How your UK credit score really works
Credit scores in the UK confuse almost everyone. This guide explains who creates your score, why different apps show different numbers, whether checking your report hurts your score, and how to fix mistakes – with references to official UK sources.
Most people in the UK know they “have a credit score”, but very few are sure how it actually works – or why one app says their score is good while another says it is poor. On top of that, there is a lot of worry about whether checking your own report will damage your score, and how to fix errors.
This guide focuses on the UK system only and links to official and trusted sources so you can check every fact yourself.
1. Who actually decides my credit score in the UK?
In the UK, three main credit reference agencies (CRAs) collect and hold your credit information:
- Experian
- Equifax
- TransUnion
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) confirms that these are the three main consumer CRAs in the UK.
Each agency builds its own version of your credit report from:
- Information sent by banks, card providers, lenders and some utility/phone companies
- Public records (for example the electoral register, County Court Judgments)
They then use that report to create their own score, using their own scale and formula. There is no single “official” UK credit score.
TransUnion explains that your score will often differ between agencies because each uses its own scale (for example: TransUnion currently scores to 710, Experian up to 999, and Equifax up to 1,000 – these scales can change over time).
2. Why does my score look different in every app?
Common reasons:
- Different data – A lender might report to one CRA but not another, so one file may show a loan or card the others do not.
- Different scoring ranges – 650 on one scale might be “Good”, but 650 on another might be “Fair”.
- Different scoring formulas – Each CRA and each lender uses its own method to judge risk.
MoneyHelper (the UK government-backed guidance service) emphasises that lenders do not see one universal score – they see your underlying report and apply their own criteria.
In other words: the number you see in an app is a guide, not a universal truth.
3. Does checking my credit report hurt my score?
No – checking your own credit report does not harm your score.
MoneyHelper explains that you can get a statutory credit report from each CRA, and this is a basic legal right. These checks are logged as “soft searches”, which:
- Are visible to you
- Are not visible to other lenders in a way that affects lending decisions
By contrast, when you apply for credit (loan, card, car finance, etc.), lenders usually perform a “hard search”, which can affect later applications.
National Debtline also advises checking reports regularly and confirms that if information is wrong, you can ask the agencies to correct it.
4. What actually goes into my credit report?
MoneyHelper and Lloyds Bank list the main items that usually appear:
- Your name, date of birth and current and previous addresses
- Whether you are on the electoral register
- All active and recent credit accounts (credit cards, loans, catalogues, store cards, some utilities and mobile contracts)
- Your payment history – on time, late, or missed
- Overdrafts on current accounts
- Public records such as County Court Judgments (CCJs), insolvency, IVAs or bankruptcy
- Financial associations (for example, a joint account with a partner)
Lenders then use this information – plus your application details and their own rules – to decide whether to lend, how much, and at what rate.
5. How long does negative information stay on my file?
National Debtline and other guidance generally state:
- Missed payments – typically recorded for 6 years from the date they are recorded
- Defaults – usually stay for 6 years from the default date
- CCJs – normally reported for 6 years from the judgment date, even if repaid
- Insolvency entries (bankruptcy, IVAs, Debt Relief Orders) – usually visible for 6 years from the start date
Positive history (long-standing, well-managed accounts) can also stay on your report and help show that you are a reliable borrower.
6. How can I check my credit report for free?
You have a legal right to see your basic credit report from each agency.
MoneyHelper explains you can get your statutory report online or by post from each CRA. These are usually free and show the core information lenders see.
In practice you can:
- Use each CRA’s own website to request your statutory credit report
- Use free services and apps (for example, via banks or comparison sites) that show you a version of your report and an estimated score
Because each CRA might hold slightly different information, MoneyHelper suggests checking all three at least occasionally.
7. What if there is a mistake on my credit report?
If something looks wrong – for example, a missed payment you do not recognise – you have clear rights.
Citizens Advice and the ICO say you can:
- Contact the credit reference agency and explain what you think is incorrect.
- The CRA will then contact the lender that supplied the data.
- If the lender agrees it is wrong, they must correct or remove it.
- If the lender insists it is right and you still disagree, you can add a “Notice of Correction” – a short statement (up to 200 words) that appears alongside the entry on your file.
You can also complain to the lender directly and, if needed, escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service. The ICO notes that you have rights under UK data protection law to have inaccurate personal data corrected.
8. Do lenders only look at my score?
No. This is one of the biggest myths.
Lenders use three main things:
- Your credit report data from one or more CRAs
- Their own internal scorecard and risk rules
- Your application details (income, job, existing commitments, etc.)
TransUnion and other sources confirm that each lender has its own criteria, so one lender may accept you while another rejects you, even from the same underlying data.
Consumer experts such as Martin Lewis also stress that your “credit score” from an agency is a guide, not a number all lenders share; he calls it one of several measures lenders use, not a universal pass/fail mark.
9. What actually helps my credit score over time?
Government-backed MoneyHelper and major CRAs highlight a few consistent behaviours that tend to help:
- Pay on time – even one missed payment can drag your score down.
- Keep balances under control – using a smaller share of your available credit (often called “credit utilisation”) is seen as lower risk.
- Avoid lots of applications at once – multiple hard searches in a short period can worry lenders.
- Register to vote at your current address – being on the electoral roll makes identity checks easier.
- Check for and fix errors – a wrong missed payment marker or old default can unfairly harm you.
A recent analysis reported that around 32% of people who checked their credit report found an error, and that fixing mistakes can significantly reduce borrowing costs over time.
10. Where can I get free, trustworthy help?
If you are worried about your credit report because of debt or missed payments, you do not have to sort it out alone.
Trusted, free UK sources include:
- MoneyHelper – government-backed guidance on credit reports, scores and debt options
- National Debtline – detailed guides on credit reference agencies and dealing with debt
- Citizens Advice – explains how lenders decide whether to give you credit and how to challenge wrong information
These organisations do not sell credit repair products – they simply help you understand your rights and options.
Key takeaways
- There is no single UK credit score – three main agencies hold slightly different information and use different scales.
- Checking your own report is a right, and done through the proper channels it does not harm your score.
- Most serious negative markers stay on your file for around six years.
- You can challenge errors, and agencies and lenders have legal duties to correct inaccurate information.
- Lenders look at your whole situation – not just a number on one app.
Knowing how the system actually works puts you back in control. Instead of guessing what lenders see, you can check it, fix it if it is wrong, and build a track record that genuinely reflects you.
References (UK-focused):
- Information Commissioner’s Office – credit and credit reference agencies
- MoneyHelper – how to check and improve your credit report and score
- National Debtline – guide to credit reference agencies and correcting errors
- Experian – Notice of Correction guidance
- TransUnion – credit score FAQs and ranges
- Lloyds Bank – what a credit score is and how it works
- UK Government / Money and Pensions Service – free and impartial money guidance
- TotallyMoney / press coverage – prevalence of report errors and impact on borrowing costs
