Credit Scores Explained
What's on your credit file, how to see it for free, how long things stay there – and the myths that worry people for no good reason.
Reviewed by Martin Bishop, Head of Customer Services · October 2026
Who keeps your credit file?
In the UK, three main credit reference agencies record how you've managed credit. Lenders check one or more of them when you apply. They don't all hold exactly the same information, so it's worth checking all three.
You have a legal right to see the information each agency holds about you, free of charge. Each one also offers a free way to view your report online.
What's on your file
- your credit accounts – loans, credit cards, mortgages, phone contracts and some utility accounts – and whether you've paid on time
- any defaults, County Court Judgments, bankruptcy, IVAs or Debt Relief Orders
- hard searches made by lenders when you've applied for credit
- whether you're on the electoral roll at your address
- anyone you're financially linked to through joint credit
Your income, savings, salary and any criminal record are not on your credit file.
Soft searches and hard searches
Soft search
- checking your own file
- getting a quote, including through our site
- only you can see it
- no effect on your score
Hard search
- made when you go ahead with an application
- other lenders can see it
- several in a short time can count against you
- a lender should tell you before making one
How long things stay on your file
| What | How long it stays |
|---|---|
| Missed and late payments | usually 6 years |
| Defaults | 6 years from the date of the default, even once paid |
| County Court Judgments (CCJs) | 6 years – or removed if paid in full within one month |
| Bankruptcy, IVAs and DROs | usually 6 years |
| Hard searches | usually 1 to 2 years |
Typical periods in the UK – check with the agencies for the details of your own file.
"But I made that payment"
One of the most common problems our customer services team sees is a disagreement over a payment. The customer is sure they paid on time, but their credit file shows a missed payment – and the lender's records say it was missed too. Sorting out that kind of dispute is very common.
If it happens to you, gather your evidence first, such as bank statements showing the payment. Then contact the lender, because only the lender that reported the payment can correct it. You can also raise a dispute with the credit reference agency, and add a short "notice of correction" to your file explaining your side. If the lender won't put it right, you can complain to them and then to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Myths and facts
MythChecking my own credit score lowers it.
FactNo. Looking at your own file is a soft search. Only you can see it, and it has no effect on your score. Check it as often as you like.
MythBeing turned down for a loan damages my score.
FactThe decision itself isn't recorded on your file. What lenders can see is a hard search, if one was made. Through our site, every check is a soft search.
MythThere's one credit score that every lender uses.
FactEach credit reference agency works out its own score, and every lender uses its own rules on top. A "good" score with one agency can look different with another.
MythMy partner's bad credit affects mine.
FactOnly if you're financially linked – for example, through a joint account or joint loan. Living together or being married doesn't link you on its own. If you split up, you can ask the agencies to remove the link.
MythThe previous owner's debts follow me when I move in.
FactNo. Your credit file is about you, not your address. Other people's debts at the same address don't affect you unless you're financially linked to them.
MythHaving no credit at all means a perfect score.
FactNot usually. Lenders like to see that you've managed credit well, so having no history can make it harder to be accepted.
Simple ways to help your score
- Register to vote at your current address – it helps lenders confirm who you are. You can do it on GOV.UK.
- Pay on time, every time – even small payments, like a phone contract.
- Check your file for mistakes, and ask the agency to correct anything that's wrong.
- Space out your applications, so you don't build up lots of hard searches at once.
- Keep your details steady – see what lenders look for in our guide to borrowing responsibly.
Had problems in the past? Read about bad credit loans, or see more customer advice.