has given me insight on things that I have needed to check up on and that my credit has been improving since i have been monitoring it more often.

I think that having the visual aid to see what my accounts are doing and my debts being paid off is sort of a "payment" to myself for the goals that I have set. I enjoy seeing the progress as I move through time.

 

[Cobra9777]

I've used Credit Karma for several years. It's one of the better free sources for credit scores and info on how to improve. But now AMEX tells me my FICO score every month. DW and I both have our credit frozen at all 3 bureaus. So, really just don't pay much attention to it anymore.

 

[aja8888]

AMEX and capital One notify me of my credit score monthly. I have used Credit karma from time to time. I just looked at all three sources and my rating ranges from 805 to 852. Now that's accuracy!

 

[Texas Proud]

I use to use it, but have not since I get my score from two CC companies....


I found Karma to be lower than my real score for some reason... maybe 20 to 30 points..


Just checked an email and it looks like it is 40 points low on Karma.... not that great IMO...

Also, read the terms of use.... they are getting credit info on you (which you agree to) and then sell it to third parties for offers... I am already tired of every site collecting info on what I do...

 

[Taxman59]

I have used it for several years, and like the info. My sons are using it, and it has helped them with making decisions ("You probably want to have your dad cosign the apartment lease so you can qualify". "But I have a 750 credit score" "Nevermind, you will qualify"), and also to make them aware of the consequences of financial decisions.


Have the day you deserve, and let Karma sort it out.

Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forum

 

[ripper1]

I use to use it, but have not since I get my score from two CC companies....


I found Karma to be lower than my real score for some reason... maybe 20 to 30 points..


Just checked an email and it looks like it is 40 points low on Karma.... not that great IMO...

Also, read the terms of use.... they are getting credit info on you (which you agree to) and then sell it to third parties for offers... I am already tired of every site collecting info on what I do...

Well, your last sentence now makes me leery of going on this site.

 

[kgtest]

The score is a bit lower than Amex, usually 30-40pts. it does give you a good look into the history of all open/closed accounts which is convenient but I think the major three are doing that with there own service now as well.

They definitely send you offers, as my credit score bounced between Good and Excellent I would get a mailbox full of loan offers or credit card offers, depending on which side of the fence I moved.

If you rack up a lot of debt quickly the loan offers get sent out. If you pay off a credit card, more cc offers get sent out.

I don't mind advertising, its my choice if I acknowledge the ad or toss it.

I check my score once a month or so, I think if you wanted it will recalculate every week.

 

[2017ish]

...

They definitely send you offers, as my credit score bounced between Good and Excellent I would get a mailbox full of loan offers or credit card offers, depending on which side of the fence I moved.

If you rack up a lot of debt quickly the loan offers get sent out. If you pay off a credit card, more cc offers get sent out.

....

Interesting. I assumed that all of the solicitations were while on the Creditkarma site. I rarely get credit card/loan offers via snail mail; maybe once a month? Usually, they seem to be from lenders with whom I already have a relationship. (haven't bounced between different levels of credit score though, which may make a difference?)

 

[Willers]

I use it and I like their alert process. DW recently applied for credit that I didn't know about and I was alerted to a hard inquiry. I liked getting the heads-up so I could check into it.

I'm sure other platforms do that as well, but I find this one easy to use and useful for my needs.

Regarding solicitations, I've only seen one change since signing up with them. They obviously passed our info on to Discover. We get about one mailing a week from them. I'm OK with this since I'm getting credit monitoring for the price of my info. I consider that the price I pay for it. Nothing is really free...

I wouldn't worry to much about signing up. Heck, if Clark Howard is a huge fan how bad can they be?

 

[hesperus]

We pay cash for all major purchases - autos, homes, second home, etc. Hence we only use our CC for FF mileage benefits. A good credit score isn't that much of a concern to us, although we prefer it not fall under 800. So, we do get monthly updates from credit karma. I don't think we've been getting spam from 3rd party people as a result of this, although i will be paying more attention now.

 

[Gotadimple]

I have never seen spam from CC companies and have used this site for many years. Differences in credit scores come from the different methodologies used by the three bureaus. CreditKarma uses only one of those bureaus, which is why it may look different from the score you get from Amex or CapOne - different bureaus.

-- Rita