Friday, Jul 24, 2026 The claims desk. Receipts included. POWERED BY LENZ ↗
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FINANCE

The Claim

Buy Now, Pay Later services do not affect a consumer's credit score.

Verified by Lenz ·

The Short Version

This claim is false. While many BNPL providers historically did not report to credit bureaus, the landscape has changed significantly. As of 2025, major providers like Affirm report all transactions to Experian, FICO has announced plans to incorporate BNPL data into credit scores, and New York State now requires BNPL lenders to disclose whether they report to bureaus. Missed BNPL payments can also reach credit reports through collections. The absolute statement that BNPL "does not affect" credit scores is not supported by current evidence.

Caveats

  • The claim uses absolute language ('do not affect') that is contradicted by multiple credible sources showing BNPL can and does affect credit scores when reported to bureaus.
  • The BNPL credit-reporting landscape is rapidly evolving: FICO announced BNPL integration in June 2025, and major providers have expanded bureau reporting — older generalizations may be outdated.
  • Even if a BNPL provider doesn't directly report, delinquent accounts can still reach credit reports through debt collection agencies, potentially harming your score.

The Receipts

  1. BNPL Services Expand Steadily But Pose Moderate Systemic Risks : Research

    Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

  2. How Buy Now, Pay Later can affect your credit score: What consumers need to know

    vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com

  3. Buy now, pay later loans will now affect US credit scores – what does that mean for consumers? - The Guardian

    The Guardian

  4. Governor Hochul Announces New Nation-Leading Regulation to Establish Comprehensive Consumer Protections for Buy Now, Pay Later Loans

    New York State Department of Financial Services

  5. Your "buy now, pay later" purchases likely won't factor ... - CBS News

    CBS News

  6. Does Buy Now, Pay Later affect credit scores? It will soon | Empower

    Empower

  7. Buy Now Pay Later and Your Credit Score: What the 2025 Changes ...

    Bank of Hawaii (boh.com)

  8. People deserve credit for managing their money responsibly | Affirm Holdings, Inc.

    Affirm Holdings, Inc.

  9. Affirm, other BNPL players ratchet up credit bureau reporting | Payments Dive

    Payments Dive

  10. Your buy now, pay later habits may soon change your credit score - YouTube

    YouTube

+ 6 more sources — see the full list on Lenz

Filed Under

Buy Now, Pay Later servicescredit score