ReadyForZero adds VantageScore 3.0 to personal debt management offering

COSTA MESA, Calif., Oct. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Experian^® today announced that ReadyForZero, a leading provider of financial tools that help consumers manage debt, track their credit and build wealth, is expanding its online consumer offering to include the VantageScore^® 3.0 credit score. With the addition of the credit scoring capability, ReadyForZero users now have a 360-degree view of their credit based on combined consumer data collected from credit accounts, collections, public records and credit inquiries.

"With the introduction of Experian credit data and VantageScore 3.0, our customers can now manage their debt and credit all from a single interface," said Rod Ebrahimi, CEO of ReadyForZero. "No other service allows customers to track and take action in this way. Partnering with Experian reaffirms our commitment to becoming the most trusted provider of financial tools for avoiding challenging financial situations and building wealth automatically."

A recent study conducted in part by a top U.S.-based bank concluded that ReadyForZero users were 20 percent less likely to be delinquent than nonusers in a control group.

"We are pleased to improve upon ReadyForZero's award-winning financial tools that have helped Americans pay down more than $100 million in debt," said Lloyd Parker, group president of Experian Credit Services. "In today's dynamic economic environment, having clear and accurate visibility into one's credit history is critical to increasing their purchasing power. The VantageScore model's easy-to-understand explanation of a consumer's credit rating and the factors that contribute to it make it a natural extension of ReadyForZero's unique online consumer debt management offering."

Consumers have acknowledged the value of receiving their VantageScore credit score as part of the ReadyForZero platform to give them additional insight into how managing their debt can have an impact on their credit score.

"As we all know, paying off debt in a timely fashion has benefits beyond lowering your account balances. It leads to less financial stress, more discretionary income and importantly, an improved credit score," said Michael DiCillo, a ReadyForZero user from Ohio. "Just like the rest of ReadyForZero's already seamless and functional site, the addition of my VantageScore credit score provides me with greater control over my financial health."

VantageScore 3.0 was developed to reflect the ever-changing borrowing behaviors, debt levels and mix of credit accounts of consumers nationwide. It offers consumers a familiar, easy-to-understand credit rating between 300 and 850, with higher scores meaning lower risk for lenders and better credit terms for consumers. And because VantageScore requires less credit history to calculate a score, it is now possible for an estimated 35 million more consumers to have access to credit.

Experian has more than 2,000 clients in a variety of industries using VantageScore. Visit our Website for more information about the VantageScore model.

About ReadyForZero
ReadyForZero is a San Francisco based technology company that creates financial tools for the more than 100 million Americans who carry personal debt. ReadyForZero's online and mobile tools allow users to create personalized debt repayment plans using real-time financial data, make one-time or recurring payments, and track progress on financial goals automatically. ReadyForZero is backed by prominent investors including Polaris Venture Partners and Citi Ventures.

About Experian
Experian is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients around the world. The Group helps businesses to manage credit risk, prevent fraud, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft.

Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended March 31, 2013, was US$4.7 billion. Experian employs approximately 17,000 people in 40 countries and has its corporate headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, with operational headquarters in Nottingham, UK; California, US; and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com.

Experian and the Experian marks used herein are service marks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

VantageScore^® is a registered trademark of VantageScore Solutions, LLC.

Contact:

Susan Henson
Experian Public Relations
1 714 830 5129
[email protected]

SOURCE Experian