CoverMapWhat is a credit score?
A credit score is a number a credit reference agency (CRA) works out from your credit history. It’s a guide to how a lender might view you. Experian, Equifax and TransUnion are the three main CRAs in the UK, according to TransUnion. MoneyHelper also lists a fourth, Crediva, which offers a statutory report online.
Each agency holds its own file on you and uses its own model, so your three scores will differ. That’s normal. TransUnion says the CRAs don’t decide whether you’re accepted – “That is the lender’s decision and each lender has different ways of assessing creditworthiness.”
UK credit scores: the three agencies compared
Two of the three agencies have changed their scales recently. Experian moved from 0–999 to 0–1,250 from mid-November 2025. TransUnion announced in August 2026 that it is moving from 0–710 to 0–999, with a phased rollout from late September 2026 to June 2027. Partners are switching at different times, so you may still see the old TransUnion score for a while.
| Agency | Scale | Bands | Free way to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Experian | 0–1,250 | Excellent 1,121–1,250; Very good 1,001–1,120; Good 861–1,000; Fair 641–860; Low 0–640 | Free Experian account or app |
| Equifax | 0–1,000 | Excellent 811–1,000; Very good 671–810; Good 531–670; Fair 439–530; Poor 0–438 | ClearScore; free Equifax Basic account (statutory report) |
| TransUnion | 0–999 (new score, replacing 0–710) | Excellent 786–999; Good 653–785; Fair 563–652; Low 488–562; Very low 0–487 | MSE Credit Club; partner apps such as banks |
Source: Experian 1250 score page; ClearScore (July 2026); TransUnion newsroom (26 August 2026) and credit score FAQ; MoneySavingExpert free credit report guide (updated June 2026). Checked October 2026.
When Experian changed its scale, it dropped the “poor” and “very poor” labels in favour of “fair” and “low”. 44% of people were expected to drop a band, 42% to move up and 14% to stay the same. Experian also said the change “will not impact on someone’s ability to get credit”. TransUnion says the underlying report data is unchanged and lender decisions are not affected by its switch.
How to check your credit score and report for free
- Experian: MoneySavingExpert says the free Experian app shows your full report and score.
- Equifax: ClearScore gives a free monthly Equifax score and report.
- TransUnion: MSE Credit Club shows your TransUnion report and score, plus eligibility tools.
- Statutory report: the ICO says you have the right to ask any CRA for the information it holds on you, and “Making this request is free of charge.” Look for “statutory report” on each agency’s website. Equifax says you’re entitled to a free statutory report “for life”. A statutory report shows your history but no score.
Checking your own report won’t hurt your score. MoneyHelper says you can check “as often as you like”. MoneySavingExpert says it’s recorded as a soft search, which lenders can’t use.
What lenders actually look at
This is the part most people get wrong. MoneySavingExpert puts it plainly: you don’t have a single, market-wide credit score that lenders see. Each lender scores you using its own criteria. As MSE put it when Experian changed its scale, “the score itself isn’t used by lenders.” Experian says lenders “calculate their own score for you when you apply”.
MoneySavingExpert says lenders focus on three areas:
- Debt ratio – your non-mortgage debt compared with your income. Under 20% is seen as excellent; over 60% is a problem.
- Credit utilisation – how much of your available credit you’re using.
- Disposable income – what’s left each month after essential spending.
There’s also no credit blacklist. The ICO says there is no formal blacklist: each lender makes its own assessment based on your credit history. That’s why one lender can turn you down and another accept you. For how your rate is set once you’re accepted, see our guide to credit card APR.
What’s on your credit report – and how long it stays
MoneyHelper says your report is a record of your credit activity, built from information supplied by banks, building societies, local authorities and courts. It typically includes:
- Your name, current and past addresses, and whether you’re on the electoral register
- Credit agreements and your repayment history on each
- Court judgments and bankruptcies
- People you’re financially linked to through joint credit
- Fraud markers, if you’ve been a victim of identity fraud
According to MoneySavingExpert, it doesn’t include criminal records, medical history, your salary, savings accounts or council tax arrears.
| Item | How long it stays | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Missed or late payments | Up to 6 years | MoneyHelper |
| Defaults | 6 years from the date of default | Stays even if you pay it off, but is marked “satisfied” (Experian) |
| County court judgments (CCJs) | 6 years | Pay in full within one month and you can get it removed; pay later and it’s marked “satisfied” (GOV.UK) |
| Hard searches | 12 months to 2 years | Experian says most stay 12 months; MoneyHelper says up to two years |
| Soft searches | Only you can see them | No effect on your score (Experian) |
Source: MoneyHelper, Experian, GOV.UK, MoneySavingExpert. Checked October 2026.
What affects your credit score in the UK?
Each agency weighs things differently, but the same factors come up across their guidance.
| Factor | How it works |
|---|---|
| Payment history | Paying on time helps. Missed payments, defaults and CCJs hurt and can stay for up to six years. |
| Credit utilisation | Experian’s guidance: “try to keep your credit utilisation below 25%” of your limits. |
| Electoral roll | Helps lenders confirm your name and address. Experian says your score “will increase” once you register. |
| Hard vs soft searches | Each credit application leaves a hard search lenders can see. MSE advises spacing out applications. Eligibility checks and checking your own file are soft searches. |
| Financial associations | A joint account, joint credit application or joint CCJ links your file to the other person. Marriage, living together or sharing a surname does not, says Experian. |
| Address history | Experian says lenders dislike seeing lots of addresses over a short period. |
| Rent | Experian’s 1,250 score counts rent payments that are reported to it. Unreported rent has no effect. |
| Buy now, pay later | Depends on the provider (see below). |
Source: Experian guides; MoneySavingExpert (updated August 2026). Checked October 2026.
BNPL and your credit file in 2026
The FCA started regulating buy now, pay later (officially “Deferred Payment Credit”) on 15 July 2026. Whether BNPL shows on your file still depends on the provider. ClearScore reported in August 2026 that Klarna reports to Experian and TransUnion, Zilch to all three agencies, PayPal Pay in 3 to TransUnion, and Clearpay doesn’t currently report repayments. ClearScore expects wider reporting to become standard across the sector.
Rent reporting
Experian’s Rental Exchange scheme is free for tenants and landlords. If your landlord doesn’t report, Experian names services you can sign up to yourself, including CreditLadder, Canopy, Emma, Wollit and UpliftMoney. Reporting partners need six months of payment history first, and payments normally appear within eight weeks.
How to improve your credit score
There’s no quick fix, but some steps are simple. Our full guide on how to improve your credit score in the UK goes into more detail.
- Register to vote at your current address. Experian says it normally shows on your report within 30 days, or by 1 December if you register during the annual canvass (August to November). If you can’t register, you can add a note to your report explaining why.
- Keep balances low – below 25% of your limits, per Experian.
- Pay on time, every time. Missed payments stay on your report for up to six years.
- Space out applications and use eligibility checkers first.
- Cut old financial links. Once a joint account is closed, the ICO says you can write to the CRAs to ask for a disassociation. MoneySavingExpert recommends doing this with all three agencies.
- Get rent reported if you rent and pay on time.
If your debts feel unmanageable, free help is available from MoneyHelper. If you’re juggling several debts, our guide to debt consolidation explains the options and trade-offs.
How to fix errors on your credit report
Errors can drag your score down and cause rejections. Check all three reports, because each agency holds different data.
- Raise a dispute with the agency that shows the error, or with the lender that supplied it, says the ICO. Equifax says the lender then has 21 days to respond, and a note is added showing the information is under dispute.
- Add a notice of correction if an entry is accurate but needs context – for example, missed payments after losing your job. Experian says it must be no longer than 200 words. Lenders “should take it into account”, but it won’t raise your score and may slow a decision.
- Complain to the ICO if an agency refuses to correct information you believe is wrong.
What’s changing: the FCA credit information review
In December 2023 the FCA published the final report of its credit information market study. It found material differences in the data the three big CRAs hold, and low awareness of how to check and dispute your file. In February 2026 it consulted (paper CP26/7) on making lenders that share data with one designated agency share it with all of them, plus higher standards for data quality and disputes. The consultation closed on 1 May 2026. The FCA proposes that the new regime starts 12 months after it publishes final rules. Until then, your three reports can hold different information – another reason to check all of them before applying for a credit card or loan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good credit score in the UK?
It depends on the agency. On Experian's 0–1,250 scale, Good is 861–1,000. On Equifax's 0–1,000 scale, Good is 531–670. On TransUnion's new 0–999 scale, Good is 653–785. Lenders don't see these scores, though.
Why are my Experian, Equifax and TransUnion scores different?
Each agency holds its own data on you, uses its own model and has its own scale. Not every lender reports to every agency, which the FCA found leads to material differences in coverage.
Does checking my credit score lower it?
No. Checking your own report is a soft search. Lenders can't see it and it doesn't affect your score.
Do lenders see my credit score?
No. Each lender assesses your credit report against its own criteria and works out its own view. There's also no credit blacklist.
How long do missed payments stay on my credit file?
Up to six years. Defaults stay for six years from the date of default, and CCJs stay six years unless you pay in full within one month.
Does buy now, pay later affect my credit score?
It can. BNPL became FCA-regulated on 15 July 2026. Reporting depends on the provider: ClearScore says Klarna and Zilch report repayments, PayPal Pay in 3 reports to TransUnion, and Clearpay doesn't currently report.
Why has my Experian or TransUnion score changed so much?
Both changed scales. Experian moved to 0–1,250 from November 2025, and TransUnion is moving to 0–999 from September 2026. Experian says the change won't affect your ability to get credit; TransUnion says your report data is unchanged and lender decisions are not affected.
Sources
- Experian – Introducing the 1250 score
- MoneySavingExpert – Experian credit score shake-up (Nov 2025)
- ClearScore – What is a good or bad credit score? (Jul 2026)
- TransUnion – Expanded 0–999 consumer credit score (26 Aug 2026)
- MoneySavingExpert – Check your credit report free (Jun 2026)
- MoneySavingExpert – Credit scores explained (Aug 2026)
- MoneyHelper – How to check your credit report
- ICO – Credit
- Equifax – Statutory credit report
- GOV.UK – CCJs and your credit rating
- Experian – Credit utilisation, electoral roll, searches, financial association, notice of correction, defaults and rent reporting guides
- ClearScore – Does BNPL affect your credit score? (Aug 2026)
- FCA – Buy Now Pay Later (updated Aug 2026)
- FCA – Credit Information Market Study final report MS19/1.3 (Dec 2023)
- Regulation Tomorrow – FCA CP26/7 credit information remedies (Feb 2026)