rewrite this title What Is the Clarity Services 'Alternative' Credit Bureau? – NerdWallet

Clarity Services gathers data on near-prime and subprime consumers — which generally would include those with FICO scores of 659 or lower — and consumers with limited or no credit history. Clarity uses this data to create its credit reports, which are regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

According to an October 2025 Federal Reserve Board publication on how alternative data can expand access to credit, around 32 million American adults lack traditional credit scores because they have limited or no credit history with credit reporting agencies.

Clarity’s aim is to improve financial access for consumers who lack the types of accounts that appear on credit reports, like mortgages, credit cards and personal loans. Experian, one of the major U.S. credit bureaus, acquired Clarity in October 2017.

Clarity’s data indicates when consumers use alternative financial services, including check-cashing outlets, money orders, car title lenders, payday loan stores, pawnshops, rent-to-own stores and prepaid cards. Alternative credit data also includes other sources of information, such as cash flow, rental payments and verified income.

Lenders can opt to use Clarity’s data in addition to the traditional credit reports they typically use when evaluating applications for credit cards and loans. When this data is factored into a lender’s decision making, it can give them a fuller picture of an applicant’s financial background, potentially improving their odds of qualifying for loan products.

If you’ve used alternative financial services through providers that report payment information to Clarity, then you may have a Clarity credit report. You can request your Clarity credit report and score online, by mail or by calling (866) 390-3118.

Clarity’s credit score isn’t like a traditional credit score, such as one calculated by FICO, VantageScore or one of the major credit bureaus. But you can access your score for educational purposes, which can be a helpful starting point if you’re establishing or rebuilding credit. Lenders can also access that score, along with other financial information about you.

Note that not all lenders use Clarity’s data, so your eligibility for loan products is never guaranteed.