Your credit file is the record lenders look at when you apply for a mortgage, loan, credit card, mobile contract or even some rental tenancies. It shapes whether you are accepted and what interest rate you are offered, so it is worth understanding what is on it, how to check it, and how to put mistakes right. This guide explains how credit scores work, your legal rights over the information held about you, and the practical steps that build a healthier file over time.
Your score and the three credit reference agencies
There are three main credit reference agencies (CRAs) in the UK –
Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Each holds its own file on you, built from
information supplied by banks, lenders, utility firms, local authorities and
the courts. Because they do not all hold identical information, the score each
gives you can differ, and there is no single ‘official’ number.
Lenders also apply their own criteria, so a score is a useful guide to your
standing rather than a guarantee of acceptance. It is sensible to check all
three, since a lender might use any one of them.
Checking your credit report
You have the right to see the information a credit reference agency holds about you. Many people use free online services to view their report and score, and each of the three agencies also lets you access your file. Check your report before any major application, and look closely at the accounts listed, your repayment history, your current balances, and the personal details and addresses linked to you.
What is on your credit file
A credit file is mostly a factual history rather than an opinion. Typically it includes:
- Credit accounts – loans, credit cards, overdrafts, mortgages and some utility and phone accounts, with your payment record on each.
- Public records – county court judgments (CCJs), bankruptcies and other insolvency information.
- Electoral roll and addresses – whether you are registered to vote at your address, plus linked previous addresses.
- Financial links – people you share credit with, such as a joint mortgage or account holder.
- Searches – a record of who has checked your file and when.
Finding and correcting mistakes
Errors on a credit file – a payment marked late that you made on time, an account that is not yours, or an old debt that should have dropped off – can cost you an application. Under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 you have the right to have inaccurate personal data corrected. Start by raising the error with the lender that reported it and with the credit reference agency showing it; they should investigate and amend genuine mistakes. If the information is disputed but cannot easily be resolved, you can ask for a Notice of Correction – a short statement (up to 200 words) added to your file explaining your side, which anyone searching your file will see. If you and the agency cannot agree, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) can look at how your data has been handled, and complaints about a lender’s decision can go to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Building and improving your score
There is no quick trick, but steady habits make a real difference over time.
- Register to vote – being on the electoral roll at your current address helps confirm your identity and is one of the simplest gains.
- Pay on time, every time – a consistent record of on-time payments is one of the strongest positive signals.
- Keep credit use low – using a smaller share of your available credit limit (your credit utilisation) generally looks better than running close to the limit.
- Avoid a flurry of applications – several credit searches in a short period can count against you.
- Correct or close what is wrong or unused – fix errors and consider closing old accounts you no longer need.
Protecting yourself from fraud
If your identity has been stolen or you are at heightened risk – for example after a lost wallet or a data breach – you can apply for Cifas Protective Registration. This flags your details so that Cifas members carry out extra checks whenever an application is made in your name. It does not affect your credit score, though it may make your own genuine applications take a little longer. There is a fee for the service, which lasts two years, so check the current cost and terms with Cifas before applying.
Understanding your file puts you in control of your borrowing. For related money guidance see our finance section, and if you are worried about affording bills, our guide to help for households sets out the support available.