Getting to grips with your credit file is crucial if you want to make sure your financial history is in the right shape for getting accepted for credit. However, many of us don’t have a great understanding of what a credit file is – or what we need to do to make sure it stays in good shape. In fact, credit report provider Credit Karma (previously known as Noddle) found that 56% of people were unable to correctly state what a credit score is. Much of this confusion is the result of myths that have arisen around what your credit score is and why it matters.
There is only one credit score per person. The UK doesn’t have a universal credit scoring system so whichever credit rating agency you choose to check your score with, you’ll see a different number.
Lenders use the credit scores that agencies compile. When you apply for credit the lender will access your credit file to look at your credit history. However, they won’t see the score that the agency has created for you. Lenders make their own decisions about credit scoring based on their own criteria.
There is a credit blacklist. Even if you’ve been rejected for credit by one lender you may still find that you’re eligible for credit with another. There is no such thing as a credit blacklist that means that every application you make won’t be accepted. This is the advantage of different lenders using a range of criteria to create their own credit scoring systems.
If you have a bad credit score you’ll never get any credit. The financial products market offers a very wide range of different options when it comes to credit. If you have a poor credit score then you may struggle to get credit with a mainstream lender or a high street bank. However, other lenders are specifically open to people with poor credit and there are lots of loans that are designed for borrowers without a perfect credit score e.g. guarantor loans.
Once your credit history is recorded it is set in stone. You can’t go back and change your credit history unless there is a mistake in it. However, there are lots of ways that you can take steps to improve what’s there. It’s also important to note that your credit history doesn’t go right back through to the first year you had one. Accounts, credit cards and loans will stay on your credit file for six years and after that, they are automatically removed.
If you have little – or no – credit you’ll have a higher credit score. The purpose of lenders checking your credit file is to see how you’ve handled borrowing in the past. So, if there is no evidence of borrowing this could actually bring your credit score down. On the other hand, borrowing can help to give your credit score a boost – this depends on the borrowing being handled successfully i.e. the loan or credit card being affordable for you and repayments made on time.
It’s not possible to improve your credit score. The good news for anyone who doesn’t have that ideal credit score is that there is plenty that you can do to improve it. Some of the steps you could look into include:
Pay off some of your existing debt i.e. more than minimum payments
Make sure that you’re on the electoral roll
If you’ve been rejected for credit wait at least six months before applying for more
Keep paying your bills on time and stay up to date with repayments
Anyone who automatically earns a lot will have a high credit score. Although earnings may be a factor in your score, they don’t guarantee a good one. Someone who earns a lot but has missed a number of credit card payments or defaulted on a loan could end up with a low score as a result.
Your partner’s credit history will have an influence over your chances of being accepted for a loan. On the whole, lenders don’t assess your partner if you make a borrowing application, even if you live together. It’s only if there is a financial connection that this may have an impact, such as a shared bank account or a joint credit card.
These credit file myths have been the cause of a lot of confusion over the years. However, understanding what credit means to you the consumer is a lot simpler than it seems once these myths have been debunked.
Alex Hartley is a keen advocate of improving personal finance skills. She's worked at Solution Loans since 2014 and written hundreds of articles about how people can manage their money better. Her interest in personal finance goes way back to...Read about Alex Hartley
We use cookies to make your experience on our site even better. They also help us to understand how you use our site. By clicking 'Accept All' you're agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie preferences by choosing 'Manage Settings' and if you want to know more, you can read our cookie policy.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.