Credit Score Check

Featured credit check providers

How does a credit score work?

A credit score is a three-digit number that gives providers a snapshot of your borrowing history and indicates how good you are at repaying your debts. Generally, the higher your score, the easier you'll find it to borrow.

Your score is compiled by one of the three main credit reference agencies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – and will likely be slightly different for each. These organisations hold information about you as a consumer and your borrowing behaviour. Each time you apply for credit or take out a new credit product it will be logged on your credit file, and so too will your payment history, including any defaults. Every piece of information held about you will go into a calculation to determine your credit score.

Then, when you complete an application form for credit, the lender will access your credit file held with at least one of these agencies (lenders may use more than one to help make their lending decisions) and will run a credit score check. They’ll use this to assess whether you’re deemed as being reliable and whether or not you already owe more than you can comfortably afford to repay.

How to check your credit score

There are a variety of companies that can help you check your credit score and view your credit file. They use the details provided by one of the three main credit reference agencies and will usually offer access to your free credit score – either on an ongoing basis or for a trial period –  but they may also have a paid-for service that will give you access to your full credit report. The services available will depend on the credit check company you choose.

You can also request a statutory credit report for free from any of the credit reference agencies. Note that this will often take longer and won’t give ongoing access to your information, but can be useful if you need to check for any errors.

Our chart of featured providers highlights those that can provide you with a credit score check, your credit history and/or your full credit report, as well as detailed information to help improve your score.

Why you should check your credit score

Before you apply for a loan, mortgage or credit card, it’s useful to know your credit score. Not only can it help you keep track of your finances, but it can help you find the lenders most likely to accept your application as well. You can use our loan eligibility checker too if you want even greater insight into your credit-worthiness.

Checking your credit file will also show any errors that may be impacting your score, such as repaid debts that haven’t been updated and even fraudulent applications made in your name. If you spot anything that shouldn’t be there, you can flag it with both the lender and the credit reference agency to update, and in the case of fraud you should report it to Action Fraud as well.

How important is your credit score when getting a mortgage?

Your credit score is important when getting a mortgage, as it's considered alongside your income and outgoings to help a lender determine whether to make you an offer; Sarah Wilby, Mortgage and Protection Adviser and Later Life Specialist at our partner Mortgage Advice Bureau, explains more in the video below:

What is a good credit score?

Typically speaking, the higher your credit score, the more likely it is that you’ll be accepted for credit. However, not all credit reference agencies use the same methods to come up with their scores, which means they also use different ranges of numbers to determine what is “good”. For example:

• Experian’s credit score ranges from 0 – 999, and a good credit score is between 881 and 960.
• TransUnion has a range from 0 to 710 and defines a good credit score as being from 604 to 627.
• Equifax uses a range of between 0 and 1,000, with a score of between 531 and 810 deemed a good credit score. Anything over this is considered excellent.

Improving your credit score

The lower your credit score, the less chance you have of being accepted for credit agreements. If it’s below 300 then it is unlikely you will get credit from any lender, with anything below 500 seeing it becoming less and less likely. Even if you’re approved, you may find that you’re offered terms that are worse than the headline rate.

Using a credit check company to check your score and, crucially, help you understand your credit score meaning, is the first step to improving things. From there you can start implementing practical measures, from simple things such as making sure you’re on the electoral roll to those that might take a bit more time, perhaps taking out a credit card designed for those with poor credit to build your credit history and prove your reliability.

For more information on how to improve your credit score, make sure to read our guide.