CoverMapWhat actually moves your score
- Pay everything on time, every time — this is the single biggest factor most scoring models weigh.
- Lower your credit utilisation — try to use well under the available limit on any credit card, ideally under 30%, and pay down balances before your statement date.
- Register on the electoral roll at your current address — a basic identity check most lenders and agencies look for.
- Don't apply for multiple products in a short window — each hard search can nudge your score down slightly, and several in quick succession looks riskier to lenders.
Be wary of "credit repair" services that promise fast fixes
Legitimate credit reference agencies (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) don't offer a way to remove accurate negative information early — genuinely inaccurate entries can and should be formally disputed directly with the agency for free, but a paid "credit repair" service can't make an accurate late payment disappear before its normal 6-year expiry.
How to dispute a genuine error
If your credit file contains an inaccuracy (a debt that isn't yours, a payment marked late that wasn't), you can raise a formal dispute directly with the relevant credit reference agency, free of charge, and they're required to investigate within a set timeframe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do missed payments stay on my file?
Generally around 6 years from the date of the missed payment, regardless of whether you later clear the debt — paying it off stops it getting worse, but doesn't erase the historical record early.
Does having no credit history at all give me a good score?
No — lenders have nothing to assess, which can actually work against you. A small amount of well-managed credit (like a low-limit card paid off in full monthly) can help build a usable file over time.