Last reviewed: June 2026 | Source: Financial Conduct Authority and the three UK credit reference agencies
TL;DR- The UK has three main credit reference agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
- Each agency holds a separate file, so a lender may see a different score depending on which one it uses.
- Soft searches do not affect your score, but hard searches are visible to lenders and can lower it temporarily.
- Registering on the electoral roll and keeping credit utilisation low are two of the strongest score factors.
- Most negative information, including missed payments and defaults, stays on file for six years.
Key Facts
●UK credit reference agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion
●Statutory report cost: Free under UK GDPR data access rights
●Default retention period: 6 years from the default date
●CCJ retention period: 6 years unless paid within one month
●Recommended credit utilisation: Below 30 percent of available limit
●Hard search visibility: Visible to lenders for around 12 months
There is no single universal credit score in the UK. Each of the three credit reference agencies, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, holds its own file and calculates its own score using its own scale, which is why the same person can see very different numbers. Lenders also apply their own internal scoring on top of the raw data. This guide explains how to check all three files, what genuinely moves a score, and the statutory rights that mean monitoring need not cost anything.
The three credit reference agencies explained
The UK has three main credit reference agencies, or CRAs: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Each maintains a separate credit file on most adults, drawing on data supplied by banks, lenders, utility providers and public records. Because not every lender reports to all three, the files can differ, and so can the scores derived from them.
Each agency uses a different scoring scale, so the numbers are not directly comparable. Experian scores run to 999, Equifax to 1,000 and TransUnion to 710. A lender deciding on an application will typically pull data from one or two of these agencies and combine it with the information on the application form and any existing relationship with the customer.
Because of these differences, monitoring all three files gives the fullest picture. An error or missed update on one file may not appear on another, so checking only one agency can leave gaps.
Free versus paid monitoring services
Statutory credit reports are free under UK data protection law, and a growing number of free apps and services provide ongoing access to scores and alerts funded by advertising or product referrals rather than subscription fees. Free monitoring is sufficient for most people who simply want to track their file and watch for changes.
Paid services typically bundle more frequent updates, access to multiple agencies in one place, score simulators and identity-theft features. Whether these extras justify a monthly fee depends on individual needs, and the underlying statutory data remains available without charge regardless.
Free tools usually each draw from a single agency, so combining a few free services can cover all three CRAs at no cost. Anyone offered a paid trial should note the renewal date, because monitoring subscriptions often convert to a recurring charge.
Hard searches versus soft searches
A soft search, such as checking your own report or an eligibility check, is visible only to you and has no effect on your score. A hard search is recorded when you make a full application for credit, is visible to other lenders, and can reduce a score slightly for a short period.
Several hard searches in a short space of time can signal financial stress to lenders, even if each application is declined. Using eligibility checkers, which run only soft searches, before applying helps avoid unnecessary hard searches. Hard searches typically remain visible on a file for around 12 months and stop affecting scoring well before they drop off entirely.
Quote searches for insurance and most current account switching checks are usually soft searches, so they do not damage a score. Reviewing which searches are recorded is a useful part of monitoring, because an unexpected hard search can be an early sign of fraud.
The electoral roll and credit utilisation
Registering to vote at your current address is one of the simplest ways to support a credit file, because lenders use the electoral roll to confirm identity and address. Being unregistered makes it harder to verify an application and can slow or weaken decisions, so updating the register after a move is worthwhile.
Credit utilisation, the proportion of available credit being used, is among the strongest factors in scoring. Keeping balances below around 30 percent of the total limit signals controlled borrowing, while running cards close to their limits tends to lower scores even when payments are made on time.
Other positive factors include a long history of accounts in good standing, on-time payments and stability of address and employment. Closing old, well-managed accounts can sometimes reduce the average age of credit and the total available limit, so the effect of closures is worth considering before acting.
How long negative information stays on file
Most adverse information remains on a credit file for six years. This includes defaults, which stay for six years from the default date even if later paid, and County Court Judgments, which remain for six years unless paid in full within one month of the judgment, in which case they can be removed.
Missed or late payments are recorded month by month and also typically remain visible for six years, with their impact fading as they age. Bankruptcies, debt relief orders and individual voluntary arrangements have their own retention rules but generally also follow a six-year pattern on the file.
Because old negative entries fade in influence over time, consistent good behaviour gradually outweighs past problems. After six years the entries drop off automatically, and there is no need to ask for them to be removed once that period has passed.
Your statutory rights and how to fix errors
Under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, individuals have the right to access the personal data each CRA holds, which in practice means a free statutory credit report from each agency. The Information Commissioner's Office oversees these data rights, and the Financial Conduct Authority regulates the agencies as credit reference providers.
If a file contains an error, the individual can raise a dispute with the relevant CRA, which must investigate and either correct the entry or explain why it stands. A notice of correction can be added where there is a genuine dispute that cannot be resolved, and this note is shown to lenders considering future applications.
Monitoring all three files regularly is the most reliable way to catch errors and signs of fraud early. Spotting an incorrect default or an unfamiliar account quickly gives the best chance of having it corrected before it affects an application.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many credit scores do I have in the UK?
There is no single official credit score in the UK. Each of the three credit reference agencies, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, holds its own file and produces its own score on its own scale, so a person effectively has at least three scores that can differ. Lenders also apply their own internal scoring, so the number you see is a guide rather than a fixed figure that every lender will use.
Does checking my own credit score lower it?
No. Checking your own credit report or score is recorded as a soft search, which is visible only to you and has no effect on your score. You can check as often as you like without any impact. Only hard searches, which are recorded when you make a full credit application, are visible to lenders and can lower a score temporarily.
How long do missed payments stay on my credit file?
Missed and late payments are usually recorded for six years from the date they occurred, after which they drop off automatically. Defaults also remain for six years from the default date even if the debt is later repaid. The negative impact of these entries fades as they age, so consistent on-time payments gradually rebuild a file well before the six years are up.
Is it free to get my credit report?
Yes. Under UK data protection law you have the right to access the data each credit reference agency holds about you, which means you can obtain a statutory credit report from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion free of charge. Several free apps and services also provide ongoing access to scores and alerts, so monitoring all three files need not involve any subscription cost.
