How to improve your credit score in the UK: 10 things that work

How credit scores work in the UK

There is no single credit score. Three credit reference agencies keep a report on you: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Each one gives its own score on its own scale, so the numbers are not comparable.

Lenders do not see those scores. They see your report and combine it with what you put on the application and their own rules. That is why you can have a "good" score and still be turned down.

Your report shows:

• Credit cards, loans, mortgages, overdrafts and some buy now pay later plans
• Whether you paid on time, for the last six years
• Defaults, County Court Judgments and insolvencies
• Whether you are on the electoral roll at your address
• Searches from recent applications
• People you have a joint account with

Check your reports for free

You have a legal right to see your report free from each agency. Each also offers a free service that shows your report and a score:

• Experian: a free Experian account
• Equifax: through ClearScore
• TransUnion: through Credit Karma

Check all three. Lenders do not all use the same agency, and mistakes on one may not appear on the others.

10 ways to improve your credit score

1. Register on the electoral roll at your current address. It is one of the main ways lenders confirm who you are. You can register online in a few minutes.
2. Pay everything on time. Set up a direct debit for at least the minimum on every card, so you never miss one by accident.
3. Use less of your limit. Keeping card balances well under the limit, ideally below about a quarter of it, looks better than being close to maxed out.
4. Space out applications. Each full application leaves a hard search. Several in a short time can look like you are desperate for credit.
5. Use eligibility checkers before applying. They use a soft search, which lenders cannot see, and tell you your chances.
6. Fix mistakes. Wrong addresses, accounts that are not yours or payments wrongly marked as late can all be disputed with the agency for free.
7. Break financial links with ex-partners. If you had a joint account that has closed, ask the agencies to add a notice of disassociation.
8. Build some history. If your file is thin, a credit builder card used for one small regular payment and cleared in full each month helps.
9. Keep old accounts open if they are well managed and have no fee. A long history helps.
10. Leave time after problems. Late payments and defaults matter less as they age, and drop off your report after six years.

Things that do not affect your score

• Checking your own report
• Soft searches, including eligibility checkers and quotes
• Your income or salary (it is not on your report)
• Being turned down, apart from the hard search itself
• Where you live, beyond confirming your address

Buy now pay later and your credit file

Since 15 July 2026, buy now pay later plans from a separate lender are regulated by the FCA. Many providers now share repayment data with the credit reference agencies, so missed payments can show on your report. Read more in my buy now pay later guide.

Common questions

What is a good credit score in the UK?

Each agency uses a different scale, so there is no single number. Each one shows bands like "fair", "good" and "excellent". Focus on what is on your report rather than the score itself.

How long does it take to improve a credit score?

Simple fixes like joining the electoral roll or correcting an error can show within a month or two. Rebuilding after missed payments takes longer, often a year or more of on-time payments.

Does paying rent improve my credit score?

It can. Some rent payments are now shared with credit reference agencies, either by your landlord or through a rent-reporting service you sign up to. Ask your landlord or letting agent whether yours is reported.

Will paying off debt improve my credit score?

Usually. Lower balances and a run of on-time payments both help. See how to pay off debt faster.