Credit Scores

Why is your Experian score 999 but your ClearScore only 400? We explain why different apps show completely different numbers.

Paid off a loan but your score dropped? Understand credit mix, utilisation, and the timing of credit file updates.

Score is 999 but still getting declined? We explain the hidden reasons why lenders say 'no' when the computer says 'yes'.

Registered to vote but your credit file says 'Not Registered'? We explain common data delays, address mismatches, and how to force an update.

Found a 'Category 6' marker? Declined for a bank account? We explain how to find out what CIFAS holds on you and how to challenge it.

Is 700 a good score? It depends who you ask. We break down the exact score ranges for Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

What does 'Status 4' mean? Why is there no Status 7? We explain the complete 0-8 scale used by Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

Is a 'missed payment' the same as 'arrears'? We explain the technical definitions, when Notices are issued, and what actually shows on your credit file.

Soft searches are visible only to you and do not affect your credit score. Hard searches are visible to lenders. We explain the difference and why it matters.

A 200-word statement you can add to your file. We explain when adding a Notice of Correction helps (and when it hurts your chances).

In the UK, there is no single credit score. Three separate agencies each produce their own score using different models, meaning you may have three different scores.

The 'credit blacklist' is a myth. We explain why it doesn't exist, how lenders actually decide, and what rights you have.

Worried about ID theft? Learn how Protective Registration, Victim Markers, and Cifas work to lock down your credit file.

Confused by the codes on your file? We explain what 'Status 0-6' means, how long data lasts, and what lenders actually see.

You have a legal right to see your raw credit data for free. Here is how to request your Statutory Report from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

Found a wrong address on your credit report? Learn your legal rights to dispute it, correct 'mis-traces', and fix your file for free.

Wrong address or alias on your credit file? It can block your mortgage. Learn how to verify, dispute, and correct 'Linked Addresses' with the CRAs.

Credit card missing from your report? It's common. Learn why lenders don't report to all three agencies and how to fix it.

Got an unfair mark on your file? Learn how to add a 200-word statement to explain your side of the story to lenders.

Missed a payment? We explain the 6-year rule, when the clock starts ticking, and why paying it off doesn't remove the marker.

Credit builder cards often carry higher interest rates. Learn how interest accrues, how to use them safely, and the specific FCA rules that protect you.

One hurts your score, the other is invisible. We explain the difference between Hard and Soft credit checks.

Moving in together doesn't link your credit, but a joint account does. Learn how financial associations work and how to remove them.

Confused why you have three different credit scores? We explain the differences between the UK's three main agencies and why they never match.

Being on the electoral roll is the single easiest way to improve your credit score. We explain why lenders care so much about your vote.

A higher salary doesn't mean a higher credit score. We explain why income is invisible to credit agencies but vital for mortgage affordability.

Yes. Getting a mobile phone contract involves a hard credit check and monthly reporting. We explain how it affects your file.

It's complicated. Klarna reports to Experian, Clearpay reports to no one. We explain exactly how BNPL affects your credit score in the UK.

Benefit payments like Universal Credit are invisible to credit files. We explain what lenders can actually see and how your income source affects applications.

Think your address affects your score? Believe there's a 'blacklist'? We debunk the most common UK credit score myths.

Credit builder cards are regulated UK credit cards designed for those with limited or poor credit history. Understanding their rules, protections, and costs is essential.

A CIFAS marker can block you from getting credit, insurance, or even a bank account. Learn what they are, how long they last, and how to check your file.

ClearScore, Credit Karma, MSE... which one should you use? We compare the best free credit monitoring tools in the UK.

Think a high credit score guarantees a mortgage? Think again. Learn why 'Affordability' is the real key to lending decisions in the UK.

Moving home? Understand how changing your address impacts your credit file, why history matters, and how to avoid credit check issues.

A sudden drop in your credit score can be alarming. Discover the common causes in the UK, from hard searches and late payments to data errors.

A 'thin' credit file means lenders lack data to assess you. Learn why this happens, how it blocks mortgages, and how to fix it.

Identity fraud can wreck your credit score. If you see accounts you didn't open, here are the UK steps to dispute them and fix your file.

Closing an old card doesn't delete the history, but it might hurt your utilisation. Learn the mechanics before you cut the card.

A 'Financial Link' to an ex-partner can ruin your credit score. Here is the step-by-step process to disassociate from them.

A late payment marker stays for 6 years. If it's wrong, you can remove it. If it's right, you can't. Here is the official dispute process.

New to the UK? You likely have no credit score. Learn how to build a profile from zero using the 'Electoral Roll' and 'Credit Builder' cards.

A default stays on your credit file for exactly 6 years. Learn the rules for removal, 'statute barred' debts, and how it differs in Scotland.

A default stays on your credit file for 6 years, but you don't always have to wait that long to get a mortgage. Here are the typical UK timelines.

A CCJ stays on your credit file for 6 years, but you don't always have to wait that long to get a mortgage. Here are the typical UK timelines.

Credit utilisation measures how much of your limit you use. Discover the rules, the 30% myth, and why 0% isn't always the perfect score.