{"id":26985,"date":"2022-12-20T11:05:28","date_gmt":"2022-12-20T10:05:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/?p=26985"},"modified":"2022-12-20T11:46:23","modified_gmt":"2022-12-20T10:46:23","slug":"credit-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything You Need to Know About a Credit Report in the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A credit report is an outline of your credit history. It includes information on all forms of credit that you\u2019ve had, both now and in the past. <strong>Your credit score is worked out using the information in your credit report.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lenders will use your credit report to decide if they want to give you a loan or not. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to make sure that it\u2019s accurate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to find out more about your credit report read on. Here we\u2019ll explain what your credit report is, who can see it and how you can access it yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_72 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-67d8a2c455763\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-67d8a2c455763\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/#what_is_a_credit_report\" title=\"What is a Credit Report?\">What is a Credit Report?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/#what_is_the_purpose_of_a_credit_report\" title=\"What is the Purpose of a Credit Report?\">What is the Purpose of a Credit Report?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/#what_is_included_in_a_credit_report\" title=\"What is Included in a Credit Report?\">What is Included in a Credit Report?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/#1_your_personal_information\" title=\"1. Your Personal Information\">1. Your Personal Information<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/#2_whether_youre_on_the_electoral_roll\" title=\"2. Whether You\u2019re on the Electoral Roll\">2. Whether You\u2019re on the Electoral Roll<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/#3_a_list_of_all_your_credit_accounts\" title=\"3. A List of all Your Credit Accounts\">3. A List of all Your Credit Accounts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/#4_public_information\" title=\"4. Public Information\">4. Public Information<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/#5_details_of_people_who_youre_linked_to_financially\" title=\"5. Details of People Who You\u2019re Linked to Financially\">5. Details of People Who You\u2019re Linked to Financially<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/#how_can_i_get_a_copy_of_my_credit_report\" title=\"How Can I Get a Copy of My Credit Report?\">How Can I Get a Copy of My Credit Report?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/#getting_a_credit_report_direct_from_the_cras\" title=\"Getting a Credit Report Direct from the CRAs\">Getting a Credit Report Direct from the CRAs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/#getting_a_credit_report_from_a_credit_monitoring_service\" title=\"Getting a Credit Report from a Credit Monitoring Service\">Getting a Credit Report from a Credit Monitoring Service<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/#who_can_see_my_credit_report\" title=\"Who Can See My Credit Report?\">Who Can See My Credit Report?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/#will_my_credit_score_go_down_when_my_credit_report_is_checked\" title=\"Will My Credit Score Go Down When My Credit Report is Checked?\">Will My Credit Score Go Down When My Credit Report is Checked?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/#1_a_credit_check_thats_done_by_you_on_your_own_credit_report\" title=\"1. A Credit Check That\u2019s Done by You on Your Own Credit Report\">1. A Credit Check That\u2019s Done by You on Your Own Credit Report<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/#2_a_soft_credit_check_carried_out_on_your_credit_file\" title=\"2. A Soft Credit Check Carried Out on Your Credit File\">2. A Soft Credit Check Carried Out on Your Credit File<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/#3_a_hard_credit_check_carried_out_on_your_credit_file\" title=\"3. A Hard Credit Check Carried Out on Your Credit File\">3. A Hard Credit Check Carried Out on Your Credit File<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/#when_should_i_check_my_credit_report\" title=\"When Should I Check My Credit Report?\">When Should I Check My Credit Report?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/#what_can_i_do_if_there_are_errors_in_my_credit_report\" title=\"What Can I Do if There are Errors in My Credit Report?\">What Can I Do if There are Errors in My Credit Report?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/#final_words\" title=\"Final Words\">Final Words<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/#faqs_about_credit_report\" title=\"FAQs About Credit Report\">FAQs About Credit Report<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/#for_how_long_do_defaults_stay_on_a_credit_report\" title=\"For How Long Do Defaults Stay on a Credit Report?\">For How Long Do Defaults Stay on a Credit Report?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/#for_how_long_do_missed_payments_stay_on_a_credit_report\" title=\"For How Long Do Missed Payments Stay on a Credit Report?\">For How Long Do Missed Payments Stay on a Credit Report?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/credit-report\/#how_do_i_remove_an_iva_from_my_credit_report\" title=\"How Do I Remove an IVA from My Credit Report?\">How Do I Remove an IVA from My Credit Report?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-a-credit-report\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_is_a_credit_report\"><\/span><strong>What is a Credit Report?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A credit report records information about you and you\u2019re borrowing. If you\u2019ve taken out any credit, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/loans\/short-term-loans\/\"><strong>short term loans<\/strong><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/loans\/same-day-loans\/\"><strong>same day loans<\/strong><\/a>, credit cards or mortgages, it\u2019ll all be listed in your credit report. How good you\u2019ve been at paying back any borrowing will also be recorded. It\u2019ll show if you\u2019ve been late or have missed making payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your credit report is recorded in three main credit reference agencies (CRAs) in the UK. They are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Experian<\/li><li>Equifax<\/li><li>TransUnion (formerly Callcredit).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Each of these CRAs work independently of each other so their credit reports won\u2019t look exactly the same.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-the-purpose-of-a-credit-report\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_is_the_purpose_of_a_credit_report\"><\/span><strong>What is the Purpose of a Credit Report?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The purpose of a credit report is to allow lenders assess the risk of lending you money. No one wants to hand over money to someone who may not pay it back. This is why credit reports exist, they show how credit worthy you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>With a good credit history, you tend to be offered more favourable interest rates.<\/strong> With a bad credit history, you\u2019ll tend to be offered higher interest rates. Plus, a poor credit rating will make it harder to borrow money from most lenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That&#8217;s why it&#8217;s important to understand what&#8217;s in your credit report and how it&#8217;s used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-included-in-a-credit-report\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_is_included_in_a_credit_report\"><\/span><strong>What is Included in a Credit Report?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your credit report includes information about you that helps to identify you. It also has information about your credit history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a list of what\u2019s recorded in your credit report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-your-personal-information\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_your_personal_information\"><\/span><strong>1. Your Personal Information<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>This would include:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Your name<\/li><li>Your date of birth<\/li><li>Your current and previous addresses<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-whether-you-re-on-the-electoral-roll\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_whether_youre_on_the_electoral_roll\"><\/span><strong>2. Whether You\u2019re on the Electoral Roll<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your credit report will confirm whether you\u2019re registered to vote. It helps lenders to verify your identity if you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-a-list-of-all-your-credit-accounts\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_a_list_of_all_your_credit_accounts\"><\/span><strong>3. A List of all Your Credit Accounts<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This includes every type of credit account you have. It can be anything from your bank account to loans, mortgages or credit cards. <strong>Your credit report will show all the payments you make to these credit accounts too. <\/strong>And it\u2019ll show if they\u2019re paid late or on time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-public-information\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_public_information\"><\/span><strong>4. Public Information<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Public information is items that are reported on the public record. For example, these would include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/what-is-a-ccj\/\"><strong>County Court Judgements<\/strong><\/a> (CCJs), repossessions and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/what-happens-when-you-declare-bankruptcy\/\"><strong>bankruptcies<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-details-of-people-who-you-re-linked-to-financially\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_details_of_people_who_youre_linked_to_financially\"><\/span><strong>5. Details of People Who You\u2019re Linked to Financially<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve taken out any joint borrowings or bank accounts with someone, they\u2019ll be linked to you financially. <strong>This will show up on your credit report.<\/strong> It means that lenders may look at their credit report too when deciding whether to lend to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-can-i-get-a-copy-of-my-credit-report\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_can_i_get_a_copy_of_my_credit_report\"><\/span><strong>How Can I Get a Copy of My Credit Report?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two main ways to get a copy of your credit report. These are either:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Directly from the three major Credit Reference Agencies &#8211; <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.experian.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Experian<\/a><\/strong>, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.equifax.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Equifax<\/a><\/strong>, and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transunion.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">TransUnion<\/a><\/strong>.<\/li><li>From a credit monitoring service.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Read on to find out how to get a copy of your credit report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"getting-a-credit-report-direct-from-the-cras\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"getting_a_credit_report_direct_from_the_cras\"><\/span><strong>Getting a Credit Report Direct from the CRAs<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You can get your credit report for free from each of the Credit Reference Agencies once every 12 months. You\u2019ll need to register with them first but then they\u2019ll send it to you online, by email or by post. <strong>If you want more than one copy of your credit report in a 12 month period, you\u2019ll have to pay for it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As lenders don\u2019t all use the same CRA, you\u2019ll have to look at what\u2019s on your report with all three agencies. That\u2019s the only way you\u2019ll get an accurate picture of what\u2019s being reported on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"getting-a-credit-report-from-a-credit-monitoring-service\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"getting_a_credit_report_from_a_credit_monitoring_service\"><\/span><strong>Getting a Credit Report from a Credit Monitoring Service<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are credit monitoring services in the UK who\u2019ll give you information on your credit report for free. These services include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.clearscore.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>Clearscore<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.creditkarma.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\"><strong>Credit Karma<\/strong><\/a>. <strong>These credit monitoring services will give you your credit score for free, but you won\u2019t get a full report.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As with the CRAs, if you want a full credit report, you\u2019ll have to pay for it. There are some credit monitoring services who\u2019ll offer a free trial period. During this time, you can access your credit report for free. But you need to be mindful that they\u2019ll charge you after the free period ends. If you don\u2019t want to pay, you must remember to cancel your subscription before the free period ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"who-can-see-my-credit-report\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"who_can_see_my_credit_report\"><\/span><strong>Who Can See My Credit Report?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The only people who can look at your credit report are those with good reason to. The information held on you is secure so not anyone can look at your credit report. <strong>Businesses or individuals must have a legitimate reason for viewing your credit report.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, you can see your own credit report. You just have to go to the top three CRAs in the UK to see it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The table below contains a list of who might look at your credit report, and the reason why they\u2019d want to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Who might look at your credit report<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Why they\u2019d look at your credit report<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Banks<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">When you open a new bank account, they\u2019ll verify you and check your credit history.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Mortgage, credit card and loan providers<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">When you apply for any form of lending, the provider will want to verify you and check your credit history. It\u2019ll help them decide if they\u2019re going lend to you and what interest rate they\u2019ll offer.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Mobile phone and utility companies<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">They\u2019ll look at your credit report to verify you. They may want to see how you\u2019ve managed previous credit before setting up an account with you.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Debt collection agencies<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Once a debt is passed to them, they have the same right to look at your credit report that the original lender had. The reason they\u2019d look at your credit report would be to help them decide how to collect your outstanding debt.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Insurance companies<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">House or car insurance companies may use your credit report to verify you.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Potential employers<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Employers may want to check your credit history depending on the field of work you\u2019re entering.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Landlords and letting agencies<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">They would look at your credit report to verify you and to see how likely it is that you\u2019ll pay the rent on time. Not all landlords do this so check with them.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The only other reason someone would look at your credit file is if you\u2019re being investigated for fraud. Law enforcement officials may be granted access if they suspect anything untoward is happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"will-my-credit-score-go-down-when-my-credit-report-is-checked\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"will_my_credit_score_go_down_when_my_credit_report_is_checked\"><\/span><strong>Will My Credit Score Go Down When My Credit Report is Checked?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Checking your credit score is an important if you want to look after it. But you may be wondering if doing so will have an impact on your score. <strong>Whether your credit score is affected depends on who\u2019s checking it, and what kind of check they\u2019re doing.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>There are three types of credit check:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-a-credit-check-that-s-done-by-you-on-your-own-credit-report\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_a_credit_check_thats_done_by_you_on_your_own_credit_report\"><\/span><strong>1. A Credit Check That\u2019s Done by You on Your Own Credit Report<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to look at your own credit report, you can do this as many times as you want. It won\u2019t affect your credit score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-a-soft-credit-check-carried-out-on-your-credit-file\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_a_soft_credit_check_carried_out_on_your_credit_file\"><\/span><strong>2. A Soft Credit Check Carried Out on Your Credit File<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/soft-credit-check\/\">soft credit check<\/a><\/strong> is one that companies carry out to get an overview of your credit file. It doesn\u2019t give them any detail on your credit history. But it gives them an idea on whether they might be willing to lend to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a soft credit check is done, you\u2019ll see it on your credit file but no one else will. This means it won\u2019t affect your credit score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-a-hard-credit-check-carried-out-on-your-credit-file\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_a_hard_credit_check_carried_out_on_your_credit_file\"><\/span><strong>3. A Hard Credit Check Carried Out on Your Credit File<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is carried out when companies want to make a decision on whether they\u2019re going to lend to you. With this check, they\u2019ll be able to see details on your credit history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/hard-credit-check\/\"><strong>hard credit check<\/strong><\/a> will leave a mark on your credit file that other lenders can see. And this will have an effect on your credit score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The table below summarises which credit checks affect your credit score, and which ones don\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>The kind of credit check<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Does it affect your credit score?<\/strong> <strong>Yes\/No<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">A check carried out by you on your own credit file<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">No<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">A soft credit check<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">No<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">A hard credit check<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Yes<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"when-should-i-check-my-credit-report\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"when_should_i_check_my_credit_report\"><\/span><strong>When Should I Check My Credit Report?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a good idea to check your credit report at least once a year. <strong>You should also check your credit report when you know that someone is going to be looking at it.<\/strong> Such as when you\u2019re going to apply for a mortgage or take out a loan. This way you can see what your credit score is and if it\u2019s low, you can take action to improve it before you apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Checking your credit report regularly can help you identify any potential errors. It&#8217;ll also help you spot any fraudulent activity. It helps you ensure that you\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/how-to-improve-your-credit-score-in-30-days\/\"><strong>keeping your credit score healthy<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Credit monitoring services are useful as they alert you if there are any changes to your credit score. Some of the more commonly known ones we\u2019ve mentioned above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-can-i-do-if-there-are-errors-in-my-credit-report\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what_can_i_do_if_there_are_errors_in_my_credit_report\"><\/span><strong>What Can I Do if There are Errors in My Credit Report?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you find an error on your credit report, you should get it put right. Here\u2019s a guide of what you can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" type=\"1\"><li>If the error was entered by a company, contact them first and ask them to put it right. The CRA won\u2019t change something a company has put on your report. They would always have to check with them first.<\/li><li>If the mistake is about something else, raise a dispute directly with the CRA. Explain what the error is, and they\u2019ll give you a response within 28 days. If the error turns out to have come from a company, the CRA will contact them about it.<\/li><li>If there\u2019s a one-off event that had an impact on your credit report, you can add a note to explain what happened. This is called a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.checkmyfile.com\/jargon\/notice-of-correction.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">notice of correction<\/a><\/strong>.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>So, let\u2019s say you missed a few repayments because you were made redundant or suffered an illness. This would leave a negative mark on your credit file. But adding a notice of correction will let you explain why it happened. When lenders look at your credit report, they\u2019ll be able to see this notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"final-words\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"final_words\"><\/span><strong>Final Words<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your credit report is a vital part of your financial health. <strong>By understanding what it is, who can see it, and how to check it, you can take steps to ensure its accurate and up to date.<\/strong> If you find an error on it, you can do something about it to have it corrected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Checking your credit report regularly can help you keep it healthy and improve it when needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faqs-about-credit-report\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"faqs_about_credit_report\"><\/span><strong>FAQs About Credit Report<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1671483936918\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"for_how_long_do_defaults_stay_on_a_credit_report\"><\/span><strong>For How Long Do Defaults Stay on a Credit Report?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Defaults stay on a credit report for 6 years from the date of default.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1671483997173\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"for_how_long_do_missed_payments_stay_on_a_credit_report\"><\/span><strong>For How Long Do Missed Payments Stay on a Credit Report?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Missed payments will stay on your credit report for 6 years.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1671484027869\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_do_i_remove_an_iva_from_my_credit_report\"><\/span><strong>How Do I Remove an IVA from My Credit Report?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>An IVA will remain on your credit file for six years from the date it started. Once the six years is up, it should be automatically removed.<br \/>If it isn\u2019t removed, ask the CRAs to remove the IVA from your credit file. When your IVA ended, your practitioner would have sent you a certificate of completion. You\u2019d need to send this in to the CRA to get the IVA removed.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Disclaimer:<\/strong> We are not providing financial advice. These are just tips for informational purposes. Also, we are not affiliated to any of the external parties linked here, they are provided for reference only.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A credit report is an outline of your credit history. It includes information on all forms of credit that you\u2019ve had, both now and in the past. Your credit score is worked out using the information in your credit report. Lenders will use your credit report to decide if they want to give you a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48,"featured_media":26987,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,267],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26985","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-loans"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26985"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/48"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26985"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26985\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26988,"href":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26985\/revisions\/26988"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26987"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26985"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26985"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lendingstream.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}