TL;DR
UK credit scores are produced separately by Experian, Equifax and TransUnion using their proprietary models. This guide explains the score ranges, what each agency weighs, and why your scores can differ.
Key facts
- Experian 0-999 scale.
- Equifax 0-1000 scale.
- TransUnion 0-710 scale.
- Each CRA has independent data and scoring model.
- Statutory free reports under DPA 2018.
- Lenders use underlying data plus own scorecard, not the CRA score directly.
- Electoral roll match boosts score by 30-50 points on average.
- Hard credit applications visible to other lenders for 12 months.
UK credit scoring is produced by three credit reference agencies operating independently. Each maintains its own file on each consumer drawn from data reported by lenders, utility providers, the courts, and the electoral roll. Each produces its own score using its own proprietary model, and lenders use the underlying data combined with their own scorecard for actual lending decisions.
This guide explains the score ranges from each CRA, what is weighted heavily and lightly, and why the scores can differ materially across CRAs for the same individual.
Experian score and what it shows
Experian uses a 0-999 scale. The bands are: Very Poor 0-560, Poor 561-720, Fair 721-880, Good 881-960, Excellent 961-999. The Experian file is the most widely reported in UK consumer marketing because of Experian's largest direct-to-consumer presence.
Experian weights heavily: payment history on credit accounts (around 35%), credit utilisation across cards and overdrafts (around 30%), length of credit history (around 15%), recent credit applications (around 10%), and credit mix (around 10%).
Electoral roll match alone can add 30-50 points to the Experian score. The reason is the electoral roll's role in identity verification - a confirmed match reassures lenders that the address is real and the borrower is contactable.
Worked example: a borrower with three credit cards averaging 70% utilisation, three on-time payments per month, electoral roll match, and 5 years of credit history might score around 750 (Fair band) on Experian. Bringing utilisation down to 25% across the cards could lift the score to 850 (Good band) within 1-2 months as the new utilisation is reported.
Free Experian reports under DPA 2018 are available at experian.co.uk under 'Free Experian Credit Report'. The commercial subscription (Experian CreditExpert at around GBP 14.99 a month) provides ongoing monitoring but is not necessary to see the file at any given point - the free statutory report shows the same data.
Equifax score and Clear Score
Equifax uses a 0-1000 scale with bands: Poor 0-438, Fair 439-530, Good 531-670, Very Good 671-810, Excellent 811-1000. The Equifax file may differ materially from Experian's because some lenders report to one but not the other.
Equifax's commercial direct-to-consumer offering is via ClearScore (a partnership with Equifax that gives free monitoring of Equifax data). ClearScore is the most-used free credit monitoring service in the UK with 18 million users as of 2024 according to ClearScore's own figures. The service is free; the company monetises through credit-card and loan referrals.
The Equifax score weights: payment history (~35%), credit utilisation (~25%), length of credit history (~15%), applications (~10%), public records (~10%), credit mix (~5%). Public records include CCJs, IVAs, DROs and bankruptcies - more heavily weighted at Equifax than at Experian.
Worked example: a borrower with one CCJ from 2021 (still on file until 2027), no other adverse markers, otherwise clean history. Equifax may score lower than Experian for this borrower because of the heavier weighting on the public record. Once the CCJ falls off in 2027, the Equifax score would likely jump materially.
TransUnion score and Credit Karma
TransUnion uses a 0-710 scale with bands: Very Poor 0-550, Poor 551-565, Fair 566-603, Good 604-627, Excellent 628-710. The TransUnion file is sometimes lighter (fewer accounts) because TransUnion is the youngest of the three in the UK market, having entered through the Callcredit acquisition.
The commercial consumer offering is Credit Karma UK (a TransUnion partnership), free to use with around 10 million UK users. Credit Karma shows the TransUnion file and provides ongoing monitoring; the company monetises through credit referrals.
TransUnion's score weights are broadly similar to Experian and Equifax. Where TransUnion has thinner data on a borrower, the score may be lower simply because there is less positive history to weight. Building TransUnion data through ensuring all credit accounts report to all three CRAs is sometimes useful for thin-file borrowers.
Edge case: not all lenders report to all three CRAs. A loan from a specific provider may appear at Experian only. The borrower's TransUnion file may understate the credit history. Asking lenders which CRAs they report to and requesting they report to all three (most will) helps build a comprehensive credit footprint.
Why the scores differ
Three reasons for cross-CRA differences. First, different data: a lender may report to Experian but not Equifax, so the Equifax file is missing the account. Second, different timing: a default reported to one CRA but not yet processed by another can show on one file and not the other. Third, different scorecards: each CRA applies different weights to the same underlying data, so even identical files produce different scores.
The numerical score difference is less important than the underlying data. A borrower with 'Good' score at Experian and 'Fair' at Equifax should focus on what data differs between the files rather than which score is correct. Lenders typically pull two CRAs for a decision and apply their own weighting; a mediocre score at one CRA may be acceptable if the other looks better.
Mortgage lenders are particularly likely to check multiple CRAs and apply conservative weighting. A borrower applying for a mortgage benefits from cleaning up the file at all three CRAs in the 6-12 months before applying.
Practical action: checking all three statutory reports periodically (every 6-12 months) catches divergence early. Where data differs, the borrower can ask the lender to report to the missing CRAs (most will agree), bringing the files into alignment.
Improving the score across all three CRAs
Pay all credit accounts on time. Late payments are the single biggest negative factor across all three CRAs. Setting up direct debits for at least the minimum payment on every credit account prevents accidental late payments.
Keep credit utilisation below 30% of each card's limit. High utilisation suggests financial stress; consistent low utilisation suggests healthy financial management. Paying off the full balance each month keeps reported utilisation low.
Register on the electoral roll at the current address. Electoral roll match is heavily weighted at all three CRAs as an identity-verification signal. Registration is free at gov.uk/register-to-vote and takes around 5 minutes online.
Limit hard credit applications. Each hard application is visible to other lenders for 12 months. Multiple applications in a short period suggest financial stress. Eligibility checkers (soft searches) at most lenders show indicative chances without leaving a hard footprint, useful for shopping around without damaging score.
Soft and hard credit searches
Credit searches divide into soft and hard. Soft searches are visible only to the searcher and the consumer; they do not affect score and are not visible to other lenders. Examples: a borrower checking their own statutory report, an eligibility checker for a credit product, an existing lender reviewing the relationship.
Hard searches are visible to other lenders for 12 months. They are recorded when a credit application is made. Multiple hard searches in a short period suggest financial stress or rate shopping; lenders typically weight this negatively, dropping the score by 5-20 points per search during the visible period.
The FCA's CONC 5 affordability rules require a hard search before significant credit decisions. Lenders cannot rely solely on soft search results to make a decision because the data shown is more limited than the full report.
Practical action: using eligibility checkers (soft searches) at 2-3 providers before making any hard credit application minimises the score impact. Where multiple hard searches are likely (mortgage, car finance, credit card around the same time), grouping them within a short period (1-2 weeks) is treated more favourably than spreading over months because the scoring models often recognise rate-shopping as a single decision episode.
Disclaimer
This article provides general information based on rules and figures published by UK government and regulator sources as of May 2026. It is not personal financial, legal, immigration or tax advice. Rules, fees and figures change and individual circumstances vary. Readers should check primary sources or consult a qualified, regulated adviser before acting on any information here.
Frequently asked questions
Which CRA score matters most?
All three matter because lenders pull different combinations. Mortgage lenders often pull two or all three. Credit card and personal loan applications typically pull one or two. The numerical score is less important than the underlying data; cleaning the data improves scores across all three. Checking all three statutory reports periodically reveals where data differs and where attention is needed.
Why are my Experian and Equifax scores different?
Different data (some lenders report to one but not the other), different timing (one CRA may have processed a recent change before the other), and different scoring models. The numerical difference can be material - 50-150 points across the same individual's files is common. The underlying data is what lenders look at, not just the headline number.
Does checking my own credit score hurt it?
No. Statutory reports under DPA 2018 are soft searches visible only to the borrower, not to other lenders. The 'check your score' tools at ClearScore, Credit Karma, and Experian's free service are also soft searches. Only hard credit applications (actual applications for credit) are recorded as hard searches visible to other lenders for 12 months.
Can I get my credit score for free?
Yes through three routes: statutory free reports under DPA 2018 at each CRA's website, commercial free services (ClearScore for Equifax, Credit Karma for TransUnion, Experian's free service), and credit-builder card providers (some show ongoing score data). All free; the commercial services monetise through credit referrals rather than user fees.
How long does it take to improve a credit score?
Visible improvements in 3-6 months for utilisation changes and on-time payment patterns. Default markers and CCJs remain on file for 6 years regardless of subsequent behaviour, though their weight in scoring decreases as they age. Building from a thin file to a Fair score typically takes 12-24 months. Going from Fair to Good takes another 12-24 months of consistent activity.