Checking Your Credit File
It's free, it doesn't affect your score, and it could explain a refusal.
Your credit file is information about you, and the law gives you the right to see it. Checking it before you apply for credit means no surprises – and if something is wrong, you can get it put right before a lender sees it.
How To See Your File For Free
Each of the three credit reference agencies must give you a copy of the information it holds about you, free of charge. This is often called a statutory credit report. You can request it from each agency's own website:
Lenders on our panel use all three agencies between them, and each agency can hold slightly different information, so it is worth checking every one. You will need to confirm your identity, usually with your address history. Checking your own file is a soft search, so it never affects your score.
What's On It, And What Isn't
On your file
- Your details – name, date of birth, current and past addresses
- Electoral roll – whether you are registered to vote at your address
- Credit accounts – loans, cards, mortgages, overdrafts, and many phone and utility accounts
- Payment history – up to six years of on-time, late and missed payments
- Court records – county court judgments, bankruptcies and IVAs
- Financial links – anyone you share a joint account or loan with
- Searches – who has looked at your file, and when
Not on your file
- Your income or salary
- Your savings
- Council tax arrears, unless they lead to a county court judgment
- Student loans from the Student Loans Company
- Your partner's credit, unless you are financially linked
- Criminal and medical records
What To Look For
- Addresses you never lived at, or an old address still showing as current.
- Accounts you don't recognise – a possible sign of identity fraud.
- Missed payments you made on time, or debts you have paid off still showing a balance.
- A financial link to someone you no longer share any credit with, such as an ex-partner.
- Not being on the electoral roll, which can make it harder for lenders to confirm who you are.
Found something that isn't right? Our guide to fixing mistakes on your credit file takes you through it step by step.
Credit File Questions
How often should I check my credit file?
It's sensible to check before any big application, such as a mortgage or car finance, and every few months otherwise to spot fraud early. Checking as often as you like does no harm.
How long do missed payments stay on my file?
Six years from the date they were recorded, even if you clear the debt sooner. Their effect fades over time, especially if your recent payments are on time. A county court judgment also stays for six years, unless you pay it in full within one month.
I've never had credit. Will my file be empty?
Very thin, which can make lenders cautious. Registering on the electoral roll and keeping a mobile contract or bank account in good order can help build it up over time.