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FICO to incorporate buy-now-pay-later loans into credit scores

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21–30 of 690 posts

Re: FICO to incorporate buy-now-pay-later loans into credit scores

#21

Theoretically, credit should be used for one thing: to make more money. (not less) However, instead of using it to buy or construct a machine to triple what you can produce in an hour, the average person is using it to delay having to work that hour at all, in exchange for having to work an hour and six minutes sometime later. At some point, you run out of hours available and the house of cards collapses. i.e., credi…

I'm currently living off of investment gains from high interest consumer loans.

Re: FICO to incorporate buy-now-pay-later loans into credit scores

#22

Theoretically, credit should be used for one thing: to make more money. (not less) However, instead of using it to buy or construct a machine to triple what you can produce in an hour, the average person is using it to delay having to work that hour at all, in exchange for having to work an hour and six minutes sometime later. At some point, you run out of hours available and the house of cards collapses. i.e., credi…

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Re: FICO to incorporate buy-now-pay-later loans into credit scores

#24

Theoretically, credit should be used for one thing: to make more money. (not less) However, instead of using it to buy or construct a machine to triple what you can produce in an hour, the average person is using it to delay having to work that hour at all, in exchange for having to work an hour and six minutes sometime later. At some point, you run out of hours available and the house of cards collapses. i.e., credi…

For a lot of folks, credit is the only way they're surviving on something close to minimum wage. Or credit was the only "safety net" they had during a rough time. Almost none of these people have the kind of collateral needed to use credit to truly transform their lives, and the government assistance for that is seriously lacking in the US (SBA loans are terrible, and you need enough money to cover your own salary until your business gets up and running).

Re: FICO to incorporate buy-now-pay-later loans into credit scores

#25
post #6

This would probably only affect the people with the worst credit scores I imagine. I just don't see a ton of 800+ credit score people deciding to spend 5 payments of $20 for a pair of $80 shoes.

I always thought it was interesting that the BNPL loans’ interest is subsidized by the retailer, which pay the premium in order to improve the chance of a sale (hoping to hone in on those who can’t afford it now and make it back on that extra spend). Which means high credit score, wealthy spenders could put everything they can on BNPL plans and profit the (minuscule) interest over time, but if you can do that on big…

I’m not sure. I’m sophisticated enough to use BNPL and set aside the funds in a HYSA, but I never have as you miss out on: credit card rewards, credit card purchase protection, credit card extended warranties, credit card chargeback infrastructure. Additionally, I’ve seen BNPL offers where the first payment is in 2 weeks compared to 30-50 days for credit cards depending on when your statement closes and how soon you have to pay, so the extra interest is less than you might think. It could make sense for very large purchases, but then, that’s also where credit card features can really come in handy.

Re: FICO to incorporate buy-now-pay-later loans into credit scores

#26
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think that's a bit disingenuous. It's not always delaying work. There's only so much time and there are some people who cannot afford to live with the time in the day, the skillset they have, and the market conditions (both income and expenses). Your tone and word choice shows you don't understand the problem at all. If somebody can BNPL or otherwise credit lifesaving medicine (such as the many people in the USA wh…

Obviously there are edge cases. Debt can be a form of insurance for the individual. However, I stood in line behind someone who financed a bowl of noodles with afterpay, and it got me thinking. Those are the folks I'm talking about.

Sure, but could that not be an edge case? I'd imagine most people aren't sharing the sadder parts of their life. Or, is it possible they spent the rest of their money on everything more important? Could be argued they should cook at home but still.

Re: FICO to incorporate buy-now-pay-later loans into credit scores

#27
post #6

This would probably only affect the people with the worst credit scores I imagine. I just don't see a ton of 800+ credit score people deciding to spend 5 payments of $20 for a pair of $80 shoes.

Except it's 4 payments of $20. The whole selling point is that they're zero interest. It's CC float without the CC.

Re: FICO to incorporate buy-now-pay-later loans into credit scores

#28
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think that's a bit disingenuous. It's not always delaying work. There's only so much time and there are some people who cannot afford to live with the time in the day, the skillset they have, and the market conditions (both income and expenses). Your tone and word choice shows you don't understand the problem at all. If somebody can BNPL or otherwise credit lifesaving medicine (such as the many people in the USA wh…

Obviously there are edge cases. Debt can be a form of insurance for the individual. However, I stood in line behind someone who financed a bowl of noodles with afterpay, and it got me thinking. Those are the folks I'm talking about.

So you're using a single person you stood behind in a line for a massive generalization but calling one of the largest sources of consumer debt in the US an edge-case?

Neat.

Re: FICO to incorporate buy-now-pay-later loans into credit scores

#29
post #6

This would probably only affect the people with the worst credit scores I imagine. I just don't see a ton of 800+ credit score people deciding to spend 5 payments of $20 for a pair of $80 shoes.

I always thought it was interesting that the BNPL loans’ interest is subsidized by the retailer, which pay the premium in order to improve the chance of a sale (hoping to hone in on those who can’t afford it now and make it back on that extra spend). Which means high credit score, wealthy spenders could put everything they can on BNPL plans and profit the (minuscule) interest over time, but if you can do that on big…

This is a theory, but it flies directly in the face of reality which is that nearly every retailer on the planet would prefer more wealthy customers.

Re: FICO to incorporate buy-now-pay-later loans into credit scores

#30
post #6

This would probably only affect the people with the worst credit scores I imagine. I just don't see a ton of 800+ credit score people deciding to spend 5 payments of $20 for a pair of $80 shoes.

That would depend on the fees and interest, no?

I have so much extra money just laying around that I take unnecessary risks and add complexity to my financial life for kicks and giggles.
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