How to Refresh Credit Score on Transunion

By Trev Gami •  Updated: 01/28/24 •  6 min read

If you intend to apply for a mortgage or auto loan, you may be curious about knowing your credit score since it is used by lenders as a yardstick to measure one’s financial health and creditworthiness. Therefore, you may be compelled to check your credit score regularly to see your current status. Credit scores often refresh at different times, so you might miss some updates. To ensure that you do not miss any update that can affect your credit score, you can refresh it on TransUnion. Here are the guidelines on how to refresh your credit score on TransUnion. 

- ADVERTISEMENT -

How to Refresh Credit Score on Transunion

You can refresh your credit score on TransUnion daily on TransUnion. To do this, you must have a TransUnion account, so you need to log in first. Once you access 2your account, you should navigate the site and identify the “Refresh” option. This will give you the latest updates about your credit score. 

How Often Does Transunion Update Credit Score?

TransUnion updates its credit scores at least once a month or after every 45 days. As the information on credit reports is updated continually, credit scores may go down or up. However, things that can affect your credit score include bill payments, new balance amounts, or account openings. Therefore, the right time to check your credit score may be around month end when you settle your accounts. 

If a creditor sends new details to TransUnion, your score may refresh. The same information may refresh at some point at other credit bureaus. This will lead to variations in your credit score, so you may need to stick to TransUnion to avoid confusion. These credit bureaus get information about clients at different times.  

Will My Credit Score Go Down if I Check It on Transunion?

No, your credit score will not go down when you check it on TransUnion. Your credit score check on TransUnion is known as a “soft inquiry”, and it does not impact your credit score or credit report. You can check your score as many times as you want, and it won’t be affected. Before you apply for a loan, you must check your credit score. 

However, you should be careful to avoid several loan applications within a short period. The lender will first check your credit report to determine your creditworthiness. This is known as “hard inquiry”, and it negatively affects your credit score. Instead, you should do some research first to identify a lender with the best deal before applying to avoid hard inquiries.  

Why Is My Credit Score Going Down Even If I Pay Everything on Time?

In some cases, your credit score may keep going down even when you pay everything on time. This can be caused by different factors. For instance, identity theft can cause this problem. If someone unlawfully obtains your identity details and uses them to open a credit line without your knowledge, your credit score will suffer. Even when you pay all your bills on time, your credit score will constantly drop due to unpaid accounts in your name, which you are not aware of. In some cases, this can be a result of mistaken identities where identical names are mixed, so you end up being assigned an account that belongs to someone. 

- ADVERTISEMENT -

It is recommended that you constantly check your credit report for any fraudulent activities that may be taking place on your account behind your back. Once you identify something suspicious on your account, quickly notify your credit bureau to have the issue rectified. 

High credit utilization can also lead to a reduction of your credit score even when you pay your bills on time. It is important to stick to your credit limit on all cards. Never spend more than 30% of your credit limit since this will lead to a decline in your credit score. Scaling down your credit utilization is one way of maintaining a healthy credit score. Additionally, pay off all your credit card balances before the next billing cycle.

You can miss a payment as a result of high credit utilization, and this will negatively impact your credit score. Unfortunately, late payments will stay on your credit report for five to seven years. To avoid this, you should not wait until the last minute to pay your bills. You also need to pay more than the minimum balance per month to stay on top of your credit.  

Applying for several credits in a short period can impact your credit score. Lenders will make hard inquiries on your account which affects your credit score. Even when you pay all your bills, a hard inquiry will negatively impact your credit score. Furthermore, multiple credit applications are often associated with higher risk. The lender will view you as someone incapable of repaying their loans. Therefore, make sure you only apply for a loan when you are satisfied with the deal offered to safeguard your credit score. 

There might also be a default judgment on your account you may not be aware of. This includes information obtained from public records like settlement orders of lawsuits. For example, if a summon letter is sent to you but you never receive it, you will never know about the lawsuit. Unfortunately, it will appear on your credit card and impact your credit score. It is vital to check your credit report regularly to avoid such issues. If you disagree with the judgment on your report, you can dispute it. 

TransUnion allows clients to check their credit scores anytime. These scores are updated once a month or after 45 days. Before you apply for a loan, you need to check your credit score to see if it is strong enough to guarantee the loan you want. TransUnion offers a facility that allows customers to refresh their scores. The information obtained from lenders is updated at different times, so the refresh option allows clients to access the latest updates about their credit reports and scores.  

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Keep Reading

How To Apply For A Credit Card With Low Credit Ratings

How To Apply For A Credit Card With Low Credit Ratings

Here is a detailed walkthrough showing you how to navigate the gold card landscape with a low score.

Guide to Understanding Credit Scores and Score Ranges

Guide to Understanding Credit Scores and Score Ranges

Guide to Understanding Credit Scores and Score Ranges. Today we are breaking down the basics of credit scores and how they are evaluated. 

What Are the Experian Credit Score Ranges?

What Are the Experian Credit Score Ranges?

This article is written about Experian, which happens to be among the largest and most popular credit bureaus in South Africa.

When to Perform a Credit Check in South Africa

When to Perform a Credit Check in South Africa

Today, we will unpack some of the mystery around credit scores, when (and how) to check your own

How To Add Employment Status On Credit Report

How To Add Employment Status On Credit Report

How To Add Employment Status On Credit Report. We are here to guide you through everything today, so let’s get started.

How to Buy A Car With A Low Credit Score

How to Buy A Car With A Low Credit Score

While you are here let us find out more about how to buy a car with a low credit score. Although it is not impossible, the question lies within the process.

How Does Your Credit Card Impact A Credit Score?

How Does Your Credit Card Impact A Credit Score?

How to Maintain A Good Credit Score

How to Maintain A Good Credit Score

On the contrary, we will take you through how to maintain a good credit score, the need to maintain the credit score and some of the things that can affect your credit score.

How To Raise Credit Score In South Africa

How To Raise Credit Score In South Africa

In this writing, we'll go over how to boost your credit score in South Africa and why it's a pivotal step.

How to Update Credit Score Information

How to Update Credit Score Information

You may calculate your credit score by looking at your credit history, which includes details such as the number of accounts you have

Understanding Credit Searches: Hard And Soft Credit Checks

Understanding Credit Searches: Hard And Soft Credit Checks

We will touch on how you can avoid unnecessary credit searches that can negatively impact your score.

How to Enhance Your Credit Score After Debt Counseling

How to Enhance Your Credit Score After Debt Counseling

Don’t lose hope! You can still take steps to rehabilitate your credit and get yourself to a better place financially. 

What Credit Score Secures the Best Mortgage Rate?

What Credit Score Secures the Best Mortgage Rate?

Are you wondering about the score for the best mortgage rate in South Africa or how to boost your score before applying? Remain tuned for insightful tricks and info.

How to Get Your Free Experian Credit Score

How to Get Your Free Experian Credit Score

We’re here today to walk you through how to get your free Experian credit score the easy (and safe) way. 

Does Rent To Own Have A Credit Check In South Africa?

Does Rent To Own Have A Credit Check In South Africa?

It's a whole new proposition in its sense and a step toward owning for customers who are on their way to building credit or saving for a down payment.