faq
How does the Ava Credit Builder Card work?
The Ava Credit Builder Card works like any other credit card but has built in features meant to help you spend responsibly and add credit history. With a credit limit of up to $2,500 and the ability to spend up to your spend limit on 60+ online merchants approved by Ava (e.g., Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime) or the Ava Store, we help improve your Credit Card Utilization5 which is a big part of your credit score. You can find the full list of Ava approved online merchants here: https://www.meetava.com/merchants.
We then report both your utilization and on time payments within 24 hours to the credit bureaus which again helps your credit score. It's that simple.
What is rent & utility reporting?
Rent & utility reporting lets you build credit by adding your recurring monthly bills (like rent, utilities, and phone service) to your credit report. Each bill is reported as a separate tradeline to TransUnion. Consistent on-time payments can help strengthen your credit profile, especially if you have limited credit history.
Why does Ava exist?
Ava is here to help you build credit history and save money on debt. The best way to tackle debt is to find the lowest cost of debt possible so you pay as little as necessary. We create a personalized step by step plan — first by helping you build (or rebuild) your credit history.
Does this cost extra?
No — Rent and utility reporting is fully included with your Ava membership, covering up to 24 months of eligible historical payments at no extra cost.
How does the Save & Build Credit Account work?
Ava's Save & Build Credit Account4 is the perfect way to build a nest egg AND your credit history. The Save & Build Credit Account is a secured loan where you simply pay $25 a month for 12 months. You get $300 at the end of the term. An origination fee to cover costs applies in some states9. When you commit to this program,7 we report each on-time loan payment to the credit bureaus to build your payment history.8
It's important that you make on time payments towards this secured loan. If you miss payments or stop payments before the term is over, we will have to report a missed payment to the credit bureaus which may hurt your credit score. Make sure you're ready to make the commitment.8
Is my bank information safe with Ava?
Yes. Ava can only view your transaction history to identify eligible payments like rent, utilities, and phone bills. Your bank login credentials are never shared with Ava—they are encrypted and secured by our trusted bank connection partner.
How do you handle data and security?
We never sell your data or save your banking login. All your personal information is kept safe with 256-bit encryption.
Which bills can I report?
You can report up to 5 qualified tradelines in total:
- Rent: For your primary residence (where you live most of the time)
- Utilities: Up to 3, including electric, gas, and water
- Phone Bill: 1 monthly mobile phone plan
What does Ava cost?
To cover our cost to serve you we charge a subscription fee of $8/month when you sign up for an annual plan. The month to month subscription fee is $10. Remember: a score of 700+ can save you over $2700 annually3. We have priced Ava to be fair and reasonable given the value we provide to you.
There are NO hidden fees or interest charges for the Ava Credit Builder Card. We all win when you have excellent credit, save money, and reach your financial goals. See Cardholder Agreement for full details.
For the Save & Build Credit Account, terms are subject to the Secured Loan Agreement. In some states, there’s an origination fee to cover costs, paid as $1/mo9. The loan itself has 0% interest and no other fees.
What if I have a mortgage?
If you have a mortgage, rent reporting isn’t available, but you can still report your utilities and phone bill.
Which Credit Bureaus do you report to?
We report to ALL three major bureaus (unlike most credit building products in the market). We report your file to TransUnion, Equifax and Experian within the first week of you joining Ava. You should see the Ava tradeline on your credit report within a week. Our goal is to help you add credit history as soon as possible. 74% of our members see a score improvement in 7 days or less1. We believe you should not have to wait months to start seeing results. That's why we are the only credit building app that reports daily instead of monthly.8
Which credit bureaus see my payments?
Right now, Ava reports your payments to TransUnion. Reporting to Experian and Equifax is coming soon.
How does Ava build credit and save money?
Ava's credit building features add to your credit history and can save you money on your loans and credit cards. With the Ava Credit Builder Card and the Save & Build Credit Account, we provide you with an efficient path to build your credit history while positively impacting your score in order to qualify for the lowest cost of debt you're entitled to. All you need to do is activate your Ava Credit Builder Card and/or Save & Build Credit Account, connect a valid and active bank account, and we automatically take care of monthly payments and report your good history to all three credit bureaus. Let our technology do the work so you don't have to.
Do you report late payments?
For rent, utility, and phone bills you choose to share with Ava, we only report on-time payments to help you build positive credit history.
Missed or late payments from these accounts are never reported.
If you have the Ava Credit Builder Card or Save & Build Credit Account, those follow normal credit reporting rules, which may include late payments.**
What is the Money Back Guarantee?
How does Ava’s Money Back Guarantee work?
If you don’t see Ava on your credit report within 30 days of subscribing, we’ll refund your subscription fee as long as your account remains active for at least 7 days after your subscription date. This ensures we have sufficient time to process and report your account accurately.
How to Request a Refund
Email your Money Back Guarantee request to support@meetava.com, and we’ll review and process your refund if you qualify under the terms below.
Eligibility
To qualify for the Money Back Guarantee:
- Your Ava account must have been active for at least 7 days from your subscription date.
- Ava must not appear on your credit report within 30 days of your subscription date.
- Your refund request must be submitted between day 31 and day 45 after your subscription date.
Requests made before day 31, after day 45, or for accounts canceled within the first 7 days of activation are not eligible for the Money Back Guarantee.
Processing
In your email, please include your account details. Once approved, we’ll process a full refund of your subscription fee.
If a refund is issued, your Ava account will be closed upon processing.
Additional Terms
- Accounts canceled within the first 7 days are subject to the early cancellation fee, which may be up to your monthly subscription price (minimum $9).
- Annual subscribers who cancel within 7 days are subject to a $29 early cancellation fee.
- The Money Back Guarantee applies only to the failure of Ava’s appearance on your credit report within 30 days of your subscription and not to other service disputes or cancellations.
What if I move?
If you’re moving, we recommend leaving your bill info as is in the app; it will naturally stop reporting after 90 days of inactivity. Once you start making payments at your new address, we’ll begin reporting again after three months of new payment history.
If you manually delete the tradeline in the Ava app, we won’t be able to restart reporting in the future. So the best thing to do is nothing; we’ll handle it for you.