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Credit Karma Credit Loan Blog Review | United Medical Credit

Medical Financing

United Medical Credit is pleased to have recently been profiled by Credit Karma!

Recently, UMC received a loan review from CreditKarma.com! We’re very happy about this because Credit Karma has become one of the best-known sites in the finance and credit world.

 

United Medical Credit has served patients just like you for years by connecting you with top lenders to obtain the personalized loan which best meets your needs. 

 

Our lender network works to help you get the money you need for healthcare expenses and a way to improve your credit scores without needing to consult a mortgage lender or using your credit card.

Group picture of the 9 members of the United Credit team.

A Note About Credit Karma

Credit Karma has become one of the best-known credit management sources in the industry and is best known for allowing you to get a “big picture” view of your actual credit history and monitoring your credit score through the major bureaus like Equifax and Transunion.

Credit Karma review highlights include issuers of personal and business credit cards, lenders, banks, and brokerages like United Medical Credit to give an unbiased opinion. Some examples include Chase Sapphire Preferred, the Red Card from American Express, and more. Reviewers must follow strict criteria, and many people across the country find Credit Karma’s reviews to be indispensable tools for tracking your credit scores and deciding whether to proceed with a loan.

Green United Medical Credit logo with the medical staff of Aesculapius symbol.

About United Medical Credit

UMC is not a direct lender, as the Credit Karma reviewer noted. UMC works on a brokerage model like the one many life and automobile insurance agents use. This means we allow you to shop around for the best deal with one easy application because we work with several of the major lenders in the medical loan industry.

You fill out one application for between $1,000 and $35,000 and get competitive offers based on your needs and financial history, allowing you to choose the best credit option for your financial situation and needs while building credit. 

You can use the money for just about any medical-related need. While we do not and cannot guarantee that everyone who applies will qualify for a specific loan amount, rate, or terms, our lenders have financed many people in the past who did not qualify for funding through other means.

Will Working with UMC Affect My Credit Score?

When you fill out an application with United Medical Credit to prequalify, we run what is known as a “soft inquiry,” also known as a “soft credit check” or “soft pull” on your credit file to get your overall FICO credit score.

A soft inquiry does not impact credit scores! 

Soft inquiries are called this because they are not linked to a specific loan application, but rather evaluate your overall credit scoring, such as when you or a potential employer goes to see your credit score.

However, when a specific lender accesses your credit history in the interest of making you an offer, they will do what is known as a “hard inquiry,” also called a “hard pull” or “hard credit check” against your FICO scores. These check your credit in a far more detailed and comprehensive manner and can remain in your credit file for up to two years or more.

Items hard credit checks look at may include, among other things:  

  • Overall standing of any open accounts you have, including bank savings and checking account status
  • Your payment history
  • Collection activity
  • Federal and private student loans
  • Auto loan balance, if any
  • Home and auto loan refinance
  • Mortgage rates you’re currently paying
  • Business loans or business credit cards taken out in your name
  • Personal payment history
  • Evidence of identity theft, such as sudden multiple requests by individual credit card companies for high-end travel credit cards and loans
  • Negative information such as bad debt which leads to poor credit

These items and more are put together in what are known collectively as a “Vantage score,” which is what most people mean when they talk about the results of credit scores and credit reports. The Vantage score is used for telling lenders whether a given applicant is a “good risk” or a “bad risk” and which interest rates and products they qualify for.

Why Can’t UMC Tell Me What Loans I Qualify for Up Front?

This is one of the most common questions we receive. Everyone’s financial history is a little different. Some people have excellent credit, a high “good debt” ratio, and plenty of personal capital. This is typically a good sign that they have the ability to pay their bills on time and make finance payments of well over the minimum balance.

Others may be struggling to pay their car insurance and car loan or have to rely on financing methods such as balance transfer credit cards to make ends meet, which could indicate these people represent a higher risk to the lender.

Because our third-party lender network each has different criteria, requirements, and data points for evaluating scores and credit debt risk within each individual product, you may qualify for a higher loan amount with a better interest rate with one lender than another. 

UMC charges nothing to pre-apply and you are under no obligation to accept any offers you receive. Our strict privacy policy, 128-bit encryption and information security protocols ensure no third parties can see your personal financial information.

Keep reading the FAQs below to learn more about how United Medical Credit can help you find the perfect loan for your healthcare needs–and how a Credit Karma review of your credit situation can help before you get started.

Frequently Asked Questions About Applying With United Medical Credit

Above what actual credit score can I qualify for the best overall personal loan with UMC?

Part of the answer depends on which scale is used to check credit scores.

FICO, which was invented by the Fair Isaac Corporation from which it takes its name, uses a scale from 300-850. In FICO terms, a credit score of 800+ is exceptional, while 740-799 is considered “very good.” 670-739 is “good,” 580-669 is “fair,” and 300-579 is “very poor.”

VantageScores, which were the result of a collaborative effort by Experian, Transunion, and Equifax, the three major credit reporting bureaus, use the same numbers, but the cutoffs for each credit bracket are different. “Excellent” runs from 750-850, “good” runs from 700-749, “fair” covers 650-699, “poor” includes the range from 550-649, and anything below 550 is considered “very poor.”

In addition, under the Vantage system, some late payments, such as mortgages, can have a disproportionate impact on your credit rating. Because of this, it’s entirely possible to have a higher FICO score than Vantage, or vice versa, and still have less than exceptional credit. A lender may choose to use FICO, Vantage, a combination of the two, or a modified, proprietary credit ranking tool for internal use in evaluating the creditworthiness of accounts.

Lenders may choose to accept borrowers with poor credit with cosigners, who can demonstrate they have collateral, or who qualify for special incentives such as “second-chance” financing programs. Because of this, it’s nearly impossible to say absolutely which rates and loan packages you can qualify for, although on average, the best credit ratings get the best credit offers. Whether you’re a credit hero or just starting the long road to financial recovery, United Medical Credit can offer the most competitive range of options for your specific situation.

When UMC checks credit reports, what are they looking for? Do they really have to do a credit check?

Using a credit check to decide on loan eligibility is considered the fairest way to evaluate borrowers. Lenders check your credit reports as a method of determining whether you are a good risk for loans, based on your payment history, average account balance, credit card balances, and whether you’re still paying off college, an automobile loan, or have outstanding loans and payments unique to homeowners such as mortgages.

But your credit rating can also influence decisions such as your auto insurance or life insurance rates. Even though most insurance carriers don’t like to advertise this fact, and your credit report may or may not have any serious bearing on your rate, it is still often considered as a factor in many situations you might not expect, such as whether you can get certain kinds of jobs or qualify to rent a certain apartment.

Many, if not most, situations in which your credit score may be used as a criterion for or against you are subject to disclosure, and some states, such as California, do not allow credit checks to impact consideration for most jobs.

When it comes to getting a loan for medical expenses, the information a credit reporting agency has on you may affect your perceived ability to pay in ways you didn’t expect, but a credit check is necessary to help you get the best possible loan and interest rate for your needs and overall financial situation.

Should I check my credit score on Credit Karma before I apply for a loan through UMC?

There’s no risk to credit score to find out if you prequalify with United Medical Credit, so if you’re looking for financing, we encourage you to apply and find out your monthly payment options.

There are several useful online financial tools for monitoring credit score, including Credit Karma’s free credit monitoring, FreeCreditReport.com, Quicken, or other services. These can be helpful both to give you a “big picture” overview of your credit score and to help you identify negative information in the contents of your credit report which may have a disproportionate impact on your credit rating.

In addition, they give you and your financial advisor a basis for comparison to figure out what you’ve got to do to your credit score and confirm or contest the validity of information in your file, so you can tell the credit bureaus your score is in error and needs to be revisited.

How do I know UMC will keep my information safe and ensure my privacy and security?

Credit checking tools have become more powerful and prevalent than ever before, as more people become aware of the fact that their credit scores can have on their lives.

United Medical Credit take a great deal of pride in the security and privacy of our systems. Our simple, easy-to-use dashboard and 128-bit encryption follow the most stringent HIPAA requirements, preserving the integrity and privacy of your information well beyond industry standards.

Anyone in our lender network may review your application for review purposes, but if they don’t offer you a loan or you don’t accept, they will not keep your information on file, adding an extra layer of protection.

If I had negative information in my account and credit history that hasn’t been updated and is hurting my score, what should I do?

Many people look to credit scores as the end-all/be-all of financial health and believe once something is on your credit, it is there forever. This is not always the case. Even bankruptcy, which has one of the longest shelf lives of any kind of debt, drops off after seven years.

However, this is not always true in practice. Faulty computer programming, erroneous coding, and other technical issues can lead to “phantom debt” or “zombie debt” showing up on your credit report years after the issue should have been resolved.

If you find information on your credit report that is no longer accurate, each of the major credit reporting bureaus and all major banks have procedures you can follow to report errors, omissions, or factual problems with your credit statement. In some cases, your credit report will have a table of contents that tells you exactly where to find this information, so you can get to it quickly.

The Beginner’s Guide to Credit Scores from Equifax is a useful starting point to learn more about these errors and having them corrected. Although not completely foolproof, the ability to report errors to credit bureaus and banks does mean in most cases they should be able to do something on that, to help ensure your credit score is as accurate and up to date as possible.

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Jessica Payan

VP of Human Resources

As a certified Professional in HR (PHR), Jessica brings 10 years of HR experience to the United Credit team. She is responsible for managing the strategy and processes related to building and retaining an exceptional team of professionals. Jessica is passionate about supporting each employee to be their most successful and exemplifies our core values daily.

Aaron Mishkin

Controller

As Controller, Aaron manages the income and expenses of the Company and the incoming and outgoing loan funds with the utmost integrity. He is a lifelong learner with multiple degrees and certifications to his name and 25 years of working in financial services. Aaron’s reason behind being a part of the United Credit team is to make a difference in the Company and to his coworkers, our partners, and our customers.

Jorge Lazaro

VP of IT

Jorge works closely with cross-functional partners throughout the business to develop virtual experiences and oversees the IT team that keeps our platforms running smoothly. His goal is to provide an optimistic approach to the challenges we face while supporting our staff and partners with respect. With over 6 years of working for United Credit, Jorge brings a wealth of knowledge about our history and computer engineering.

Brett Walisever

VP of Strategic Accounts

Brett spearheads our business sales growth by identifying and supporting new merchants in partnering with United Credit. He has 10+ years of sales, contract negotiation, and market strategy experience that he brings to each new merchant and our team. His desire is to support the growth of United Credit and the merchants we serve through respect and collaboration.

Andria Sullivan

Chief Experience Officer

Andria is a seasoned leader with over 10 years of experience in providing world-class customer service and directing consumer finance processes. She oversees the tracking, reporting, and achievement of our company goals, long and short-term projects, and special initiatives. Andria is service-minded when it comes to collaborating internally and externally, and it shines through in every interaction.

Nate Moster

Chief Sales and Marketing Officer

As Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Nate expertly drives revenue growth for United Credit by leading sales and marketing strategies across all channels. With over 20 years of experience working with global brands in various industries, Nate has a proven track record of boosting sales, expanding market share, and building strong relationships. His unique ‘right-brain + left-brain’ approach combines business acumen and strategic thinking with striking creative execution, ensuring United Credit’s sales and marketing efforts consistently deliver results for continued success.

Matthew Libman

Founder & President

Matthew is the President and Founder of United Credit. Matt founded fintech company United Medical Credit in 2011 to connect consumers and businesses with an array of experienced, innovative financing solutions. In 2022, the company grew and became United Credit, fueling an expansion into retail markets while retaining its expertise in specialty healthcare.

Since its founding, Matt has provided leadership for all aspects of the Company, emphasizing long-term growth while ensuring United Credit delivers value to its consumers, merchants, and business partners. The Company has risen in the fintech space as a preferred consumer financing partner under his tenure.

Matt is also an active member of YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization), the world’s largest leadership community of company chief executives.