- Credit reference agencies
- Experian, Equifax and TransUnion
- Free report
- You can see your statutory credit report for free
- Typical retention
- Most negative entries stay for six years
- No single score
- Each lender decides using its own criteria
On this page
Credit reports and credit scores
Your credit report is a record of your borrowing and repayment history, held by credit reference agencies. A credit score is a number the agencies, or a lender, calculate from it. There is no single national score. Each agency has its own scale, and lenders use their own scorecards, so a good score with one agency does not guarantee approval.
What is on your credit report
- Credit cards, loans, mortgages, overdrafts and some buy now pay later accounts, and whether payments were on time.
- Defaults, county court judgments, IVAs, debt relief orders and bankruptcy.
- Searches by lenders when you apply for credit.
- Your address history and whether you are on the electoral roll.
- Financial associations with people you share accounts with.
Talk to a free adviser first
An adviser can look at your whole budget, deal with creditors for you and explain which option suits you. Get free debt advice.
How long things stay
| Entry | Usually stays for |
|---|---|
| Missed payments | Six years |
| Defaults | Six years from the default date |
| CCJs | Six years, unless paid in full within one month |
| IVAs, DROs and bankruptcy | Six years from the start date |
| Hard searches | About 12 months |
Time periods are the standard industry rules. Paying a default does not remove it, but marks it as settled.
Check your report
You can see your statutory credit report from each of the three agencies for free. Check all three, because each may hold different information. Look for accounts you do not recognise, wrong balances, missed payments that were not missed and people you should not be linked to.
Correcting mistakes
- Contact the lender that supplied the wrong information and ask it to correct it.
- You can also ask the credit reference agency to investigate, and add a short notice of correction to your file explaining your side.
- If it is not resolved, complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service or the Information Commissioner’s Office.
How to improve your record
- Pay at least the minimum on time, using direct debits.
- Register on the electoral roll at your current address.
- Keep balances well below your limits.
- Avoid making many credit applications in a short time, and use eligibility checkers that do not leave a hard search.
- Close or freeze joint accounts and ask for a notice of disassociation after a split. See joint debts.
- Be patient. Negative entries fade as they age, and recent good behaviour counts for more.
Beware of credit repair claims
Companies that charge to "wipe" accurate negative entries cannot do it legally. Everything they can do, such as checking your file and disputing errors, you can do yourself for free. If you are struggling with debts, speak to a free adviser instead.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good credit score?
It depends on the agency and the lender. Focus on a clean, up-to-date record rather than one number.
Does checking my own credit report lower my score?
No. A check of your own file is a soft search that lenders cannot see.
Does paying off a CCJ or default remove it?
Paying a default marks it as settled but does not remove it. A CCJ paid in full within one month can be removed, otherwise it stays for six years marked as satisfied.
Can I get credit with a poor score?
Often, but at a higher cost. Be wary of high-cost lenders. A credit union or credit-builder product may be a better route.
Does an IVA ruin my credit?
It has a serious effect for the six years it stays on your file, but a good record afterwards helps you recover. See our IVA guide.
This guide gives general information and is not personal advice. Rules and limits change, so check with a free adviser before acting. Last reviewed 11 November 2026.