While COVID-19 has affected all parts of daily life, the travel industry has certainly been put on hold as people have had to cancel plans and stay at home. Since most travelers plan many months in advance, this also leaves many holding tickets they can no longer use. Frequent flyers and hotel loyalty members are left wondering what recourse they have, if any, when it comes to their member status and points or miles.
We researched the major players in the hotel and airline industry to find out how these companies plan to accommodate their valued members â by extending points, status levels and more â in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Coronavirus relief measures by loyalty or travel program
Hilton Honors
Marriott Bonvoy
IHG Rewards Club
World of Hyatt
Wyndham Rewards
Choice Privileges
United MileagePlus
Delta SkyMiles
American Airlines AAdvantage
JetBlue TrueBlue
Southwest Rapid Rewards
Virgin Atlantic
British Airways
CLEAR
TSA Precheck
Global Entry
Hilton Honors
In addition to donating up to one million rooms to medical professionals, Hilton has promised to compensate its Hilton Honors loyalty program members in a number of ways.
Lower status requirements
Hilton has cut status qualification requirements by half.
Elite status
Previous status requirements
New status requirements
Silver status
4 stays, 10 nights or 25,000 base points
2 stays, 5 nights or 12,500 base points
Gold status
20 stays, 40 nights or 75,000 base points
10 stays, 30 nights or 37,500 base points
Diamond status
30 stays, 60 nights or 120,000 base points
15 stays, 30 nights or 60,000 base points
Status extension
For any Silver, Gold or Diamond members that were due to downgrade in 2020 or 2021, statuses will be extended through March 31, 2022.
Cardholder benefits
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Weekend night rewards on eligible Hilton credit cards that were not expired by May 1, 2020, will now be valid through August 31, 2021, and certificates issued from May 1 through Dec. 31, 2020, are valid for 24 months from the date of issuance. All free weekend night certificates issued in 2021 can be used any night of the week and expiration is extended until Dec. 31, 2022.
Additionally, bonus points will continue to count as base points on eligible purchases through Dec. 31, 2021, and toward elite status tier qualification, including Lifetime Diamond Status.
Other rewards
All 2020 elite qualifying nights will be rolled over to the 2021 status year. This applies to all nights members have already completed or will complete this calendar year.
On top of that, Hilton has lowered the requirements to earn Milestone Bonuses for 2021. Previously, you could earn 10,000 bonus points every 10 nights after completing 40 nights in a calendar year. Starting in January, that requirement has been changed to 20 nights stayed to align with the new Gold qualification level. However, 60 nights will still earn you 30,000 points.
Diamond members will be able to gift Gold status for staying 30 nights in 2021 instead of 60 nights which was the previous requirement. The requirement to gift Diamond status is lowered to 60 nights instead of 100.
To ensure member safety, Hilton is providing flexible cancellations and full points refunds for all Hilton Honors experiences booked through May 31, 2021.
You can follow further updates for Hilton Honors members on the loyalty program website.
Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott plans to compensate its Marriott Bonvoy members, although benefits may vary depending on membersâ location.
See related: Marriott data breach involves 5.2 million hotel guests
Status extension
Bonvoy members who earned elite status for 2020 can now enjoy their benefits through February 2022.
Points extension
Points set to expire by February 2021 will be paused, and no points will expire until after that time period.Â
Other rewards
Active free night awards (as part of Marriott credit cards or packages) set to expire beginning March 1, 2020, will be extended through Aug. 1, 2021. Additionally, more recent certificates set to expire before July 31, 2021, will be extended through that date as well. Suite night awards set to expire by Dec. 31, 2020, will be extended another year through Dec. 31, 2021.
Additionally, Marriott will deposit Elite Night Credits into Bonvoy elite membersâ accounts in the amount of 50% of the nights required for the status they earned in 2019. This can make it easier for the members to reach the next tier.
Elite Night Credits deposit breakdown
Elite status
Annual tier requirements
Extra elite night credits
Ambassador Elite
100 Qualifying Nights and $20,000 stay spend
50 Elite Night Credits
Titanium Elite
75 Qualifying Nights
38 Elite Night Credits
Platinum Elite
50 Qualifying Nights
25 Elite Night Credits
Gold Elite
25 Qualifying Nights
13 Elite Night Credits
Silver Elite
10 Qualifying Nights
5 Elite Night Credits
Stay up to date on relief measures for Bonvoy members on the companyâs COVID-19 page.
Coronavirus: What to do if youâre unemployed and have credit card debt
How to manage your credit cards during the coronavirus outbreak
IHG Rewards Club
Due to travel constraints and shortened travel periods, IHG has lowered its requirements for elite status membership by 25% or more, as well as extended statuses and points for all members (since elite membersâ points never expire).Â
Lower status requirements
Status
Previous qualification requirements
New qualification requirements
Gold
10,000 qualifying points in a calendar year or
10 qualifying nights in a calendar year
7,000 qualifying points in a calendar year or
7 qualifying nights in a calendar year
Platinum
40,000 qualifying points in a calendar year or
40 qualifying nights in a calendar year
30,000 qualifying points in a calendar year or
30 qualifying nights in a calendar year
Spire
75,000 qualifying points in a calendar year or
75 qualifying nights in a calendar year
55,000 qualifying points in a calendar year or
55 qualifying nights in a calendar year
See related: The benefits of IHG Rewards Club elite status
Status extension
Program statuses will be extended through January 2022 for all members. Spire elite members will also retain their Choice benefit of 25,000 bonus points or gifting of Platinum Elite status to someone each year.
Award certificatesÂ
Anniversary night certificates (U.S. and U.K. only) set to expire before March 1, 2020, will be extended through the end of the year. All 2020 certificates will be redeemable for 18 months, instead of the usual 12. Some members have also reported that free night certificates expiring before Dec. 31, 2020, will be extended until August 2021.
Follow updates to IHG Rewards Club benefits on the programâs travel advisory page.
World of Hyatt
The World of Hyatt loyalty program will extend all statuses and rewards to compensate valued members.
Status extension
All active elite statuses, as of March 31, 2020, will be extended through Feb. 28, 2022.Â
Points extension
Forfeiting points due to inactivity will be suspended through June 30, 2021. No points will expire until that date.
Other rewards
Any earned rewards, such as free nights or upgrades, set to expire between March 1 and Dec. 31, 2020, will be extended through Dec. 31, 2021.
Check the updates to Hyatt relief measures on the programâs COVID-19 page.
online.
Keep an eye on Wyndhamâs COVID-19 statement page for updates.
Choice Privileges
It took Choice some time to follow suit and join other hotel chains in extending elite statuses and offering other promotions amid the outbreak. On May 21, 2020, the company announced a series of offers to expand the benefits of its Choice Privileges loyalty program.
“Even during this crisis, our members found a number of ways to engage with us and make a difference,” said Jamie Russo, vice president, loyalty programs and customer engagement, Choice Hotels. “Some of them are essential and frontline workers who chose to stay in our small-business hotels, and others showed their generosity by donating their Choice Privileges points to aid recovery efforts. Our latest loyalty program changes tell our members that we appreciate their continued support and our hotels are here to welcome them whenever they feel safe traveling again.”
Status extension
All membersâ current elite statuses will be extended through Dec. 31, 2021.
Lower status requirements
Choice is also easing requirements to qualify for elite status in 2021.
Elite status
Previous status requirements
2021 status requirements
Gold status
10 nights
7 nights
Platinum status
20 nights
15 nights
Diamond status
40 nights
25 nights
Additionally, Choice is giving current elite members a limited-time upgrade to the next tier. Gold members will be upgraded to Platinum status and Platinum members will be upgraded to Diamond. Additionally, members who stayed at least five nights by Dec. 31, 2020, will be able to keep their upgraded tier through 2021.
United MileagePlus
United has said it would compensate their MileagePlus members by extending all annual memberships, subscriptions and checked bag benefits for six months. United also plans to make status membership requirements easier and will release information later in 2020.
Status extension
All MileagePlus Premier members will get to retain their 2020 status through Jan. 31, 2022.
Lower status requirements
MileagePlus Premier membership now has easier requirements, reduced 50% for each status level.
2021 status
Premier qualifying flights
and PQP
⦠or PQP
Silver
6
2,000
2,500
Gold
12
4,000
5,000
Platinum
18
6,000
7,500
1K
26
9,000
12,000
Other rewards
All valid travel certificates issued on or after April 1, 2020, will be extended to be valid for two years for booking, as well as up to an additional 11 months to travel. All redeposit fees for flights booked through May 31, 2020, will be waived, as well as all fees for members who cancel within at least 30 days of departure.
Follow more updates to United MileagePlus on the programâs travel notice page.
Delta SkyMiles
Delta has stepped up to say they will compensate their Medallion members by extending their Member status.
Status extension
2020 Medallion Member status will be extended through Jan. 31, 2022, and this change should be reflected on the memberâs SkyMiles account by Feb. 1, 2021. Additionally, all 2020 Medallion Qualification Miles will roll over into 2021.
Follow updates to the Delta SkyMiles program on the coronavirus travel update page.
American Airlines AAdvantage
As AAdvantage members experience reduced travel opportunities due to the coronavirus, American Airlines is offering elite status extension, lowering elite status requirements and allowing eligible cardholders to earn miles toward Million Miler status with credit card spend.
Status extension
Members whose elite status expires on Jan. 31, 2021, will automatically get an extension until Jan. 31, 2022.
Lower status requirements
Members will be able to qualify for a higher elite status in 2021 with lower requirements, including Elite Qualifying Dollar (EQD), Elite Qualifying Mile (EQM) and Elite Qualifying Segment (EQS).
Gold oneworld Ruby
Platinum oneworld Sapphire
Platinum Pro oneworld Sapphire
Executive Platinum oneworld Emerald
$2,000 EQDs and 20,000 EQMs or
$2,000 EQDs and 20 EQSs
$4,500 EQDs and 40,000 EQMs or
$4,500 EQDs and 45 EQSs
$7,000 EQDs and 60,000 EQMs or
$7,000 EQDs and 70 EQSs
$12,000 EQDs and 80,000 EQMs or
$12,000 EQDs and 95 EQSs
Cardholder benefits
The CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® cardholders who hold a companion certificate expiring Dec. 31, 2020, will receive a six-month extension as well, bringing the expiration date to June 30, 2021.
Learn more about AAdvantage program updates on aa.com.
JetBlue TrueBlue
JetBlue took a bit longer to join other airlines in taking measures to support loyal customers. On May 14, 2020, JetBlue announced it’s extending Mosaic elite statuses, as well as making it easier to earn one.
Status extension
All currently valid Mosaic elite statuses will be extended through Dec. 31, 2021.
Lower status requirements
JetBlue is reducing the qualifying thresholds for Mosaic status by 50% for 2021. To earn the status this year, you’ll need to earn 7,500 qualifying TrueBlue base points or 6,000 qualifying TrueBlue base points and 15 flight segments.
Alternatively, you can get the elite status by spending $50,000 in annual net purchases on the JetBlue Plus card â this spending requirement hasn’t changed for 2020.
Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic has also made it easier for customers to earn and maintain elite status amid the pandemic.
Status extension
In March 2020, Virgin Atlantic extended status for Gold and Silver members, allowing them an additional six months to meet the requirements.
On Aug. 20, 2020, the airline added another six months to the extension, making it one year in total.
Other rewards
Starting Sept. 1, 2020, the Flying Club program members will be able to earn tier points on award flights, meaning they’ll be able to earn elite-qualifying points on flights where they used Flying Club miles to redeem for travel.
On top of that, Virgin Atlantic makes it easier for members to earn and redeem Companion Vouchers, Upgrade Vouchers and Clubhouse Vouchers.
Members can now use Companion Vouchers with any ticket in any booking class, regardless of status. Gold and Silver members can book their companion into any cabin for zero miles, and Red members can book their companion into Economy and Premium for zero miles or upper class at a 50% discount.
Upgrade Vouchers can also be used with any ticket in any booking class, excluding Economy Light, for a one-cabin upgrade on a return flight.
Clubhouse Vouchers can be used for one entry to any clubhouse when booked on a Virgin flight or with Air France, Delta or KLM when flying internationally. Gold members will continue to receive two vouchers.
Southwest Rapid Rewards
On April 16, Southwest announced a status extension for A-List and A-List Preferred members and companion passes. The company is also giving a points “boost” to all Rapid Rewards members.
“As we continue to navigate our way through this unprecedented time and deal with extraordinary challenges, we are committed to keeping you informed and updated on the steps we are taking to manage through the COVID-19 pandemic,” Southwest said in a message to Rapid Rewards members.
Status extension
Companion Pass Members who received an extension of their earned Companion Pass benefits through June 30, 2021, will have their benefits extended for another six months. Members will be able to keep their status through Dec. 31, 2021.
Other rewards
Southwest is giving all Rapid Rewards members with an account opened by Dec. 31, 2020, a âboostâ of 25,000 Companion Pass qualifying points and 25 flight credits toward Companion Pass status, as well as 15,000 tier qualifying points and 10 qualifying flight credits toward A-List and A-List Preferred.
Southwest cardholders can also spend their way all the way to A-List status, with no cap on tier qualifying points (TQPs) earned through card spend. Previously, cardholders could only earn up to 15,000 TQPs per year via card spend.
Additionally, travel funds created or expiring between March 1, 2020, and Sep. 7, 2020, will now expire on Sep. 7, 2022. Alternatively, Rapid Rewards members can convert those funds into Rapid Rewards points. According to Southwest, the conversion ratio is âthe same rate you would be able to purchase a ticket with points today.â
British Airways
On June 11, British Airways finally joined other airlines in extending the elite status for its members. Additionally, the carrier is reducing the number of tier points needed to reach a higher membership tier.
Status extension
British Airways is extending tier status by 12 months for members who have a tier point collection end date of July 2020, through to June 2021.
Lower status requirements
The carrier has also reduced the number of points needed to retain and upgrade a membership status by 25%.
Here are the new tier qualification thresholds:
Bronze: 225 Tier Points or 18 eligible flights
Silver: 450 Tier Points or 37 eligible flights
Gold: 1125 Tier Points
Cardholder benefits
Members who have earned heir Gold Upgrade Vouchers, Companion Vouchers and Travel Together Tickets with a British Airways credit card will get a 6-month expiration extension to any current vouchers.
CLEAR
CLEAR is a program that makes it quicker for travelers to get through airport security lanes by using biometrics for ID verification. Since many people are currently avoiding traveling due to the coronavirus outbreak, a CLEAR membership might not be useful at the moment.
Originally, CLEAR offered customers to pause their membership for three months. Now CLEAR is allowing members to request a three-month extension to their membership, which can be done by contacting the company directly. With customer service channels such as phone lines overloaded by requests, the fastest way to do so is via CLEARâs online chat. However, some users have reported experiencing difficulties finding the chat box on the website. Alternatively, you can reach CLEAR by text, email or phone.
TSA Precheck
TSA Precheck is a five-year membership that provides expedited security checks at select domestic airports in the U.S. At this time, TSA is planning to keep enrollment centers open while working to determine if any temporary closures are required. Some centers have been closed or changed hours.
If youâre planning to visit an enrollment center, itâs recommended that you schedule an appointment â as walk-ins may be deferred.
Visit TSAâs enrollment questions page for more information.
Global Entry
Global Entry, a program run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection that allows travelers to get expedited clearance through automatic kiosks when arriving in the U.S, has reopened its enrollment centers on Sept. 8, 2020. After a six-month hiatus, the program will finally allow conditionally approved Global Entry applicants to complete in-person interviews at most Trusted Traveler Programs enrollment centers in the U.S. The interviews must be scheduled in advance online, and their availability will vary by location.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak has also affected processing times for Global Entry renewals, CPB has increased the renewal grace period to 18 months. This means that if you apply for your Global Entry renewal before its expiration date, you’ll be able to use Global Entry for another 18 months.
As the coronavirus situation is unprecedented and changing rapidly every day, hotels and airlines continue to make updates to their travel policies, including their loyalty programs. Travelers should continue to check airline and hotel websites as the situation evolves. If they cannot find the information they need online, they should contact their hotel, airline or travel agencyâs customer service number.
Many rewards credit cards offer the opportunity to earn a sign-up bonus. Even some no-annual-fee credit cards offer them, allowing consumers to maximize cash back or points without paying every year for simply having the card.
The Apple Card only started offering a sign-up bonus in June, when Apple cardholders could earn $50 in Daily Cash after spending $50 at Walgreens. This was followed by offers in September, October and November, most recently including a $75 sign-up bonus after spending $75 at Nike in-store and online via Apple Pay.
And now through Jan. 31, new Apple Card holders can score a slightly lower sign-up bonus. You’ll get $50 in Daily Cash after you spend $50 or more on purchases with Exxon or Mobil.
See related: Apple Card: One year later
How to get the Apple Card sign-up bonus
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New Apple Card holders who open an account between Jan. 8 and Jan. 31, 2021 can earn $50 in Appleâs Daily Cash when they spend $50 using Apple Card with Apple Pay (where available) at Exxon and Mobil stations at the pump or at attached convenience stores in the U.S., within 30 days of the account opening. To pay at the pump with Apple Pay, you can use either the Exxon Mobil Rewards+ mobile app or contactless payment.
This month’s sign-up bonus from Apple is lower than its previous offer from Nike, but on par with the older offers from Walgreens and Panera Bread, both of which got you just $50 in Daily Cash back after a matching spend.
You can apply for the Apple Card from the Wallet app on your iPhone.
Should you apply for the Apple Card now?
If you have been considering applying for the Apple Card, it might be a good idea to do so this month, especially if you commute or drive often enough to spend $50 at gas stations in a month. While the card doesnât always come with a sign-up bonus, new cardholders currently have a great chance to earn one.
Besides that, the Apple Card offers 3% cash back on Apple purchases, as well as 3% cash back when you use Apple Pay for Walgreens, Nike and Uber and Uber Eats purchases and at T-Mobile stores. Other Apple Pay purchases will earn you 2% in cash back. When you use the physical card, the cash back rate goes down to 1%.
However, the Apple Card might not make sense for everyone. The earning rate is good on Apple purchases, but if youâre looking for a primary cash back card to add to your wallet, there might be better options.
For example, with the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express you can earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) and 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores. All other purchases will get you 1% in cash back.
Another alternative is the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, which earns you unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase and doesnât have an annual fee. Plus, you only need to spend $500 in the first three months with the card to earn its $200 sign-up bonus.
There are quite a few other cards to look into. Shop around before you decide to take advantage of Appleâs offer. The sign-up bonus alone shouldnât tempt you into signing up for a card that doesnât align with your spending.
See related:Â Apple card credit score requirements and reasons for denial
Final thoughts
If youâre an Apple enthusiast and have been looking into the Apple Card for some time, now might be a good time to apply. The new limited-time sign-up offer gives you an opportunity to earn an easy sign-up bonus â something the card doesnât normally have.
Each year, CreditCards.com asks the experts to predict what the credit card landscape will be like in the coming year.
Read industry gurusâ forecasts now and see what changes credit card issuers might have in store for 2021.
See related: Best credit cards of 2021
More flexibility in card offers
Steven Dashiell, credit cards expert for Finder, expects the exceptional welcome offers and expanded reward opportunities we saw throughout 2020 will continue into 2021.
âThese card adjustments were a response to evolving consumer spending habits during the pandemic and I foresee these spending habits lasting well through 2021,â Dashiell said.
Nishank Khanna, chief financial offer for Clarify Capital, noted that consumers are spending more on essential goods than discretionary items, so credit cards will likely offer more benefits for groceries and home goods.
âWe can expect to continue to see flexibility with card offers, with many card issuers providing cash back options and diverse opportunities for the cardholder to decide how she or he spends rewards,â Khanna said.
This move is especially important for consumers who are exploring the perks they can get as they battle the impact of lockdowns and travel restrictions.
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âBuy now, pay laterâ options will be more in demand
Given the current financial climate, consumers have gravitated toward alternative payment methods such as buy now, pay later options, said Imani Francies, a financial expert at USInsuranceAgents.com.
These services allow consumers to make large purchases by paying only a percentage of the total cart amount â they are then expected to make biweekly or bimonthly payments until the entirety of the purchase amount is paid off.
But Francies warned that if this way of paying becomes too addicting, people may start using credit cards to keep up with their payment plans, which could hurt their credit scores and transform the buy now, pay later option into a negative experience.
contactless payment technologies, said Vince Granziani, CEO of IDEX Biometrics.
For example, biometric fingerprint technology allows the user to make touchless payments via a fingerprint stored on a credit card that is safe, secure and unique to that individual.
The global demand for biometric technology in the payments industry is robust and will accelerate as business returns to a new normal in 2021 and beyond, Granziani predicted.
In 2021 and beyond, biometric smart cards will also become increasingly necessary to combat payment fraud. These cards prevent hackers from stealing your PIN or fingerprint data since itâs all stored directly on your card.
Therefore, if anyone were to steal or attempt using your card, they couldnât do it without your fingerprint to activate a transaction, Granziani said.
Biometric cards have multiple uses, capable of holding passports and driverâs licenses Ââ even library cards and travel passes â while holding your payment details all in one place, he added.
See related: Credit card scams in the time of coronavirus
Increased transparency will be the name of the game
Charles Tran, founder of CreditDonkey, forecast that credit card companies will offer increased transparency in 2021.
Transparency has always been a significant factor in the financial industry and itâs becoming an essential point of focus considering the tough times we are in, so credit cards will have to offer simplicity and utility to stand out.
âThis will include transparency in the reward systems, fewer hidden fees, complimentary credit score monitoring and easier rewards redemption,â Tran added.
See related: 2020 credit card fee survey â What happened to 0% balance transfer offers?
Issuers may get tougher on delinquent debtors
Adem Selita, CEO and co-founder of The Debt Relief Company, sees an unsettling trend happening with regard to cross-collateralization, a method lenders use to secure one type of loan with the collateral from another.
For example, if you bought a car from a credit union and didnât keep up with the payments, the credit union could repossess the car to satisfy your loan.
Selita believes credit card companies will become more aggressive regarding credit card defaults â depending on how the economy unfolds in the intermediate term â and even add features like collateralization to use consumersâ funds to pay their delinquent credit card bills.
In addition, Selita said, an updated law that goes into effect in 2021 will allow debt collectors to contact debtors via social media channels, text and voicemail.
And although they are not allowed to use social media to harass debtors, Selita said it still amounts to âessentially stalking consumers behind on their credit card bills and in default.â
2021 will be a comeback year for credit cards
There will still be some pain in terms of delinquencies and difficulty accessing credit, but 2021 will be a comeback year for credit cards, according to Ted Rossman, industry analyst for CreditCards.com.
The news of an effective COVID vaccine bodes well for a return to travel, dining and other discretionary spending that is so important for credit card companies.
But the improvement won’t be immediate or evenly distributed, Rossman warned.
Unfortunately, many consumers will fall behind on their payments, especially as stimulus and hardship programs wear off.
Many banks are expecting delinquencies to peak around mid-2021, although there’s still a fair amount of uncertainty around that.
This trend should keep a lid on 0% balance transfers and access to credit for people with lower credit scores, but the rebound will mean more competition for people with high credit scores and incomes, Rossman predicted.
âWe’re already seeing some of this with the recent Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card bonuses, and in 2021 I think we’ll see even hotter competition for the most creditworthy applicants.â he said.
Start your journey to financial freedom
Whatever might happen in the credit card industry in 2021, if you and manage your credit well you will stay financially healthy.
Spend wisely, avoid opening new credit you donât need, manage your existing debt and live within your means, and youâll be on the road to financial freedom.
See related: Overcoming hardships by embracing financial independence
Reader Alesia writes, âI disputed a collection account from 2016 on my credit report with all three bureaus. Two of them deleted the account. However, Experian did not and the creditor has updated the date of collection to November 2020. Does this mean it will now stay on my report until 2027? And why did the two delete it and not the other? I still dispute the account. What can be done in these situations?â
When you donât pay your credit card bill or loan payment on time, the creditor eventually declares it delinquent. And typically six months after the time you first stopped paying your dues, it will either write it off or send it to collections. If itâs the latter course of action, the delinquent account becomes a collection account.
Check out all the answers from our credit card experts.
Ask Poonkulali a question.
Each credit bureau has its own processes
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Alesia, the three credit bureaus â Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – are all independent of each other and have their own processes. Thatâs why you rightly disputed the collection account with all three of them individually.
Equifax, one of the three credit bureaus, advises in online commentary, âItâs important to remember that disputing information with one credit bureau may not impact information on credit reports from the other two bureaus. Also, dispute procedures may not be the same at all bureaus, so be sure to follow the procedure with the bureau where you’re filing a dispute.â
When you file a dispute with a credit bureau, the bureau will contact the creditor and ask it to look into the information and check its records. The creditor then has a 30-day time frame to respond to the credit bureau with accurate information. If the creditor does not respond by this deadline, the credit bureau can then act on any information the consumer has provided to update the account or remove it.
It may be that the creditor did not get back to Experian in time with the relevant information, and the credit bureau did not make any changes on your account. Or it may not have responded to all three of them in time, and each then acted on its own information (each has its own input on your credit history) and processes in dealing with the account. It could also be that the lender did not provide the same input to all three credit bureaus, for whatever reason.
Also note that the coronavirus pandemic has upset these dispute investigation timelines, and the CFPB has even said it will be lenient in allowing the stretching of this time frame somewhat for lenders and credit bureaus that are looking into disputes.
See related: A collection agency is pursuing me for an old debt I don’t recognize. What to do?
Date of first delinquency is whatâs important
Alesia, you report that the creditor updated the date of collection on the account with Experian to November 2020, whereas this collection account goes back to 2016. One important date related to delinquent accounts and collection accounts is the date of first delinquency.
This is the date on which the debt first went delinquent. The debt will be reported on your credit report for seven years after this date. In the case of a collection account, it will be on your credit report for seven years after it went into collection, which is typically six months after the date of first delinquency.
This means it will show on your credit report for up to seven-and-a-half years following the date of first delinquency. The creditorâs updating of the date of collection to November 2020 would mean there is a change to the date of last activity on the account. It does not change the actual date of first delinquency. So the debt will be reported through 2023 and not 2027.
See related: What should I do if my debt’s date of first delinquency is incorrectly reported?
You could initiate another dispute
The Fair Credit Reporting Act allows you to initiate a dispute with the credit reporting agency or the creditor that furnished the information to an agency if you donât agree with whatâs in your credit report. Alesia, you have gone through this process with all the credit bureaus, but you donât agree with the result provided by one credit bureau.
You should contact the collection agency that provided the input to Experian to find out how this happened and see if you can sort out the issue. If there is a mistake it agrees to rectify with the credit bureau, donât forget to get written input about the resolution for your records.
If that doesnât work, you have the option of filing another dispute with Experian, and also with the furnisher of the information. Make sure to provide any additional and relevant information that could boost your case, such as updated credit reports from the other two credit bureaus.
If you donât agree with the dispute resolution, you could also have a statement added to your credit report providing your account of the dispute.
Another course of action is to file a complaint with the CFPB, using its consumer complaint database. In case you donât get a desirable outcome after all this, you could even talk to a lawyer specializing in FCRA matters to get more detailed assistance on your particular situation.
Alesia, I hope the matter is ultimately resolved to your satisfaction!
