UK Credit Score (2026/27): 3 Agencies, Searches, Repair Strategy
UK credit scores 2026/27: why Experian, Equifax and TransUnion differ, soft vs hard searches, what harms your file and fixing errors for free.
The 3 UK credit reference agencies
| Agency | Score scale | Bands |
|---|---|---|
| Experian | 0 to 1,250 | Low 0-640, Fair 641-860, Good 861-1,000, Very good 1,001-1,120, Excellent 1,121-1,250 |
| Equifax | Out of 1,000 | See Equifax for its band descriptions |
| TransUnion | Its own scale | See TransUnion for its scale and bands |
Sources: Experian, Equifax. Your statutory credit report from each agency is free (ICO).
What can harm your credit file
| Factor | What to know |
|---|---|
| Missed or late payments | Reported by the lender and seen by other lenders. |
| Default | Should not stay on your file for more than six years from the date of the original default (ICO). |
| County court judgment (CCJ), England and Wales | Kept on the Register of Judgments for 6 years, unless you pay in full within a month (GOV.UK). |
| Bankruptcy, IVA or Debt Relief Order | Recorded from public insolvency data on your credit file (ICO). |
| Using a lot of your available credit | Equifax says a lot of existing credit can signal to lenders that you are using too much. |
| Many credit applications | Each application leaves a hard search on your report; too many in a short period may affect your score (Equifax). |
| Not on the electoral register | Lenders use it to verify your name and address. |
| Financial links to someone with poor credit | Created by joint accounts; you can ask for a disassociation once the joint account is closed (ICO). |
A practical rebuild sequence
- Get your statutory report from all three agencies (free) and check every entry, address and financial link.
- Dispute anything wrong with the agency, and use your section 159 right to have an incorrect entry removed or amended.
- Register to vote at your current address.
- Set up direct debits so no payment is missed.
- Bring balances down relative to your limits, and avoid opening several new accounts at once.
- Use eligibility checkers (soft searches) before any application.
If debts are the problem, free debt advice is a better first step than new credit. See the related guides below.
Related guides
- UK Mortgage Affordability 2026/27 - affordability and credit checks.
- UK Debt Prioritisation 2026/27 - priority debts and free advice.
- UK Debt Relief Order 2026/27 - low-cost insolvency option.
- UK IVA vs Bankruptcy 2026/27 - higher-debt options.
Frequently asked questions
Why do the 3 agencies give different scores?
Each agency calculates its score with its own formula and scale, and lenders do not all share their data with every agency, so one agency can score you poorly while another scores you well. The lender you apply to makes its own decision using the information on your file, and Equifax notes that even a perfect score does not guarantee acceptance.
What are the score ranges?
Experian scores run from 0 to 1,250, with Good from 861, Very good from 1,001 and Excellent from 1,121. Equifax gives a score out of 1,000. TransUnion uses its own scale. Because the scales differ, a number from one agency cannot be compared with a number from another.
How do I see my credit file for free?
You have a legal right to a copy of the personal data a credit reference agency holds about you, and the request is free. The ICO advises looking for the phrase "statutory report" on each agency's website; you do not need a paid subscription. The agency has one month to respond unless it needs more information.
What is the difference between soft and hard searches?
A soft search, such as an eligibility check when comparing deals, will not affect your credit score. A hard search happens when you apply for credit and needs your permission; it appears on your credit report, and too many in a short period may affect your score (Equifax). Use eligibility checkers before applying where they are available.
How can I improve my credit score?
The steps the agencies themselves point to: register to vote at your current address so lenders can verify your details, pay everything on time (a direct debit for at least the minimum payment helps), avoid using a large share of your available credit, limit the number of applications you make, and check your file for mistakes.
How long do negative entries stay on file?
The ICO says a debt should not stay on your file for more than six years from the date of the original default, and should not be recorded in a way that makes it look like two debts. In England and Wales a CCJ is kept on the Register of Judgments for 6 years unless you pay the full amount within a month; if you pay later, it stays but is shown as paid.
What about financial links with a partner?
You should only be financially linked to someone you have a joint account with, or in some cases have acted as guarantor for. A link means lenders may look at the other person's file when you apply. When the joint account is closed you can write to the agencies asking for a disassociation.
Can errors on my credit file be removed?
Yes. Raise it with the agency you got the file from; the ICO also explains when the lender that supplied the data must correct it. Under section 159 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 you can give the agency notice to remove or amend an entry you think is wrong, and it must tell you within 28 days what it has done. If an agency fails to resolve a data dispute, you can complain to the ICO.
Does my income affect my credit score?
Most of what credit reference agencies hold is how you have kept up credit, utility and service accounts, plus addresses and public records such as the electoral roll and court judgments (ICO). Lenders assess income and affordability as part of your application, so a good score alone does not guarantee approval.