Credit Score UK: How to Check, Read, and Improve Yours
A few hundred points on your credit file is roughly 1% on your mortgage rate. On a £250,000 25-year loan that gap is £40,000 of real money.
UK credit reference agencies and where to check for free
| Agency | Score range | Excellent above | Free via |
|---|---|---|---|
| Experian | 0-999 | 881 | Experian Free |
| Equifax | 0-1000 | 811 | ClearScore |
| TransUnion | 0-710 | 628 | Credit Karma |
Each agency holds different lender data. Lenders rarely use just one. Build all three.
Key takeaways
Three UK credit reference agencies score you separately: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. Lenders rarely use just one
The biggest score drivers are payment history, credit utilisation, account age, and how often you apply for new credit
You can check all three for free via Experian (direct), ClearScore (Equifax), and Credit Karma (TransUnion)
Improving a damaged score takes 3-12 months of consistent on-time payments and lower utilisation, not one clever trick