What is Affirm?
Affirm is a buy now, pay later financial services company based in San Francisco, California. Affirm offers simple financing options to help consumers make large purchases and then pay them off over time in installments (source: https://www.affirm.com/how-it-works).
With Affirm, customers can finance anything from electronics and home appliances to dental work, vacations, and more. Unlike credit cards that charge interest, Affirm approves consumers for set repayment terms without any hidden fees or compounding interest (source: https://www.affirm.com/).
Affirm partners directly with retailers to offer flexible payment options at checkout. Customers go through a soft credit check and if approved can split their purchase into 3, 6 or 12 monthly payments. Affirm does not charge late fees or penalties – if a payment is missed, the terms are simply extended by a month (source: https://www.affirm.com/how-it-works).
In summary, Affirm is a buy now, pay later financing service that gives consumers more flexible and transparent options to pay for purchases over time.
Why you might need to recover your account
There are a few common reasons you may need to recover access to your Affirm account:
Forgotten password – If you can no longer remember your account password, you will need to reset it to regain access. According to the Affirm Help Center at https://helpcenter.affirm.com/s/, you can reset your password by requesting a reset link sent to your email or phone number on file.
Got locked out – Your account may get temporarily locked after too many incorrect login attempts. According to posts on Reddit at https://www.reddit.com/r/Affirm/comments/1894yw8/account_locked_ineligible_for_recovery/, you will need to contact Affirm customer support to unlock your account.
Suspicious activity – Affirm may lock your account if they detect suspicious or potentially fraudulent activity. As one Reddit user reported, their account was locked and deemed “ineligible for recovery” due to suspected fraud. In this case, you will also need to reach out to Affirm’s customer support team to regain access.
How to reset your password
If you forgot your password for your Affirm account, you can easily reset it using the “Forgot password” link. Go to affirm.com and click on the “Sign In” button in the top right corner. On the sign in page, click the “Forgot password?” link underneath the password field.
This will open up a form where you can enter the email address or phone number associated with your Affirm account. Once submitted, Affirm will send you an email or text message with a verification code. Enter this code and you’ll be able to create a new password for your account. The entire process is very straightforward and secure.
Resetting your password via the “Forgot password” link is the fastest and easiest way to get back into your locked Affirm account. Just be sure to enter the email address or phone number currently associated with your account so you can receive the verification code.
Recovering your account if you don’t have access to email/phone
If you no longer have access to the email or phone number associated with your Affirm account, recovering your account can be challenging but is still possible. The main way to regain access is to contact Affirm’s customer support team for assistance.
To start the account recovery process, visit the Affirm help center and find the section for account access issues. There will be options to call, email, or chat with a support representative (Affirm Help Center). When you connect with an agent, explain that you’ve lost access to your account credentials but want to regain access.
Affirm support will then begin the process of verifying your identity before they can restore your access. This usually involves providing information only the real account holder would know, such as:
- Your full name
- Date of birth
- Last 4 digits of your social security number
- Physical address(es) associated with your account
- Details about recent transactions or loan accounts
If you can successfully answer their identity verification questions, Affirm support will be able to update your account with new login credentials or contact info so you can access your account again.
The key is providing enough personal details to prove you are the legitimate account holder. As long as you can pass the verification process, Affirm’s team can override the old email and phone number to help you regain access.
Getting back into a locked account
If you’ve entered your password incorrectly too many times, Affirm will temporarily lock your account for security reasons. The lock is usually for 30 minutes. You’ll have to wait for the lock to automatically expire before you can sign in again.
If your account remains locked after the waiting period, you’ll need to contact Affirm support for help. Call 1-877-351-8406 or start a live chat at https://www.affirm.com/help. Be prepared to verify your identity.
According to a Reddit user, speaking with a supervisor can help escalate the issue and get your account unlocked faster. See https://www.reddit.com/r/Affirm/comments/15etese/still_stuck_without_access_to_my_account/.
Once your account is unlocked, you’ll be able to sign in with your username and password as usual.
Regaining access after suspicious activity
If you believe someone has gained unauthorized access to your Affirm account, it’s important to act quickly to secure your account. The first step is to report any unauthorized transactions or account activity to Affirm right away. According to Affirm’s help site, you can report fraudulent activity by logging into your account and contacting customer support.
Be sure to provide as many details as possible, including information about any charges or account changes you did not authorize. Affirm will investigate and work to reverse any unauthorized transactions. You may also want to contact your bank or credit card company to report the charges.
Next, you should immediately change your Affirm account password. Use a strong, unique password that you don’t use for any other sites. You can reset your password directly through the Affirm website or mobile app. Changing your password prevents the unauthorized person from accessing your account again.
Additionally, update your account email address and phone number if needed, so you can confirm any other changes to your account. Enable two-factor authentication if available, for an extra layer of security.
Review all recent account activity to check for any other suspicious transactions. Report anything else unauthorized to Affirm right away. With quick action, you can secure your account and prevent or limit the damage from fraudulent activity.
Updating your contact info
If you’ve lost access to your account because your email address or phone number on file is outdated, you’ll need to update your contact information in your account settings. According to the Affirm Help Center article Update my contact information, there are a couple ways to do this:
To update your email address, open the Affirm app and sign in to your account. Tap the profile icon with your initials at the top right of the screen. Then tap the Email field, enter your new email address, and tap Save.
To update your phone number, you’ll need to go to the Affirm website and sign in to your account. Under Account Settings, click “Update my phone number.” Enter your new phone number and click Submit. This is the only way to update your phone number with Affirm.
Simply creating a new Affirm account with your updated info won’t work and may cause issues. Be sure to follow the proper steps to edit your contact info right in your existing account settings.
Alternatives if account can’t be recovered
If you’ve exhausted all options for recovering your Affirm account and have been unsuccessful, there are a couple alternatives you can consider:
The easiest option is to create a new Affirm account using a different email address and phone number. As long as you meet the eligibility requirements, you can open a new account and start using Affirm’s services again.
Another alternative is to use a different buy now, pay later service instead of Affirm. Some popular alternatives include Klarna, Afterpay, Zip, and Sezzle. Each service has its own pros and cons to research, but they provide a similar option to split payments over time.
Before abandoning your current Affirm account completely, be sure to double check all recovery options, contact customer support for assistance, and remove any saved payment methods to prevent unauthorized access. But opening a new account or switching services may be necessary if you’ve exhausted all account recovery options.
Protecting your account in the future
To help secure your Affirm account and prevent any future unauthorized access, there are some best practices you should follow:
Use a unique and complex password that would be difficult for someone else to guess. Avoid using personal information or common words in your password. Consider using a password manager to generate and store strong passwords. According to Affirm’s security tips, strong passwords help protect your account.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) if available. With 2FA enabled, you’ll need to enter both your password and an additional code generated from your phone when logging in. This provides an extra layer of protection beyond just a password. As Affirm advises in their guide to account security, 2FA makes it much harder for someone else to access your account.
Regularly monitor your account activity and statements. Look for any transactions you don’t recognize and report suspicious activity immediately. Being proactive about reviewing your account details can help you identify unauthorized access faster.
By taking these preventative measures, you can better safeguard your Affirm account from potential security issues going forward.
Getting help from Affirm support
If you are unable to recover your account through the steps outlined above, you may need to reach out directly to Affirm’s customer support team for additional help. Affirm offers customer service through the following channels:
Phone support: Call 855-423-3729 between 8:00am and 11:00pm EST, 7 days a week according to this source. Wait times may vary.
Chat support: Initiate a live chat through the Affirm Help Center. Chat is available during business hours.
Email: Submit a request through the Affirm Help Center contact form. Responses are typically provided within 1 business day.
When reaching out to Affirm support, be prepared to verify your identity by providing information like your full name, email address, phone number, and account identifiers. Having access to as much background information as possible will help Affirm’s team to quickly locate your account and assist with recovery.