Why Credit Washing is a Major Threat to Auto Lenders, and What to do About it | Lightico (2024)

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By Leor Melamedov

Why Credit Washing is a Major Threat to Auto Lenders, and What to do About it | Lightico (1)

Why Credit Washing is a Major Threat to Auto Lenders, and What to do About it | Lightico (2)

Auto fraud is running rampant in the auto lending industry. While there is no end to the types of deceitful schemes fraudsters are cooking up, Auto Finance News reports that the number one concern of auto lenders is the dramatic increase in credit washing.For the uninitiated, credit washing is the practice by which unscrupulous individuals approach creditors with false claims of identity theft. This allows them to “wash” the negative claims off their record and take out car loans at rates they aren’t qualified for. Inevitably they end up defaulting on the loan, leaving lenders stuck with the balance.Adding new documentation requirements that are unconnected to credit reports can help lenders detect discrepancies that point to credit washing. Yet with customers increasingly losing patience for physical paperwork and time-consuming processes, the market is ripe for a total digitization of the loan application system. This will allow lenders to benefit from both increased turnaround times, decreased loan abandonment, and of course, lower incidents of credit washing and other schemes.

Why Credit Washing is a Major Threat to Auto Lenders, and What to do About it | Lightico (3)

Credit washing is hurting lenders and growing by the year

As with other types of fraud, individuals who engage in credit washing generally fall into two categories. There are those who simply can’t or refuse to wait for their bad credit history to clear after a period of seven years, and want to buy a car now –– without paying a hefty subprime interest loan rate that can reach up to 18% or beyond. Such individuals are breaking the law, but usually are happy to get a regular car (that they will likely default on).Then there is another category of credit washing, perpetuated by sophisticated fraudsters who repeatedly engage in this process at a larger scale with the goal of making a profit.These criminals cry wolf over identity theft, get a boost in credit score when the trade line is temporarily removed from their credit history, and go on to buy luxury cars that they sell right away for a significant profit, since they have no intention of ever repaying the loan. By the time the lender resolves the dispute, the damage is done.According to Ankush Tewari, vice president of credit risk strategy at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, “Once you’ve booked the loan and the consumer has the car, now it’s just a matter of time before someone who fraudulently obtained that car is going to default,” saidUnfortunately, suspected credit washing has ballooned in recent years. Since 2018, the rate of credit washing attempts has increased by a whopping 500%. Some lenders are even reporting that up to 98% of the identity theft claims they receive are “frivolous and unsubstantiated.”

How to prevent credit washed loan applications from going through

The biggest challenge that auto lenders face when it comes to credit washing is that while the claims of “identity theft” are being investigated, the negative information is temporarily lifted from the borrower’s credit report. This boosts the credit score long enough for the credit washing scheme to go through undetected.Therefore, lenders need to look at more than just credit history during the loan application process. Proof of income, educational attainment, and utility bills are just some of the additional sources of documentation that can reveal important discrepancies.Lenders are also recommended to share fraud data among themselves in a common repository, allowing repeat offenders to be caught.Adding additional documentation requirements may be the most surefire way for auto lenders to prevent credit washing from affecting them. But lenders must be aware that excessive paperwork is likely to slow down the entire loan application cycle, and increase the probability of lenders abandoning it in frustration. In fact, a Lightico survey found that customers who wait longer than 48 hours to complete a loan application are 2x as likely to abandon the process.A completely mobile online loan application can bypass all of these issues by allowing borrowers to upload and fill out documents, forms, and ID onto a secure mobile environment that takes care of all the ID verification via AI and geopositioning. With the click of a text message link (not an app), customers can easily provide all the documentation lenders require, with zero physical touch points or paperwork required.

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Why Credit Washing is a Major Threat to Auto Lenders, and What to do About it | Lightico (2024)

FAQs

What is information that creditors ask from the applicant when they apply for credit? ›

Lenders need to determine whether you can comfortably afford your payments. Your income and employment history are good indicators of your ability to repay outstanding debt. Income amount, stability, and type of income may all be considered.

How is one's creditworthiness determined? ›

To evaluate your creditworthiness, lenders typically look for proof that your income will enable you to cover your loan payments, and evidence that you pay your bills and can manage debt responsibly.

What are some factors that influence a person's credit rating of their ability to get credit? ›

Payment history, debt-to-credit ratio, length of credit history, new credit, and the amount of credit you have all play a role in your credit report and credit score.

Why is debt and credit a bad idea? ›

How could they negatively affect your life? debt and credit are a bad idea because you will be constantly be paying back money you owe. It can cause a lot of stress in your life if you cannot make the payments. If you cannot pay for it in cash, don't buy it at all to avoid debt and credit.

How does a lender determine a person's credit risk? ›

To assess credit risk, lenders gather information on a range of factors, including the current and past financial circ*mstances of the prospective borrower and the nature and value of the property serving as loan collateral.

Is it true that it is legal for a creditor to deny an applicant credit based on marital status or age? ›

A creditor shall not refuse to grant an individual account to a creditworthy applicant on the basis of sex, marital status, or any other prohibited basis.

What are the three C's of credit? ›

Examining the C's of Credit

For example, when it comes to actually applying for credit, the “three C's” of credit – capital, capacity, and character – are crucial.

What is proof of creditworthiness? ›

Understanding Creditworthiness

Lenders periodically review different factors: your overall credit report, credit score, and payment history. Your creditworthiness is also measured by your credit score, which is a three-digit number based on factors in your credit report.

What is the most popular credit score? ›

While FICO Score 8 is the most common, mortgage lenders might use FICO Score 2, 4 or 5. Auto lenders often use one of the FICO Auto Scores. And credit card lenders can use the FICO Bankcard Scores.

What hurts credit score the most? ›

1. Payment History: 35% Making debt payments on time every month benefits your credit scores more than any other single factor—and just one payment made 30 days late can do significant harm to your scores. An account sent to collections, a foreclosure or a bankruptcy can have even deeper, longer-lasting consequences.

What is an excellent credit score? ›

Excellent (800 to 850): Lenders generally view these borrowers as less risky. As a result, individuals in this range may have an easier time being approved for new credit. Very good (740 to 799): Very good credit scores reflect frequent positive credit behaviors. Lenders are likely to approve borrowers in this range.

What is the average credit score? ›

Credit scores help lenders decide whether to grant you credit. The average credit score in the United States is 705, based on VantageScore® data from March 2024.

What are the top 3 careers reported among millionaires? ›

Dave Ramsey on X: "Top 5 Careers of Millionaires: 1. Engineer 2. Accountant (CPA) 3. Teacher 4.

What is the only place you should keep your emergency fund money? ›

Bank or credit union account — If you have an account with a bank or credit union—generally considered one of the safest places to put your money—it might make sense to have a dedicated account where you can keep and maintain these funds.

What debt should you avoid? ›

High-interest loans -- which could include payday loans or unsecured personal loans -- can be considered bad debt, as the high interest payments can be difficult for the borrower to pay back, often putting them in a worse financial situation.

What information do creditors ask from an applicant when applying for a credit card? ›

For example, the issuer may want to know how long you have been at your current address, whether you own or rent your home and how much you pay monthly for your housing. It may also ask about your current employer, main source of income and any assets you may have.

What is information that creditors ask from the applicant when they apply for a credit card Quizlet? ›

A creditor may ask several questions about your income and expenses, such as: What is your job and how much is your salary? Do you have other sources of income? What are your current debts?

What information can a creditor ask you for? ›

Personal information legitimate debt collectors may request

Your full name. Date of birth. Last four digits of your Social Security number. Past and/or current address.

What information is asked for on a credit application? ›

An issuer is likely to consider your debt-to-income ratio, but you won't be expected to provide a list of every single debt or creditor you have. However, some may ask whether you rent or own your home and specifically about your ​​monthly rent or mortgage payment. Demographic information.

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