How to Check Your Credit Score in the UK

You can check your credit score for free in the UK by signing up to a credit score service such as Experian, ClearScore, Credit Karma or Checkmyfile. Signing up usually takes a couple of minutes, and checking your own score never harms it. Your score is a number lenders use to judge how reliably you repay money, and it is based on the information in your credit report.

• Nothing to pay if you use a free service. Some services, such as Checkmyfile, offer a free trial and then charge a monthly subscription.
• No credit card is required for some free scores, such as Experian's.

1. Decide which service to use. Experian, ClearScore, Credit Karma and Checkmyfile all let you see a UK credit score, and Checkmyfile shows data from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion in one report.
2. Go to the service's website or download its app. ClearScore, for example, is available on iOS and Android.
3. Sign up by entering a few details about yourself. Credit Karma says this only takes a couple of minutes.
4. Get your free credit report and score. Experian, ClearScore and Credit Karma all provide this, and Checkmyfile offers a free 7-day trial.
5. Read the breakdown of what is affecting your score, such as your payment history, how much you owe and how often you apply for credit.
6. Check your report for errors. Checkmyfile offers a dispute resolution service if you spot a mistake.
7. Set a reminder to check again regularly, especially before you apply for credit. You can check as often as you like, and it will not harm your score.
8. If you want to, look at the card and loan offers matched to your score, and see your likelihood of approval before you apply.

• Checking your own credit score never lowers it. Experian, ClearScore and Credit Karma all state this.
• You do not have just one credit score. Each lender scores you in its own way when you apply for credit, so the score you see is a guide to how lenders may view you.
• Your Experian Credit Score is based on your Experian Credit Report, including your payment history, how much you owe and how often you apply for credit.
• Experian's score bands run from Low (0 to 640) through Fair (641 to 860), Good (861 to 1000), Very Good (1001 to 1120) and Excellent (1121 to 1250). The average Experian Credit Score is 850.
• Experian Boost lets payments such as council tax, savings accounts and subscriptions like Spotify and Netflix count towards your score. Not all scores will rise with Boost, but using it will never make your score go down.
• Checkmyfile costs £14.99 a month after a free 7-day trial, and you can cancel online at any time. Other services are free, and some show loan or credit card offers or offer paid subscriptions with extra features.
• Some services are credit brokers, not lenders. ClearScore states that pre-approval does not always guarantee acceptance and is subject to lenders' checks of your credit status.

Does checking my credit score affect it? No. Checking your own credit score does not harm it, and you can check it as often as you like.

How often should I check my credit score? It is a good idea to check regularly, especially if you are planning to apply for credit in the future.

What is a good credit score? On Experian's scale, 861 to 1000 is Good, 1001 to 1120 is Very Good and 1121 to 1250 is Excellent. The average Experian Credit Score is 850.

Can I improve my score for free? Experian Boost lets payments such as council tax, savings accounts and subscriptions count towards your score, and using it will never make your score go down.

Is there a service that shows all three credit agencies? Yes. Checkmyfile provides a credit score and report with data from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, after a free 7-day trial and then £14.99 a month.