Surprise me
  1. Home
  2. Finance
  3. Credit scores
Finance

Credit scores

What a credit score is, who makes it, and what moves it up and down.

4 min read Last updated 3 Nov 2026
A gauge dial with a needle pointing high and a small card beneath, showing a credit score.

The short version

A credit score is a number that estimates how likely you are to repay what you borrow. In the UK there is no single score. Three agencies each keep a record of your borrowing and work out their own, and lenders also use their own checks.

I always thought everyone had one official credit score that every lender saw.

They do not.

There are several, and a lender may look at none of them.

Who keeps the record

Lenders report how you handle credit to credit reference agencies. In the UK there are three main ones: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Each keeps a credit report: a list of your accounts, balances, repayments, past addresses and searches by lenders.

From the report, each agency works out a score. The scores are on different scales, so one number cannot be compared with another.

Three agencies, three scales

Experian

Its own scale

The scale has changed over time and may differ between services.

Equifax

Its own scale

Higher scores generally indicate a stronger profile on that agency's scale.

TransUnion

Its own scale

Its score is separate and cannot be compared directly with another agency's number.

What moves a score

Each agency uses its own scoring model, and models and score ranges can change. Lenders make their own decisions using information and rules that may differ from the agency's consumer score.

  • Paying on time. A history of missed or late payments can matter to lenders, and normally stays on the report for six years.
  • How much you use. Using most of your credit limit looks riskier than using a little.
  • Applying a lot. Many applications in a short time can look like a need for cash.
  • Being on the electoral roll at your address helps lenders confirm who you are.
  • Age of accounts. A longer history gives lenders more to go on.

Checking my own credit score lowers it.

Looking at your own report is a soft search. It leaves a mark only you can see, and it does not affect your score.

What lenders do with it

A lender looks at the report and adds its own rules, such as your income. A score is a guide, not a verdict, and two lenders can reach different decisions from the same report.

You can see your credit report free of charge. If something is wrong, you can ask the agency to correct it. The way a credit card is used appears in the report.

6 years

Late and missed payments normally stay on a UK credit report for six years from the date they were recorded.

The score is not the report

The report is the underlying record; the score is one agency's summary of it. A lender may use a different model, combine the report with information from your application, or make its own affordability checks. That is why the same person can see different scores and get different decisions from different lenders. If you spot an incorrect account or address, ask the agency to investigate the record itself. A different score number does not necessarily mean that your financial history has changed.

Note: this explains how it works in general. It is not advice for your situation. For a decision about your money, check an official source or ask a qualified professional. Figures are for the UK.

Sources: Experian UK, Equifax UK, TransUnion UK; Information Commissioner's Office, credit reference agencies; MoneyHelper, credit reports.

Key takeaways

  • A credit score is an estimate of how reliably you repay.
  • There are three main agencies, each with its own score.
  • Paying on time is the biggest factor.
  • Checking your own report does not lower your score.
  • Late payments stay on a report for six years.

Now you know.

There are several scores.

Late payments stay for six years.

Checking your own does no harm.

Last reviewed 3 Nov 2026

Where next?

Explained further by

More in Finance