How to Add Missing Accounts to Your Credit File

Credit reference files in the UK are maintained by three main Credit Reference Agencies (CRAs): Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. These agencies collect and hold credit-related information supplied by lenders and other organisations. However, accounts do not always appear where you might expect them to. An account can be absent from one or more of your credit files for a range of legitimate reasons, from reporting cycles and address mismatches to lender-level decisions about which agencies they share data with.

This guide explains how the system of credit file reporting works in the UK, why accounts go missing, and what processes exist for investigating and resolving gaps. It does not cover credit scores, nor does it provide guidance on whether any particular action is beneficial or advisable.

• Lender Choice: Lenders choose which CRA(s) they report to, and reporting coverage varies. Each agency operates independently and may hold different information about the same individual.
• Common Causes: The most common reasons are that the lender does not report to that particular CRA, there is an address or name mismatch preventing the data from being linked, or the account is too new to have been reported yet. Very old accounts may also be absent because most account data is removed after standard retention periods.
• The Fix: The standard route for investigating a missing account begins with the original lender, not the CRA, because CRAs cannot amend data supplied by lenders without the lender's permission. If the lender confirms the data should be present and submits an update to the CRA, changes may take several weeks to appear on the credit report. If the issue is not resolved through the lender, a formal dispute can be raised with the CRA, which is typically investigated within 28 days.

Credit reference files exist to give lenders a picture of an individual's borrowing history. The three UK CRAs — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — each maintain their own database. Data enters these databases because lenders and other organisations share it with the agencies. Lenders choose which CRA(s) they report to, and reporting coverage varies — not all lenders report to all three agencies. As a result, the three CRAs do not necessarily hold identical information about any given individual.

Matching: CRAs match incoming data to the correct credit file using personal identifiers, primarily name, address, and date of birth. When a lender sends account data to a CRA, the agency attempts to match it against existing records. If the matching details do not align — for example, because of an address change or a difference in name formatting — the data may fail to link to the correct file.

Excluded Data: It is also important to understand what credit files do not contain. Savings accounts and current accounts without an overdraft facility do not appear on credit files, as these are not considered financial commitments. Only credit agreements and borrowing history are tracked.

Retention: Most credit information is retained on UK credit files for a standard period of 6 years. This applies to adverse information such as defaults and late payments, as well as closed or settled accounts, which typically remain visible for 6 years from the date of settlement or closure before being removed.

Reporting cycles: CRAs receive information from lenders on a periodic basis. Many lenders update CRA data monthly, often around the statement cycle, so new accounts commonly take several weeks to appear. If an account has been opened very recently, it may simply not have been reported yet.

Older accounts: Very old accounts may not appear on a credit file for several reasons. Most account data is removed after the standard 6-year retention period following closure, settlement, or default. If an account is still open and active but missing, this is usually due to the lender's reporting coverage, matching issues, or the fact that the lender never reported the account to that particular CRA — rather than an age-based rule.

Address and name matching: CRAs rely on accurate personal details to link accounts to the correct file. If an individual changes address or name and does not update this information with their lenders, the CRA may be unable to create the financial connection needed to display the account. CRAs create address links when they detect moves, but this process depends on at least one lender being informed of the address change or on electoral roll updates.

Dispute resolution: When a formal dispute is raised with a CRA, the standard investigation period is 28 days. Disputes are usually acknowledged promptly and remain marked as active on the credit file during the investigation.

Lender-initiated updates: Once a lender agrees to update or add information and submits it to the CRA, the change may take several weeks to appear on the credit report. This timeframe accounts for the CRA's own update cycle.

Notice of Correction: An individual may add a Notice of Correction (NOC) to their credit file to explain the circumstances behind information that is accurate but potentially misleading. A NOC has a maximum length of 200 words. It must be factual and not defamatory, frivolous, or otherwise unsuitable. It must be added separately to each of the three CRAs. A NOC does not affect credit scores, but it may delay credit applications because lenders are required to read it.

"My account should be on all three files."

This is a widespread misunderstanding. Lenders choose which CRA(s) they report to, and some only report to one or two rather than all three. An account appearing on one credit file but not another is entirely normal and does not necessarily indicate an error.

"My credit file is a single, unified record."

The three CRAs operate independently. There is no single, combined UK credit file. Each agency's report may differ in the accounts it shows, the details it holds, and when it was last updated.

"The CRA can just add my account."

CRAs cannot amend data supplied by lenders without the lender's permission. The ICO confirms that if an entry on a credit file has the name of a company on it, it is likely that company who is responsible for that entry. The starting point for resolving missing or incorrect data is therefore the original lender, not the CRA.

"New accounts appear instantly."

Reporting cycles mean there is always a delay between opening an account and it appearing on a credit file. A gap of several weeks is standard for new accounts.

"My savings account should be on my credit file."

Savings accounts and current accounts without an overdraft facility are not recorded on credit files, as they are not classified as financial commitments.

Address Formats: Accounts may fail to match to a credit file if address formats differ between lender records and CRA records. For example, "Flat 2A" recorded by a lender may not match "2A" as held by the CRA. Even though the lender is reporting the data, the CRA's matching system may not link it to the correct individual. Similarly, if an account was opened at a previous address and the individual has moved without updating their address with the lender, the account may not link to the current credit file.

Business Cards: In most cases, business credit cards, prepaid cards, and some specialised credit products may not report to consumer credit reference agencies. Whether a product reports to a CRA depends on the card type and the issuer's own practices, which vary.

Longevity: Very old accounts that are still open may sometimes be absent from credit files. In most cases, this is because the lender does not report that account to the CRA in question, or because the account has not been actively reported for many years. Most closed or settled account data is removed after the standard 6-year retention period, so accounts that were closed long ago will no longer appear regardless.

If an account does not appear on a credit file, the reason typically falls into one of a small number of categories: the lender does not report to that CRA, there is a mismatch in personal details preventing the data from being linked, the account is too recently opened to have been reported, or the account data has been removed after the standard retention period.

The process for investigating begins with the original lender. According to published guidance, contacting the lender directly allows verification of whether they report to the specific CRA and whether the account information is being shared. If the lender agrees to update or add information, it may take several weeks for the change to appear.

If the matter is not resolved through the lender, a formal dispute may be raised with the CRA. Disputes are usually acknowledged promptly and investigated within 28 days. The dispute will be visible on the credit report as active during the investigation period.

Where accurate information is present on the file but the individual wishes to provide context, a Notice of Correction of up to 200 words can be added. This must be done separately with each CRA and must comply with content restrictions.

If neither the lender nor the CRA resolves the issue, escalation routes exist. Under data protection law, individuals have the right to challenge inaccurate information under Article 16 of UK GDPR. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is the UK's independent supervisory authority for data protection and can investigate complaints about credit file inaccuracies. However, the ICO cannot decide on financial disputes or issues outside data protection law. In most cases, the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) can investigate complaints about financial services firms and may order redress if appropriate.

• Lender Discretion: The three main UK CRAs — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — operate independently and do not necessarily hold the same information. Lenders choose which CRA(s) they report to, and reporting coverage varies.
• Common Reasons: Missing accounts are most commonly explained by the lender not reporting to that particular CRA, address or name mismatches preventing data from being linked, the account being too new to have entered the reporting cycle, or the account data having been removed after the standard 6-year retention period.
• Resolution Process: CRAs cannot add or amend data without the lender's permission. The process for investigating a missing account starts with the original lender. If unresolved, a formal dispute may be raised with the CRA, which is investigated within 28 days.
• Legal Rights: Under UK GDPR, individuals have the right to Challenge inaccurate information on their credit files. The ICO can investigate data protection complaints, while the Financial Ombudsman Service may investigate complaints about financial services firms.
• Notices: A Notice of Correction of up to 200 words can be added to a credit file to provide context around accurate entries, but it must be added separately to each CRA and comply with content restrictions.